New Delhi, January 10, 2008
—Occupational Knowledge International, with support from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced today at the Auto Expo in New Delhi a new program to certify battery manufacturers that meet minimum emissions standards and recycle lead batteries. Under the Better Environmental Sustainability Targets program, certified battery manufacturers can display an eco-label on their products, indicating that they meet the environmental requirements of export markets.
Participants in the BEST program include Amara Raja and Tata GS Batteries, two of the largest battery producers in India; leading bulk purchasers such as Hero Honda, Indian Railways, and Tata Motors; the government of India; international agencies; and nongovernmental organizations.
“Adoption of the eco-label provides a great incentive for companies to improve pollution control in India,” said Perry Gottesfeld, Executive Director of Occupational Knowledge International.
“This program will help establish global best practice in environmental and social sustainability, especially in growth industries such as auto components and electronics, as well as in renewable energies, which depend on lead batteries as a backup,” said Monika Weber-Fahr, IFC Manager of the Sustainability Business Innovator.
Lead batteries, which are used for cars, computers, generators, and other products, are a major pollution hazard, especially in the developing world. Lead poisoning is one of the most serious environmental health threats to children and a noxious contributor to occupational diseases. The World Health Organization estimates that 120 million people worldwide are overexposed to lead, with 99 percent of them residing in developing countries.
S. Vijayanand, Deputy General Manager of Amara Raja Batteries Ltd, said, “As a responsible manufacturer of lead acid batteries, we have taken it upon ourselves to work toward a standard for emissions and battery handling, which was developed by our nongovernmental partners. This is a long-term benefit for the world, as well as for the way the battery industry is perceived.”
Battery manufacturers in most developing countries are required only to collect a small percentage of used batteries for proper recycling. As a result, backyard smelters for recycling batteries have proliferated, contributing further to lead poisoning and environmental contamination.
IFC has contributed about $350,000 or 55 percent of total costs for the program, which is also supported by the Finnish and Norwegian governments.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. IFC’s vision is that poor people have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives. In FY07, IFC committed $8.2 billion and mobilized an additional $3.9 billion through syndications and structured finance for 299 investments in 69 developing countries. IFC also provided advisory services in 97 countries. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
About Occupation Knowledge International
OK International is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco that works to build capacity in developing countries. It aims to identify, monitor, and mitigate environmental and occupational exposures to hazardous materials to protect public health and the environment. The company’s lead partner in India, Development Alternatives, is a registered charity under Indian law, with over 20 years of experience working on sustainable development programs and environmental auditing. It receives assistance from the NRCLPI, a program of St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore and an umbrella organization of regional lead poisoning prevention centers that have been instrumental in raising awareness throughout India. For more information, visit
www.okinternational.org
.
