An organised after-market is necessary
– Ramashankar Pandey, CEO, Tata Green Batteries
From a practical standpoint, within the automotive industry in the past, India lacked a comprehensive policy, inspection, certification and regulatory frameworks necessary for the automotive aftermarket. However, these aspects are now evolving and aiding the ecosystem.
From an industry perspective, a clear business case and visionary leadership are crucial for success. India has the potential to lead globally in sustainability, particularly in achieving more with less and embracing recyclability and circularity. However, challenges exist in organising, standardising and digitising the aftermarket cycle to build consumer trust, especially in the certification of used parts.
The aftermarket, including the battery industry, faces challenges such as environmental impact, like lead contamination. Companies like Tata are reconsidering their business models to address such issues. Collaboration with stakeholders is essential to create organised systems, like a marketplace for old batteries.
The impact of middlemen in recycling
The battery industry, particularly lead-acid batteries, holds significant responsibility in mitigating lead poisoning which affects approximately 23 crore children. Recognising this, there’s a reevaluation of business models within the industry. While there’s a commendable practice of returning old batteries to retailers, the journey from collection to smelting requires greater organisation. The presence of middlemen often prevents the establishment of state-of-the-art smelting units which is essential for sustainable and responsible recycling. Concerted effort is needed to ensure that every step in the process is environmentally sound, preventing lead contamination of water and food sources. There’s a call for collaboration with stakeholders to introduce more standardised practices in the battery recycling ecosystem, to realise the vision of a cleaner, safer environment for all.
We at Tata are prepared to collaborate with any stakeholder who can bring in such a system.
