Latest news with #ExtendedProducerResponsibility
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Can battery recycling solve EV industry's growing e-waste problem?
This article is authored by Rajesh Gupta, Founder & Director, Recyclekaro. India is on the cusp of an electric vehicle (EV) revolution. The government's ambitious vision to achieve 30% EV penetration by 2030 is steering the country towards a cleaner, greener transport future. Yet, as the number of EVs on Indian roads surges, a new challenge is beginning to take shape—how to responsibly manage the growing volume of end-of-life batteries. Lithium-ion batteries , which power EVs, typically last between five to ten years. This means that the early adopters of electric mobility in India will soon start retiring their first sets of batteries. According to industry estimates, India could face the task of recycling up to 1.2 million EV batteries per year by 2030. By 2040, this figure may climb to over 14 million annually. If not properly handled, these spent batteries risk becoming a serious environmental liability. The urgency lies in the composition of these batteries. They contain valuable yet hazardous materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. If improperly discarded, these elements can contaminate soil and groundwater, posing threats to both human health and biodiversity. At the same time, these materials are finite and largely imported, often under complex and geopolitically sensitive supply chains. Recycling offers a compelling solution. By recovering critical minerals from used batteries, India can reduce its dependency on imports, lower its carbon footprint, and mitigate the environmental damage of improper disposal. Currently, however, the country recycles less than 5% of its lithium-ion batteries through formal channels. Most of the sector remains fragmented and unorganised, lacking the infrastructure and regulatory clarity needed to function at scale. MG Windsor Pro EV Review: More Range, Tech, Safety | TOI Auto To accelerate progress in this area, coordinated action across multiple fronts is essential. Policy support remains a top priority. Stronger enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines can ensure that battery manufacturers and importers take ownership of the full life cycle of their products. At the same time, the development of a countrywide battery collection network and high-quality recycling facilities will be crucial. Public participation is equally important. Consumers must be made aware of how and where to dispose of batteries responsibly. Without an informed citizenry, even the most sophisticated recycling systems will fall short. Finally, investment in research and development will be key. Emerging technologies can make battery recycling more energy-efficient and cost-effective, increasing both its scalability and accessibility. India is not alone in facing these challenges. The European Union has already laid down ambitious plans for battery recycling and circular economy frameworks. Collaborations under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council are bringing much-needed global perspectives to our domestic efforts. These cross-border partnerships can catalyse innovation, knowledge transfer, and funding in India's nascent battery recycling industry. With the Indian lithium-ion battery market projected to reach 260 GWh by 2030, the urgency of scaling battery recycling cannot be overstated. A robust recycling ecosystem will not only support India's clean energy goals but will also enhance its strategic autonomy in critical minerals. As we embrace the electric future, the challenge of managing battery waste must not be left behind. Recycling is not merely an environmental obligation—it is a national opportunity to lead in clean technology, secure vital resources, and create green jobs. The road to sustainable mobility must be circular, and battery recycling is the wheel that keeps it moving.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ujala Cygnus Partners with Karo Sambhav for E-Waste Management
New Delhi: Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals has entered into a partnership with Karo Sambhav , an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) solutions provider, to manage biomedical equipment and IT waste across its network of hospitals. As part of the agreement, Karo Sambhav will implement circular economy principles at all 25 Ujala Cygnus hospitals by establishing a structured, compliant, and technology-enabled recycling system for biomedical and IT-related waste, according to a press release. The initiative is expected to process approximately 100 metric tonnes of e-waste annually, based on an estimated generation of ~0.2 kg per bed per day. It will ensure end-to-end traceability, compliance with CPCB/SPCB guidelines, and transparent material recovery processes. According to the hospital group, the initiative is projected to achieve an annual carbon offset of over 200 tonnes of CO₂. It aligns with India's ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals as well as broader global climate commitments. 'With this pioneering circular economy initiative, we are demonstrating that hospitals can be catalysts of environmental change. This partnership is our commitment to a greener, more sustainable future for all,' said Dr. Shuchin Bajaj, Founder Director, Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Services. 'The healthcare sector generates highly sensitive and complex waste streams. This collaboration will showcase how circular systems can be seamlessly integrated into hospital operations,' added Pranshu Singhal, Founder, Karo Sambhav.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Essence of 'India Story' lies in keeping country first: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav at CII Summit
