EU must recognise lead industry role in a sustainable European economy, says ILA

The International Lead Association (ILA) has called for greater support from EU institutions for the vital role that the lead industry and its downstream users play in a sustainable and resource efficient Europe.

In a letter to Janez Potocnik, the EU Environment Commissioner, ILA has explained how the lead industry is at the forefront of the ‘closed loop economy’ as promoted by the commissioner himself. Lead also plays an important role in many of the priority areas that are being focused on in the EU’s new industrial policy and resource efficiency ambitions, as well as in areas such as transportation, energy and construction. 

But as an illustration of the industry’s concerns ILA referred to last year’s REACH candidate listing for authorisation of 21 lead compounds, which includes four compounds which are critical raw materials used in the manufacture of lead-acid batteries.

Lead-acid batteries are a vital component of one billion petrol and diesel vehicles worldwide, including ‘start-stop’ and micro-hybrid vehicles which deliver significant CO2 savings. Lead-based batteries are also an important energy storage solution for renewable energy.

ILA believes that placing these substances on the candidate list discourages investment in the European lead battery industry, which employs more than 20,000 workers and is a global leader in the development of lead-based battery technology.

In the letter ILA Managing Director Andy Bush pointed out how the uncertainty being created has the potential for ‘far-reaching implications both for our industries, but also possibly for the good implementation of EU policies for sustainable transportation, energy and resource efficiency’.

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Notes to editors

About the ILA

The International Lead Association is a membership body that supports companies involved in the mining, smelting, refining and recycling of lead. The ILA represents the producers of about 3 million tonnes of lead and almost two thirds of lead production in the western world.

With offices in the UK and USA the ILA provides a range of technical, scientific and communications support and is focused on all aspects of the industry’s safe production, use and recycling of lead and helps funds bodies such as the International Lead Management Center and ILZRO.  

ILA also supports the Advanced Lead-Acid Battery Consortium, which manages the research, development and promotion of lead-based batteries for markets such as hybrid electric vehicles, start-stop automotive systems and grid-scale energy storage applications. Visit www.ila-lead.org