Member sign-in
  • Leadership
    • imageBackLeadershipExplore Moreimage
  • Sustainability
    • imageBackSustainabilityExplore Moreimage
    • Material stewardshipExplore Moreimage
  • Research
    • imageBackResearchExplore Moreimage
  • Events
    • imageBackEventsExplore Moreimage
    • Pb 2021Register your interest Pb2021
  • Members
    • imageBackMembershipExplore Moreimage
  • Resources
    • imageBackResourcesExplore Moreimage
  • About Us
    • imageBackAbout UsExplore Moreimage
    • TeamsExplore Moreimage
  • News
    • imageBackSee news dashboardExplore Moreimage
    • Back to the 3Rs: reliability, resilience, and recyclingExplore Moreimage
    • World battery day: storing energy for a low carbon futureExplore Moreimage
    • ILA member pledges AU$500,000 for bushfire victimsExplore Moreimage
image image
image image
Member sign-in

Global alliance promotes responsible lead battery manufacturing and recycling

By International Lead Association 22nd July, 2020

“We want to see an end to all informal and unregulated recycling in low and middle income countries.

The more governments and regulators do in these countries to provide incentives to ensure that used batteries are only recycled by high performing recyclers, and to crack down on unregulated recycling, the better.”

Joint statement by associations representing the lead, lead battery and recycling industries: ILA, Eurobat, BCI and ABR, July 2020.

By International Lead Association

Four associations representing the lead, lead battery and recycling industries, ILA, BCI, Eurobat and ABR, have formed a global alliance to help improve global standards in lead battery manufacturing and recycling. Our industries are committed to continuously improving, helping ensure that lead is manufactured and used responsibly to minimize any impact on people’s health or the environment.

The alliance aims to minimise exposure to lead in all regions of the globe. Known as the material stewardship initiative, it involves some of the biggest battery companies in the world. The project is built around a set of seven guiding principles involving companies committing to business practices that support environmentally sound manufacturing and recycling of lead batteries. One of the critical problems affecting some low and middle-income countries is the dangerous practice of substandard or informal manufacturing and recycling of lead and lead batteries. This can result in serious damage to human health and significant environmental pollution. Lead has a market value, and where there are few or no restrictions or regulations, informal recycling of batteries presents an opportunity to make money in some highly deprived communities. Member companies of ILA, EUROBAT, BCI and ABR can and are playing a significant role in reducing this problem, delivering on the commitments in the guiding principles.

The material stewardship initiative involves some of the biggest battery companies in the world.

Four associations representing lead and lead battery companies in North America and Europe are working with global partners to help tackle informal, and substandard lead battery recycling.

For more than two decades, ILA has worked in 40 low and middle income countries, advising Governments, communities and companies on best practice lead battery recycling methods based on international technical guidelines which we helped develop. Map indicates countries where ILA has worked to help reduce informal and substandard battery recycling.

We are sharing our expertise to help improve lead battery recycling practices in vulnerable countries through partnerships with NGOs, governments and other stakeholders. 

And one of the commitments in the alliance’s guiding principles is to ensure companies adopt responsible sourcing practices. This involves checking that lead they purchase is produced using environmentally sound practices and in facilities that have a high standard of employee welfare.

Read more about our material stewardship initiative here.

Cover image credit: Boliden lead bars

In the Media

25 February, 2021
Blogs

Getting back to basics and the three Rs: reliability, resilience, and recycling

Read moreimage
18 February, 2021
Blogs

For a low carbon future we need more advanced lead batteries

Read moreimage
16 February, 2021
News

South32 pledges AU$500,000 to support people affected by bushfires in Australia

Read moreimage
View all Posts image
  • Leadership
  • Sustainability
    • Material stewardship
  • Research
  • Events & Conferences
  • About us
    • Teams
  • Membership

Subscribe to our newsletter and get the latest updates

Contact Us

International Lead Association, Bravington House, 2 Bravingtons Walk, London N1 9AF

Tel:T: +44 (0)20 7833 8090 Fax:F: +44 (0)20 7833 1611 Email:E: enq@ila-lead.org

  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms Conditions
  • Privacy Notice
  • Cookies

© Copyright 2021

Membership enquiry

If you would like to know more about becoming a member of ILA please complete the following form: