Lead Battery Manufacturing Certification in the Developing World: Applying BEST Standards in India and Vietnam

The lead battery industry in developing countries is growing rapidly as a result of motorization, increases in off-grid power technologies, and requirements for backup power supplies. Unfortunately, sustainable collection policies and recycling practices have not been adopted by most nations. As a result of the lack of formal recycling infrastructure and relatively high values of lead, lead batteries are often recycled in informal backyard smelters, creating high levels of environmental and occupational pollution. This paper discusses the Better Environmental Sustainability Targets (BEST) certification for battery production. BEST is a voluntary certification that battery manufactures can choose, ensuring that they meet minimum requirements for occupational safety and used battery recovery. This paper discusses the potential of BEST certification to reduce lead exposures in the developing world.