International lead and lead battery associations join Protecting Every Child’s Potential

New York, USA, 1 June 2022 – Four battery associations representing the entire lead battery value chain are joining the Protecting Every Child’s Potential (PECP) initiative, founded in October 2020 to help protect children’s health from lead exposure globally.

The International Lead Association (ILA), Battery Council International (BCI), Association of Battery Recyclers (ABR), and the Association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers (EUROBAT) are joining PECP together as part of their joint material stewardship project. The four associations have established a global programme to champion best practices in lead mining, lead production, lead battery manufacturing and recycling, and by encouraging responsible practices along the entire battery value chain through supply chain management and product stewardship.

The four associations have pledged to help advance PECP’s initiative to reduce the impact of lead exposure affecting children and communities in low-and-middle-income countries where strict regulatory systems and checks are often absent. In addition to other forms of assistance, the associations will provide pro-bono technical support remotely and on the ground to help LMIC regulators and facilities adopt global best practices. This is an activity that ILA and BCI have supported for many years with successful projects delivered in Africa, Central America and Asia.

“We wholeheartedly support the objectives set out by the PECP initiative,” said Mark DeLaquil, General Counsel of ABR. “Health and safety are always our highest priority, and we look forward to sharing our expertise and advice in those countries where lead and lead batteries are being recycled inappropriately or unsafely.”

“The health and safety of children is a universal priority,” said Roger Miksad, BCI Executive Vice President. “We are pleased to join PECP and other partners to support work in low and middle-income countries to help eradicate poor recycling practices. In the U.S. and Europe, we have achieved high levels of safety which can be adapted and shared with others through knowledge transfer to improve on-the-ground conditions in many targeted communities.”

‎“When we launched ‎our material stewardship project, with our partner associations, the main goal was to work together with ‎various stakeholders, such as NGOs and regulators, to help improve global standards,” said Rene Schroeder, Executive-Director, EUROBAT. “It also supplemented another self-imposed initiative from the battery industry, namely the ‎successful employee blood lead reduction programme, launched in Europe and the U.S. ‎more than 20 years ago. Finally, joining PECP not only perfectly completes these ‎initiatives, it also brings the industry’s efforts for sound battery recycling to the next level ‎and EUROBAT is thrilled to be a part of the campaign.”‎

“For more than 20 years we have provided our expertise in support of projects to improve the management and use of lead in low- and middle-income countries, working with government and non-governmental organisations,” said Andy Bush, Managing Director of ILA. “ILA is therefore delighted to join PECP, working alongside UNICEF and the other partners in support of a broader range of exciting projects that will help protect both workers and communities from lead exposures. PECP aligns closely with our own material stewardship programme, which is promoting the adoption of safe and responsible battery recycling in all regions of the world.”

Private sector partnership is crucial to tackling the global health crisis of lead exposure harming 1 in 3 children globally, as recently highlighted in the joint report by UNICEF and Pure Earth. Common sources of lead exposure in low- and middle-income countries include unsound and informal recycling of lead-acid batteries, as well as spices, cosmetics and toys.

NOTES TO EDITOR

Association of Battery Recyclers

The Association of Battery Recyclers (ABR) is a trade association for North American lead battery recyclers. Its members proudly comply with the most stringent environmental, health and safety (EHS) standards in the world to help responsibly recycle 130 million used lead batteries annually, keeping them from landfills. ABR members supply the critical raw material needs of North American lead battery manufacturers. www.associationofbatteryrecyclers.com.

Battery Council International

Battery Council International (BCI) is the leading trade association representing the North American battery industry. Formed in 1924, BCI brings together battery manufacturers and recyclers, marketers and retailers, suppliers of raw materials and equipment, and battery distributors from North America and around the world. BCI members are committed to responsible manufacturing processes and have created a circular economy with 99% of its used lead batteries collected and recycled in the U.S. Visit www.batterycouncil.org.

Association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers

The Association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers (EUROBAT) is the leading association for European automotive and industrial battery manufacturers, covering all battery technologies, and has more than 50 members. The members and staff work with all policymakers, industry stakeholders, NGOs and media to highlight the important role batteries play for decarbonised mobility and energy systems as well as numerous other applications. www.eurobat.org.

International Lead Association

The International Lead Association (ILA) is the only association representing lead producers globally, working to create a sustainable future for lead. Members of the association produce lead from mining, smelting, refining and recycling. For more information visit www.ila-lead.org.