Battery manufacturers focus on sustainability and recycling
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 - 10:23:17
When it comes to disposing of old mobile phones, one of the most problematic components found within modern handsets is the battery. Containing hazardous substances and posing a combustion risk, rechargeable batteries create a lot of problems for the environment and for recycling firms.
Thankfully, various businesses and organisations within the battery industry have decided to tackle this head-on, with the creation of the Global Battery Alliance being announced this month, according to the Mining Journal.
The main aim of this project is to make sure that as the market for batteries grows, not only due to smartphone sales but also the rise of electric cars, the ecological implications of this growth are taken into account.
For example, the alliance will be attempting to create a circular economy for the battery market where it is possible to recycle cells and reclaim the precious materials which they contain rather than allowing them to go to waste.
From lithium and cobalt to gold, silver and palladium, modern mobile devices contain all sorts of expensive minerals that can effectively be lost forever if a handset is simply sent to landfill. By selling old mobile phones, no matter what state of repair they are in, consumers can take responsibility for electronic waste and make sure that it is dealt with sustainably.
Another issue that the battery industry is seeking to address is that of the ways in which the key components of cells are sourced. Many valuable materials are mined in parts of the world where things like workers’ rights and labour laws are not in line with modern principles in the west, even if this is where most of the benefits of the resources extracted will be felt.
Tackling everything from health and safety to the use of child labour, the alliance will clean up the image of the battery industry and make it easier to buy mobile phones with a clear conscience.
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