New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, on Thursday, addressed the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit 2025 on the theme 'Building Trust - India First', and underscored that the essence of the India Story lies in always keeping India First. The Special Plenary Session address was focused on 'India's Climate Policy Architecture: Pathways for Emerging Economies'. Describing the 'India Story', Yadav portrayed it as a blend of tradition and transformation, where democracy walks alongside development, and compassion coexists with assertiveness. Addressing the summit, Union Minister Yadav praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative, Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which transforms environmental protection into a participative process. He highlighted that Mission LiFE encourages communities, businesses, and individuals to collectively contribute to saving the planet. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Union Minister Yadav outlined India's climate policy architecture, focusing on three key drivers, such as a self-reliant circular economy, which could be a path to sustainable growth. India is transitioning from a linear to a circular economy model, aiming to reduce waste and enhance resource efficiency. The government has introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines for various sectors, including tyres, batteries, plastics, and e-waste, to promote recycling and sustainable consumption. Between 2022 and 2024, the recycling sector attracted investments totalling Rs 10,000 crore, reflecting industry commitment to sustainable practices. The circular economy sector is projected to be worth 2 trillion dollars by 2050, creating approximately 10 million jobs. The second driver remains to protect natural ecosystems and to strengthen resilience, under which India has launched Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and the nationwide campaign 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', a community-driven initiative aimed at environmental conservation. The introduction of Green Credit Rules under Mission LiFE incentivises voluntary actions toward environmental conservation, fostering a culture of sustainability. The third driver is about promoting adaptation, which means building climate resilience. India recognises the challenges posed by climate change and is committed to building resilience through adaptation strategies. The government has released the Draft Framework of the Climate Finance Taxonomy, outlining methodologies for classifying activities under adaptation and mitigation. Moreover, the development of the first National Adaptation Plan, to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), focuses on enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening knowledge systems, and reducing exposure to climate risks. In a world characterised by geopolitical uncertainties, Yadav emphasised that India remains the most trusted partner globally. This trust is attributed to India's political stability, visionary leadership, cultural values, and unwavering commitment to a sustainable future. Union Minister Yadav urged industry leaders to actively participate in building a self-reliant circular economy. He invited them to join the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition, launched under India's G20 Presidency, as a collaborative platform to facilitate knowledge-sharing and sustainable practices. (ANI)
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK's Canned Wine Group to seek further funding
UK-based Canned Wine Group is looking to raise more funds by the end of 2025 as it looks to grow headcount and expand the presence of its on-draught keg line. Speaking to Just Drinks at London Wine Fair last week, co-founder and CEO Simon Rollings said the money would be used for "working capital", to build its sales and marketing teams and scale the on-tap line for its Copper Crew brand. Rollings said the single-serve wines business was looking to raise £3m ($4m), mostly from new investors and was in talks with several venture capital firms. It has so far raised £2m to date. Canned Wine Group launched its 20 litre wine kegs in the UK in March and is looking to expand the presence of those in the UK and Ireland, the latter of which it entered last week. Co-founder Ben Franks told Just Drinks the Copper Crew keg line was being well received, especially following the introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, which came into force in the UK last month. The policy requires producers to report how much packaging they put into the market and pay associated rates per tonnage. "There's... some really interesting restaurant groups and pub groups and so on that see the benefits with EPR coming in and switching to that new format," Franks explained. Rollings also said the move into kegs responded to a significant demand. "Part of that is being driven by EPR, part of it by sustainability," he said. "It's also about service, so rather than having staff refilling fridges, they're serving customers. Because changing your keg over is instant, whereas filling a fridge is time consuming, and you're not doing what you should be doing as a bar[tender], waiter, waitress, which is serving customers and delivering a very great experience." Speaking on future plans, Franks said down the line that the company wanted to increase the number of