ECOPILA Project: An Initiative Taking Battery Recycling to the Next Level
European regulations are getting stricter in terms of circular policy. Innovating to meet regulatory demands not only entails benefits for society as a whole; it is also a challenge for companies to show their commitment to a sustainable future and their capacity to adapt.
In a world with limited resources and growing environmental concerns, innovation helps us develop cleaner and more sustainable technology. Within this framework, the Ecoinnovation platform was launched by Ihobe, the Basque government’s Public Environmental Management Company, where we launched the ECOPILA project in collaboration with BOSTLAN.
Ecoinnovation: close to 200 projects driven by the Basque government
Managed by Ihobe, the Basque government’s Public Environmental Management Company, this project drives ecodesign, work in the circular economy and strategic eco-innovation among companies in Basque Country. Its goal is, on the one hand, to anticipate new circular policies from the European Union, and, on the other, to stimulate companies so they can competitively position themselves in the global market.
Since it was created, it has carried out nearly 200 projects focused on improving material efficiency, reducing embedded GHG emissions and bolstering the circular economy. Our ECOPILA project is among them. With this project, we were able to reduce the environmental impact of our Zinc-Air batteries.
The importance of recycling Zinc-Air batteries
At CEGASA, we were able to further improve these batteries’ recyclability and sustainability by focusing on ecodesign replacing plastic for biodegradable materials.
When we improved Zinc-Air batteries’ recyclability we gained a variety of key general benefits. These benefits include environmental protection (safeguarding the health of ecosystems and people), preserving valuable natural resources (preventing the need to extract new resources and reducing the environmental impact of this practice) and reducing waste.
Nonetheless, action from a variety of players is essential to truly having a positive impact. In our partnership with BOSTLAN, we optimised material collection and repurposing systems with specific recycling processes, creating a new line of business in the autonomous community of Basque Country for recycling Zinc-Air batteries.
Together we have fostered interactions between a wide variety of industry players, improving processes throughout the chain, from manufacturing to recycling, promoting more efficient resource management and opening up new opportunities for recycling at the European level.
Progress made with the ECOPILA project
As a result of the ECOPILA project, now more than 90% of materials from post-consumption batteries can be recycled, exceeding by 40 points the amounts required by the European Union.
ECOPILA project keys and successes
ECOPILA is not just a significant technical advancement, it is also a firm step in the direction of cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions. With a circular economy approach, it establishes a complete route for CEGASA Zinc-Air batteries, from ecodesign to repurposing of materials with the BOSTLAN recycling process.
