Ecobat Releases 2nd Annual Sustainability Report to Lead Responsible Business Practices Within the Global Energy Storage Industry
June 24 2024 - 10:37AM
Strengthening its position as the world leader in battery recycling
and lead production, Ecobat has released its second annual
Sustainability Report, which tracks its commitment to integrate
sustainability throughout the company, its processes and the
products it produces. The report arrives as the energy storage
industry works to embrace greater responsibility and reduce the
environmental impacts from lead, polypropylene, and lithium-ion
batteries, the global demand for which is estimated to increase by
approximately 30% annually through 2030.
The report, covering the period of January through December
2023, demonstrates Ecobat’s efforts to achieve progress by
improving accountability and transparency, as well as codifying
processes and baseline data necessary to ensure the highest
accuracy. The report was prepared in alignment with the
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and Global
Reporting Initiative (GRI), with the company’s sustainability
management and reporting further guided by the United Nations’
Global Compact Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ecobat’s sustainability strategy is driven across five primary
areas: energy & greenhouse gas emissions, environmental
protection, waste management, responsible materials sourcing, and
workforce health & safety.
Reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions starts with
recycling and resource recovery, a circularity model that extends
to more than 80% of Ecobat’s business. With a 99% recyclability
rate, we believe that lead is the prime example of the success of
circularity. In 2023 the company improved in this area through
technology and equipment upgrades, fuel switching to achieve higher
energy efficiency and lower carbon emission intensity, waste heat
recovery systems, and the training of employees on energy
conservation. As one example, Ecobat’s facility in Indianapolis,
Indiana analyzed its energy use and found that it could modify its
equipment start-up procedures and install variable speed drives,
reaping a 5%-7% reduction in energy consumption.
Environmental stewardship aligns with Ecobat’s core value of
prioritizing the well-being of its people and the planet. The
company has aimed to utilize best practices and leading industry
standards to protect the environment, improve operational
efficiency and resource management to sustain economic growth, and
reduce negative environmental impact. Its second-annual
Sustainability Report shows that Ecobat has worked to improve data
collection and standardize monitoring to track global lead, cobalt
and nickel releases to air, soil and water, joined by other
initiatives spanning waste diversion and sustainable waste
solutions.
In 2023, Ecobat strove to improve waste management data
collection to break out hazardous vs. non-hazardous while assessing
the potential outcomes of reduction initiatives. Its procedures to
reduce and limit the waste it produces includes internally sorting
and disposing of waste according to waste streams; mapping of waste
streams; reducing internal waste through material reuse, recovery
or repurposing; and training employees to raise awareness of waste
reduction and sorting. Recently, Ecobat’s plant in
Bazoches-les-Gallerandes, France discovered that by isolating
gypsum waste from lead paste during the process of electrolyte
neutralization with lime, it could increase the capacity of its
smelters by 5%, resulting in an additional 3,000 tons of lead
production and an approximate 25% reduction in energy consumption
and CO2 in its operation.
We believe that responsible material sourcing for Ecobat is
inextricably tied to partner ethics and compliance. In 2023, the
company invested in a technology platform that is designed to
provide end-to-end visibility of the supply chain. This onboarding
and sanctions monitoring tool aims to ensure that partnerships
align with organizational values. During the new onboarding
process, partners must be thoroughly reviewed prior to conducting
business with Ecobat, receiving a “Third-Party Supplier Code of
Conduct” and subject to ongoing monitoring and auditing based on
their risk profile.
We believe that sustainable practices that benefit the planet
find a complement in those that protect workforce health and
safety. This begins with controlling occupational exposure risks,
and especially lead. In 2023, Ecobat outperformed its 12-month
rolling average blood lead improvement goals. Ecobat believes that
its industry-leading performance in this critical area is achieved
through effective engineering controls and personal hygiene and
protective protocols. Steps to protect employees and the
environment from the impact of hazardous materials include
specialized treatment and safe disposal of hazardous substances;
prescribed actions for labeling, storing, handling and transporting
hazardous substances; and training employees to safely handle and
manage hazardous substances.
In addition, Ecobat has developed a digital strategy which it
believes is pivotal to attaining its sustainability goals. One
promising area is artificial intelligence. Examples of how Ecobat
aims to use AI for sustainability include AI-powered energy
management systems which is designed to optimize energy consumption
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; AI-enabled predictive
maintenance that aimed at reducing downtime, improving efficiency
and extending the lifespan of equipment; and AI-facilitated health
and safety monitoring that is designed to detect hazards, alert
workers, and prevent accidents and injuries.
“In 2023 we continued to rebound from macroeconomic headwinds of
energy, inflation and workforce pressures to achieve an all-time
lead production record, while not just maintaining, but improving,
our dedication to sustainable business practices. We are proud of
our progress and our leadership in the energy storage industry,”
said Ecobat CEO Tom Slabe.
To view or download the full 2023 Sustainability Report, please
visit:
https://ecobat.com/sustainability/sustainability-report/.
About EcobatEcobat is the world leader in
battery recycling and lead production, with operations throughout
Europe and the United States. Spanning the collection, recycling,
production and distribution of energy storage solutions, lead and
polypropylene products, and other commodities essential to modern
life, Ecobat helps industries meet the ever-growing need for more
efficient, reliable and sustainable energy storage solutions. Visit
https://ecobat.com.
Media Contact: Len FernandesFirecracker
PRlen@firecrackerpr.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f4e35d4e-6c13-4fc0-a0b6-95caa58af201