SK Tes’ Battery Recycling Process Recognised in Sustainability Innovation Award
The world’s resources are finite, and businesses must close the loop on existing take-make-dispose models that are placing unsustainable pressure on our planet. Lithium batteries present one such challenge.
Demand for lithium batteries has surged due to their use in smartphones, laptops, IoT devices, and electric vehicles.
However, vital components such as Lithium and Cobalt are still widely mined as virgin materials to meet demand. Some forecasts predict these elements may be completely exhausted within 100 years.
SK Tes’ innovative battery recycling process addresses this challenge by offering industry-leading recovery and purity rates. This enables Lithium and Cobalt to be extracted and reused in the manufacturing supply chain.
SK Tes is proud to announce that our process was recently recognised by the Reuters Responsible Business Awards 2020’s Sustainability Innovation Award.
According to Reuters, this award recognises companies that have developed a sustainability innovation enabled by technology. SK Tes stood out among competitors such as UPS, Kraft Heinz, Maersk, and Formula 1. Other category winners included Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, Dow, and Verizon.
“The judges recognised SK Tes' great potential to deliver clear and measurable benefits that will grow with the network and infrastructure at an increased scale.” - Reuters Responsible Business Awards 2020
“SK Tes has always set high standards in our commitment to sustainability and will continue to invest in innovative technology like battery recycling to support the circular economy. We fundamentally believe that solving these challenges can benefit both the planet and business.” - Eric Ingebretsen, SK Tes Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
SK Tes’ battery recycling facilities in Singapore, Netherlands and France process up to 15 tonnes of Lithium batteries daily—the equivalent of 300,000 smartphone batteries. With a recovery rate exceeding 95% and extracted elements reaching 99% purity, this process provides a sustainable solution for manufacturers, governments, and other stakeholders looking to close the loop on battery waste.
