August 24, 2026 Press Releases

Low-Voltage Battery Maker Clarios Secures Low-Carbon Lead From Sweden

Partnership with Boliden strengthens Clarios’ supply chains and reduces its European customers’ CO2 footprint.
lead bars stacked on pallets
  • Clarios partners with Swedish mining and metal company Boliden to source Low-Carbon Lead
  • Partnership strengthens domestic supply chains and supports a more circular, secure future
  • Clarios is operating the industry's largest closed-loop battery recycling network globally

Hanover, Germany - 24. August 2026 - Clarios, a global leader in low-voltage battery solutions and owner of the VARTA Automotive brand, announced a partnership with Swedish mining and metals company, Boliden, to source Low-Carbon Lead to Clarios’ battery manufacturing facilities in the EMEA region.

Boliden’s Low-Carbon Lead processed from mined ore is smelted in highly energy efficient Nordic facilities mainly powered by fossil-free energy resulting in a cradle-to-gate footprint below 1 kg CO₂ per kg of lead. This corresponds to nearly half the emissions of other primary lead smelters in Europe, which average 1,82 kg CO₂/kg Pb. Using Low-Carbon Lead lowers Clarios’ carbon footprint and enables its customers to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

"Strategic partnerships with trusted suppliers like Boliden are crucial for our path to greater sustainability," said Christian Rosenkranz, Vice President Industry and Government Relations EMEA at Clarios. "Our mission is clear: To power the future of transportation with the world's best batteries, produced as sustainably as possible. Our low-voltage batteries are essential for powering advanced technologies in today's vehicles and supporting the mobility solutions of the future.”

This supply partnership fills an important gap: More than 75 percent of the lead used for production in EMEA comes from recycled end-of-life batteries. Clarios is operating the industry's largest closed-loop battery recycling network globally with more than 8,000 recycled batteries per hour, returning valuable materials to the production cycle. To meet the remaining lead demand, Clarios EMEA sources low-carbon primary lead from carefully selected partners like Boliden.

“We strive to lead the way in sustainable metal production, and we actively encourage our partners to be part of that journey toward a more responsible future. Clarios’ commitment to using Low-Carbon Lead demonstrates how responsible choices throughout the value chain lead to immediate footprint reductions,” said Saga Mills, Sales Manager Lead at Boliden.

The carbon footprint of modern vehicles – regardless of the powertrain – is largely determined by the components used. Low-Carbon Lead from Boliden represents an important contribution to Clarios EMEA’s efforts to reduce emissions along the value chain, including both recycled and primary raw materials.

Low-voltage batteries from Clarios are installed in one of three vehicles on the road globally – powering conventional, hybrid and electric vehicles. These advanced low-voltage batteries are essential to support advanced features of software-defined vehicles – from start-stop, steer by wire, infotainment and critical safety features.

Boliden's Low-Carbon Lead is part of Green Transition Metals, Boliden's portfolio of recycled and low-carbon metals. The portfolio includes some of the most sustainable alternatives available on the global market. To calculate carbon emissions, Boliden conducts a Life Cycle Assessment using a cradle-to-gate approach that excludes all forms of credits and offsets.

 

About Clarios

Clarios is the global leader in advanced, low-voltage battery technologies for mobility and owner of the VARTA brand in the automotive sector. Our batteries and smart solutions power nearly every type of vehicle and are found in 1 of 3 cars on the road today. With around 18,000 employees in over 100 countries, we bring deep expertise to our Aftermarket and OEM partners, and reliability, safety and comfort to everyday lives. We answer to the planet with a rigorous sustainability focus – advancing best-in-class sustainability practices and advocating for them across our industry. We work to ensure 100% of our products sold are recyclable, and we recycle 8,000 batteries an hour in our network.

 

For more information please contact: 

Claudia Bölter
Director Communications EMEA Clarios
Phone: (+49) 173 6598442 
claudia.boelter@clarios.com

Karolin Rau
Burson GmbH
Phone: (+49) 173 664 0032
clarios@bursonglobal.com