Dive Brief:
- Battery manufacturer Energizer has brought to market a AA battery range, EcoAdvanced, made using 4% recycled materials from old batteries — the first product of its kind to be produced from recycled batteries, as reported in Waste Management World.
- Touting EcoAdvanced for its longevity and low impact on the environment, the company describes the technology, seven years in the making, as leveraging an active ingredient that is used with energy rings which reduces the need for mining of virgin material and reduces the number of batteries required for power.
- Energizer’s goal is to use 40% recycled material in its products by 2025.
Dive Insight:
Consumers want convenience, but more and more of them are also wanting to reduce their waste, and it’s hard to reap both benefits from the same products.
This is especially true when you’re talking about batteries that seem to die and pile up fast, leaving behind toxic waste that has motivated some states and stewards to develop large-scale programs to mitigate their potential harm. But a battery from recyclable materials may present the best from both worlds — handiness with environmental benefits.
"Energizer Recharge is another step forward in our vision that all Energizer batteries contain some amount of recycled battery materials. Our scientists partnered with rechargeable suppliers ... identified a process to use recycled content in our rechargeable batteries without sacrificing performance, an idea previously not thought possible by industry experts," said Energizer Chief Consumer Officer Michelle Atkinson in a statement.
