Four battery associations representing the entire lead battery value chain are joining the Protecting Every Child’s Potential (PECP) initiative that aims to help protect children’s health from lead exposure.
Founded in October 2020, PECP has welcomed 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).
The associations have pledged to help advance PECP’s mission to eradicate childhood lead exposure in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where capacities, including regulatory, 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.
The organisation’s have joined PECP as part of their joint Material Stewardship Project, which was established to create a sustainable future by championing 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.
Roger Miksad, BCI executive vice president said he believed the learnings of the North American industry could be adapted and shared with others through knowledge transfer to improve on-the-ground conditions in many targeted communities.
Rene Schroeder, executive director, EUROBAT, said: “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.
“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.”
The four battery associations call on other private sector stakeholders to join the PECP and advance its important vision: a future free of childhood lead exposure.
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.
Protecting Every Child’s Potential
Pure Earth, Clarios Foundation and UNICEF have founded the Protecting Every Child’s Potential initiative to prevent children’s exposure to lead with proven solutions that can be implemented now.
Find out more about PECP by clicking on the link below
https://www.protectingeverychildspotential.org
