DALLAS, June 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Strengthening its position as the
world leader in battery recycling and lead production, Ecobat
(https://ecobat.com/) 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
(https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-
insights/battery-2030-resilient-sustainable-and-circular) 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 CO(2) 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 Ecobat
Ecobat 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 Fernandes
Firecracker PR
len@firecrackerpr.com (mailto:len@firecrackerpr.com)
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
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