New York-based study team contrasts 1 percent lithium-ion battery recycling rate with 99 percent rate for lead-acid batteries.
A new study published in The Journal of the Indian Institute of Science looks into the contrasting recycling rates for lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries and finds a “need to adopt a circular economy (or zero waste) paradigm” for the latter.
The research was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program through the U.S. National Academies and led by Nikhil Gupta, a professor of mechanical and aerospace and civil and urban engineering at the New York University (NYU) Tandon School of Engineering in Brooklyn.
Batteries are in increasing demand because of their use in electric vehicles (EVs), consumer electronics and grid-scale storage, say Gupta and his three co-authors Kaushik Yanamandra, Dinesh Pinisetty and Atef Daoud. Noting the “clean energy” aspects of some of these applications, the authors cite recyclability as “a key component of how ‘dirty’ a technology is.”
Regarding batteries overall and lithium-ion batteries in particular, “as demand and usage increases, their recyclability and environmental impact will become even greater issues,” Gupta and his co-authors predict.
The study, titled “Recycling of Li-Ion and Lead Acid Batteries, a Review,” indicates that while lithium-ion batteries have higher energy density and can have a longer cycle life, less than 1 percent of them are being recycled because “the processes for recovering lithium for reuse in battery applications are still inefficient.”
By contrast, the authors say, lead-acid batteries are recycled at a more than 99 percent rate in the United States and European Union “because of factors such as separation at the source, availability of methods to economically recover materials and regulations supporting recycling.”
“Lead-acid batteries have been around for a long time, so recycling has greatly evolved,” Gupta says. “In fact, when one buys a new car battery, the old one must be returned for recycling— it’s a requirement. Because the architecture of lead-acid batteries has not changed substantially over the years, recyclers know how to do it quickly and efficiently.”
Co-author Pinisetty from the California State University system comments, “Lithium-ion batteries will continue to gain market share due to their significantly superior performance. However, the rapidly evolving chemistry and cell design of lithium-ion batteries pose major challenges for the recycling industry. Once the battery chemistry is standardized, it will become easier to develop effective recycling technologies.”
The study also finds that because of the smartphone and EV markets, use of lithium-ion batteries is rapidly increasing. However, overall growth of the energy storage device sector is sustaining the lead-acid battery market in terms of volume.
The entire 14-page study can be purchased by visiting this web page.
Steel producer says it uses scrap as more than 70 percent of its feedstock.
Brazil-based Gerdau S.A., which has several scrap-fed electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mills in North America, cites a recycled content figure of more than 70 percent in a newly released CO2 emissions strategy document.
The company’s board of directors has approved a climate change strategy that sets a target to reduce its emissions of CO2 to 0.83 metric tons of CO2 per metric ton of steel produced by 2031. The company says it emitted 0.93 metric tons of CO2 per metric ton of steel made (using scopes 1 and 2 measures) in 2020.
“Gerdau’s production model and efforts for over a century have placed the Company at the vanguard on the issue of greenhouse gas emissions,” the firm says. “Currently, we have one of the lowest emission averages in the steel industry, which is equivalent to approximately half of the global industry average.”
Atop a list of factors working in its favor, Gerdau says 73 percent of the steel it produces comes from the recycling of ferrous scrap. “Gerdau S.A. is the largest recycler in Latin America, transforming 11 million metric tons of scrap into steel. This enables us to save natural resources and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions,” the firm says.
It also lists “higher use of scrap” as among the techniques it will deploy to further reduce its carbon footprint by 2031.
Gerdau operates a network of scrap yards in North America to support its steelmaking throughout the hemisphere. The company ranked 11th on Recycling Today’s 2020 list of North America’s Largest Ferrous Scrap Processors. It has submitted a figure of 3.2 million tons processed in 2021 for its inclusion in the upcoming 2022 version of the list.
Gerdau says it aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. “For this, disruptive technologies are necessary in steel production, which are not yet economically and operationally feasible on an industrial scale,” states the firm. “Our efforts are also dedicated to clean and renewable energy solutions. Gerdau S.A. has already announced the construction of solar complexes in Brazil and the United States. Moreover, we will continue to streamline our production processes and invest in new energy matrices and open innovation.”
