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BEST
Better
Environmental Sustainability Targets
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BEST
Better
Environmental Sustainability Targets
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The Better Environmental Sustainability Targets (BEST) Certification is an international initiative for the purpose of standardizing environmental performance goals for lead battery manufacturers. This voluntary certification program rewards lead battery manufacturers who meet strict environmental performance standards and agree to take back used batteries for environmentally sound recycling. Participating battery companies that meet emission standards and take back used batteries for environmentally sound recycling, qualify to place the BEST eco-label on their products. An accredited auditor conducts an annual assessment to verify compliance with these minimum performance standards.
The BEST Standard 1001 includes a comprehensive set of voluntary environmental certification criteria for lead battery manufacturing facilities including provisions for:
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The BEST Standard 1001 for lead battery manufacturers is available here.
The improper recycling of lead batteries is a major concern for lead pollution in the environment.
Today, lead poisoning has reached epidemic proportions. Average exposure levels in children residing near battery plants in developing countries are four times higher than the current level of concern established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Average blood lead levels among workers in these plants are approximately twice the recommended level. WHO estimates that 120 million people are overexposed to lead (approximately three times the number infected by HIV/AIDS) and 99 percent of the most severely affected are in the developing world.
More than 80 percent of all lead production goes into batteries. Battery manufacturers in developing countries generally don't collect more than a small percentage of used batteries for proper recycling. As a result, backyard smelters for recycling batteries have proliferated, further contributing to lead poisoning and environmental contamination.
Lead poisoning is also one of the most serious environmental health threats to children and one of the most significant contributors to occupational disease. Lead poisoning causes symptoms ranging from the loss of neurological function to death depending upon the extent and duration of exposure. In children, moderate lead exposure is responsible for decreasing school performance, lowering IQ scores, and is also linked with hyperactive and violent behavior. Both children and adults can suffer from a range of illnesses including harm to the central nervous system, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and blood forming system. It also affects the reproductive system in both men and women.
The annual cost to society due to lead poisoning in children in the U.S. alone is estimated to exceed $43.4 billion. Worldwide estimates are not available but would greatly exceed this figure, as exposures are known to be significantly higher in developing countries.
Battery companies that meet BEST Certification are an elite group in an industry that is evolving from a perceived commodity to one with growing brand recognition. The certification rewards companies seeking to differentiate themselves in the market. Consumers around the globe are increasingly seeking out environmentally sustainable products and are often willing to pay a premium price for such goods. As markets for lead batteries become increasingly global, more scrutiny is being placed on the environmental standards under which products are manufactured. Only third party BEST Certification offers these marketing advantages.
To learn more about the BEST Standard see OK International’s web site.
A brochure describing the BEST Standard 1001 and the significance of lead batteries in lead poisoning prevention effort is available in three languages (English, Chinese, and Vietnamese). To download the BEST brochure click on one of the links below: