Polestar has expanded its battery circularity program to include at least 50% recycled cobalt in both Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 batteries. The move is part of the Swedish EV brand’s broader strategy to reduce virgin material dependence and keep resources circulating through its supply chain.
Highlights
- Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 batteries now contain a minimum of 50% recycled cobalt, as defined by ISO 1402.
- The automaker partners with Volvo Cars battery centres to refurbish and recirculate high-voltage battery packs.
- Polestar has reduced relative CO₂ emissions per vehicle by 25% since 2020 while expanding to four production models.
- The company publishes Life Cycle Assessments for every model and uses blockchain-traced cobalt for supply chain accountability.
Refurbishment Over Replacement
Polestar’s circularity approach extends beyond sourcing. The company works with Volvo Cars battery centres to refurbish high-voltage packs. Vehicles requiring a battery swap receive a refurbished unit with equivalent state-of-health. This creates a closed-loop flow that retains battery value while lowering environmental impact.
Additionally, Polestar is building recycling partnerships across all of its markets. These partnerships address producer responsibility requirements and aim to maximize material recovery at end of life.
Circular Materials Beyond Batteries
Fredrika Klarén, Head of Sustainability at Polestar, said: “To drive a Polestar is an intentional choice by customers who care about tomorrow. Electrification, powered by renewable energy and enabled by circular battery materials, points to a new kind of system: one where resources stay in use and abundance replaces depletion.”
The battery initiative sits alongside other material choices across the Polestar lineup. These include recycled aluminium and steel, base and inlay carpets using ECONYL polyamide, and yarn derived from PET waste. The company also focuses on reducing material complexity through modular design and mono-material solutions.
Transparency Track Record
Polestar has pushed for greater climate transparency in the auto industry since 2020. The brand publishes Life Cycle Assessments for every model and openly reports CO₂e emissions across its value chain. Polestar 2 was the first car to feature blockchain-traced cobalt, establishing a benchmark for supply chain visibility.
More recently, the company has introduced smart charging integration. It has also cut relative CO₂ emissions per vehicle by 25% since 2020 while launching four new models.
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