Recycled-content paper producer names Jeffrey Crawford as its vice president of sustainability.
De Pere, Wisconsin-based Sustana, a maker of recycled-content paper and packaging, has added Jeffrey Crawford to its staff as vice president of sustainability.
Crawford has more than 13 years of international experience helping Fortune 500 companies, investors, United Nations agencies and national governments design and implement sustainability and climate strategies, policies and projects, according to Sustana.
He will be responsible for driving Sustana’s sustainable products, strategy and environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives at Sustana Fiber and Rolland Papers, “advancing the group’s leadership in providing sustainable recycled solutions to the paper and packaging industry,” says the firm.
The company makes recycled-content fiber at a facility in Wisconsin and another in Quebec, Canada. Its Rolland Paper business unit makes recycled-content printing and writing and food-contact paper in Quebec.
“This leadership position reflects Sustana’s continued commitment to drive sustainability within the paper and packaging sector,” states the company.
“The increasing focus on environmental sustainability by brands, converters, printers and consumers drives Sustana to deliver leading sustainability products and solutions, and Jeffrey’s appointment to the position of vice president of sustainability will strengthen our ability to serve our customers,” says Philip Rundle, chief commercial officer of Sustana.
Rundle continues, “Jeffrey’s experience in corporate sustainability and climate strategy design, target setting, and scenario analysis will be of immense value and will contribute to the continued growth of Sustana.’’
Sustana says it has “full control over the fiber production, recycled papermaking and converting processes,” and Crawford’s role will “build upon” Sustana’s sustainability strategy and be an ambassador for recycled-content printing paper, packaging and food packaging.
“In the midst of climate, plastic waste and nature crises, Sustana is driving the shift to a circular, low-carbon economy using recycled content,” says Crawford. “I’m thrilled to join the team as we chart a new course for sustainability, together with our partners.”
Auto shredding plant missed several weeks of production after fire.
Portland, Oregon-based Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. says it restarted its Everett, Massachusetts, auto shredding plant Jan. 28. The facility had been out of commission since a fire Dec. 8, 2021, caused damage.
“The resumption of shredding operations follows replacement and repairs to shredder equipment that had been damaged” in that fire, Schnitzer announces in a Feb. 2 news release.
According to the most recent list of auto shredders in the United States published by Recycling Today, the Schnitzer shredder in Everett is one of only three metal shredding plants in Massachusetts. The other two are operated by wTe Recycling in Greenfield and Excel Recycling in Freetown.
The company will invest more than $9 million to grow fiber capacity from 50 million to about 115 million units of product.
Stora Enso, a renewable packaging and biomaterials manufacturer based in Helsinki, has announced it is investing 8 million euros (or about $9.04 million) to double its production capacity of formed fiber in Europe. Through the investment, the company’s annual formed fiber capacity will grow from 50 million to approximately 115 million units of product.
“There is a high demand in the market for eco-friendly, circular packaging solutions that replace plastic and other fossil-based materials,” says Sohrab Kazemahvazi, senior vice president of formed fiber at Stora Enso. “Our formed fiber offering can help brand owners meet their sustainability targets while responding to consumers’ demands for a cleaner future. Through our investment and the capacity increase, we further improve our position in this growing market.”
Formed fiber products are manufactured from various chemical pulps and chemi-thermomechanical pulp by pressing it into the desired shape in a molding machine. The raw material is pulp made from wood from sustainable sources in Sweden and Finland. Stora Enso will manufacture the raw material at its mills in Sweden and Finland and perform the converting at its Hylte site in Sweden. Along with the investment, Stora Enso will recruit more than 10 employees for formed fiber production in Sweden.
Stora Enso’s formed fiber products can be used in food packaging such as bowls, trays and lids and the development of fiber bottles. PureFiber by Stora Enso is a range of formed fiber products that contain no per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and has up to a 75 percent lower CO2 footprint compared with alternative packaging materials such as plastic or bagasse.
Stora Enso says it hopes to offer 100 percent regenerative products and solutions by 2050. The group is also committing to new 2030 targets for its key sustainability priorities: climate change, biodiversity and circularity. The company says its climate target is aligned with the Paris agreement and science-based targets.