Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 7

74 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 7 batteries consist of multiple Lithium-ion cells that are largely difficult to dismantle and which contain hazardous materials. But there are some recent examples of the industry responding to this challenge. Nissan is now reusing batteries from its Leaf cars to power automated guided vehicles used around assembly plants. And while Volkswagen has also redeployed old batteries, it has also opened a recycling plant in Salzgitter, Germany. Global Battery Alliance But until recycling moves from the fringe to the mainstream of EV battery production, demand for critical raw materials will only grow. The Global Battery Alliance (GBA), initiated with support of the World Economic Forum, is a public-private collaboration between 70 organizations across manufacturing, public service and civil society that was established to address this issue by working to bring sustainability to the battery value chain. The GBA advocates for the production of EV batteries and their by-products to be integrated into the circular economy and promoting transparency and reduction of greenhouse emissions from battery manufacturing. Last year, the alliance outlined 10 guiding principles for a sustainable battery value chain, to significantly reduce the 40% of all annual global carbon emissions that the transport and power industry is currently responsible for. It is also committed to policies in which EV battery production takes into account local economies, their environments and human rights, especially in relation to child labor exploitation. (Written by Walé Azeez. Originally published in World Economic Forum)