WEF Recognizes CATL's Yibin Plant as Industry's First Sustainability Lighthouse Battery Facility

Davos, Switzerland – The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recognized CATL’s Yibin manufacturing facility in Sichuan province as a “Sustainability Lighthouse” within its Global Lighthouse Network (GLN). This distinction represents a major industry milestone, making it the world’s first lithium‑ion battery plant to receive this specific sustainability honor.

Having already been awarded “Lighthouse” status for productivity in 2022, the Yibin site now stands alone in the battery industry as a facility acclaimed for both operational excellence and environmental sustainability.

This latest accolade highlights the plant’s leadership in significantly reducing energy consumption, emissions, and waste. In its citation, the WEF commended the site’s deployment of advanced technological solutions to achieve comprehensive net‑zero and circular economy objectives. With this recognition, CATL now operates four certified Lighthouse plants—including facilities in Ningde and Liyang—giving it the highest number of such certifications in the lithium‑battery sector.

The WEF noted the particular challenges faced by the facility: “As the world’s largest battery production site, its rapid growth has been accompanied by rising carbon emissions, high energy demand, and an expanding carbon footprint and manufacturing costs across the value chain.”

To address these challenges, the Yibin plant integrated AI‑powered energy transformation, a micro‑grid with photovoltaic storage, and low‑carbon product R&D. These efforts reduced the site’s carbon footprint by 56% and enabled carbon neutrality certifications for 13 of its suppliers.

The facility tackles systemic issues—such as energy‑intensive supply chains and limited circular efficiency—through targeted smart‑manufacturing systems:

- AI‑Driven Equipment Optimization: Machine‑learning optimization is applied across core manufacturing systems. Real‑time data analysis predicts demand to minimize standby time, while intelligent controls in coating processes adjust airflow and fan frequency dynamically to enhance energy efficiency.

- Circular Packaging Initiatives: The plant has expanded packaging circularity to cut material use. Domestically, reusable universal racks are managed via IIoT‑enabled lifecycle scheduling. For international shipments, advanced simulations helped design lightweight packaging that meets transport standards while reducing environmental impact.

As the first plant to earn both Productivity and Sustainability Lighthouse status, the Yibin facility sets a new benchmark for intelligent, low‑carbon manufacturing. These approaches are anticipated to inform CATL’s strategy as it continues to grow its global production network.

The Global Lighthouse Network, a joint initiative of the WEF and McKinsey & Company, identifies and celebrates manufacturing sites that demonstrate outstanding performance in supply chain resilience, sustainability, and productivity.