brands in its portfolio, which it might do through M&A or in-house. "We're looking at where does that fit, what the opportunities are in the market, either through acquisition of creating our own," he said. "So, building on this idea of being a brand house that has multiple brands for different occasions". Canned Wine Group's portfolio includes Canned Wine Co. and Copper Crew, which it acquired in 2023. The UK is Canned Wine Group's main market. It also sells to the Netherlands, France, Greece, Malta and now Ireland. Speaking to Just Drinks in 2023, the business said it had ambitions to bring its products to the US. Last week, Rollings said that interest was still there, but that the market was "not something we're proactively going after at this stage", adding there was plenty of "scope" to build the business in the UK and "nearer markets like Netherlands and Ireland". The group sees the US as an "enormous opportunity" but also a "challenge in terms of scaling to that size", he said. "Obviously, as a business that is focused on sustainability, there's probably different ways in which we can set the business plan to serve the US market. So that's a case of we will do it at some point, and we'll just wait until the time is right and really try to do it well." "UK's Canned Wine Group to seek further funding" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
From discard to design: How brands are embracing sustainable electronics
In an era where the life cycle of gadgets is shrinking as fast as our attention spans, the pile of electronic waste or e-waste, is growing at an alarming pace. In 2022, the world generated a staggering 62 million tonnes of e-waste, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, a report 1 by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Of this, only 22.3% was properly collected and recycled. India, the third-largest generator of e-waste globally, produced around 1.1 million tonnes, and the figure is expected to grow exponentially as smartphone, appliance, and electric vehicle usage continues to surge. But amid this grim data lies a flicker of innovation: a design revolution that's quietly reshaping how electronic devices are built and rebuilt. Designing for disassembly Gone are the days when sleek gadgets were sealed shut, their insides inaccessible without professional intervention. Today, more brands are adopting Design for Disassembly (DfD), an approach that enables products to be taken apart easily for repair, reuse, or recycling. This shift is driven not just by environmental concerns but also by growing consumer demand for more durable, repairable products. Tech companies, particularly in Europe and North America, are increasingly embracing modular design, where individual parts like batteries, screens, and cameras can be replaced without trashing the whole device. Even India is catching up. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has begun exploring circular design guidelines 2 , while the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is tightening Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms 3 , nudging brands to take ownership of a product's post-consumer phase. Sustainable materials, smarter choices Eco-conscious design isn't limited to modularity. Manufacturers are also rethinking the materials they use. Recycled aluminium, bio-plastics, reclaimed rare-earth metals, these are slowly becoming part of the electronics lexicon. Take circuit boards, for instance. Once deemed unrecyclable due to their composite materials, companies are now experimenting with biodegradable substrates and non-toxic soldering agents. Even packaging is undergoing a green makeover, with many firms switching to plastic-free, compostable alternatives. Closing the loop with circularity The big idea behind these design shifts is circularity, keeping materials in use for as long as possible. Startups and giants alike are launching take-back programmes, incentivising users to return old devices for refurbishing or recycling. Some firms are going a step further by integrating traceability tech like blockchain to map a gadget's life cycle from cradle to grave. What's particularly exciting is how sustainability is no longer a niche concern. It's becoming central to product strategy, thanks to informed consumers and a rising ecosystem of green design engineers and circularity consultants. Sustainability is no longer just about waste management, it's about smart, elegant design that balances performance with the planet. The India opportunity India's challenge is unique: a booming electronics market with relatively low awareness of formal e-waste disposal. A 2022 study by the Central Pollution Control Board revealed that over 90% of e-waste in India is processed by the informal sector, often in unsafe, unregulated conditions 4 . This not only harms the environment but also endangers workers' health. To address this, public-private partnerships are essential. They can bridge the gap between awareness and action, especially in urban centres where consumption is highest. A step in the right direction One such initiative is Project E-Waste, a collaboration between Mercedes-Benz India and SACH India, aimed at creating awareness and driving responsible e-waste disposal practices. While just a drop in the ocean, such efforts are crucial in shifting mindsets and setting benchmarks for other stakeholders to follow. In the end, the path from discard to design is not just about innovation. It's about intention. In a world hurtling towards tech-saturation, the most futuristic gadget may well be the one that knows how to deconstruct itself. References:
