| Active contribution to the achievement of the country’s national environmental targets regarding the indices of old lead-acid batteries’ collection
Development of the circular economy in co-operation with institutional bodies and companies Education and boost of awareness for 14,000 private companies with regard to the proper recycling of lead-acid batteries |
The management of Sunlight Recycling, member of Olympia Group, belonging to the interests of Panos Germanos, presented today the environmental initiative Green Mission, which has the ambition to boost the awareness of the public as well as the corporate community with regard to the proper recycling of lead-acid batteries. Green Mission brings together institutional bodies and is implemented under the support of companies* activating in the Greek as well as global market place.
It is worth noting that the problem in our country that is to be dealt by Green Mission is especially important, as only 50% of the used lead batteries is collected and recycled, whereas the corresponding percentage in Europe settles at 95%. At the same time, a large percentage of the used batteries are recycled on illegal basis with especially negative repercussions on the Greek economy and the country’s environment.
The objectives of the environmental initiative Green Mission which is an action of Sunlight Recycling is the following:
The active contribution to the achievement of the country’s national environmental targets regarding the indices of old lead-acid batteries’ collection
The greater awareness of the public and the companies regarding the benefits generated from proper recycling of lead-acid batteries
The actions of the program are already in progress and are the following: during the first 2-year period, the Green Mission targets greater awareness and provision of information to 14,000 Greek companies which produce or/and manage significant quantities of industrial waste materials. Already, 30 large corporations from various business sectors have participated in Green Mission initiative.
Under the above framework, the website www.greenmission.gr was created with the aim to become reliable source of information for problems relating to the area of recycling of old lead-acid batteries. Both individuals and companies have the opportunity to receive information with regard to the proper recycling of old lead-acid batteries, about the legislation in effect, etc.
2018 is also expected to be a dynamic year as the campaign for greater awareness will further expand in the Municipalities of Greece with the objective to create Green Spots for the disposal of the used lead-acid batteries.
A growing number of private companies have started to demonstrate their commitment to the goals of Green Mission. Such companies are indicatively the following: ABB, ACE POWER ELECTRONICS, ALTER EGO, ENGIE, IDE INTRACOM, ISOMAT, IT SPARKLES, KION ARCHITECTS, NOVA, PUBLIC, RAYCAP, SIDENOR, SYMETAL, TERRA NOVA, TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING, AEIFOROS, ATTIKES DIADROMES, ATTIKI ODOS, JOTIS FOOD, DELTA ELVAL, HELLENIC CABLES, BARBA STATHIS, HYGEIA HOSPITAL, HERON GROUP OF COMPANIES, CORINTH PIPEWORKS, TYRAS, CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY, HALCOR.
The presentation of Green Mission took place in partnership with SEPAN (Federation of Recycling and Energy Recovery Industries and Enterprises), ETVA VIPE, and George Konstantopoulos who is Supreme Court attorney.
Mr. S. Kopolas, General Manager of Sunlight Recycling, stated the following: “As a company which has demonstrated in practice the benefits generated from the proper recycling processes, in both corporate and environmental level, we have the ambition to communicate and transmit our philosophy for greater sensitivity and awareness to an even larger audience. Thanks to the monitoring and control of accumulators’ waste materials from the primary spot until the final recycling process, as well as with the selection of the top environmental technologies already offered by Sunlight Recycling, we guarantee the minimal, if not zero, effect on the environment. Furthermore, with the use of cutting-edge technologies, properly recycled products of pure lead and mixtures are redirected in the market according to the principles of the circular economy.”
Mr. Panagiotis Skiadas, Chairman of SEPAN stated the following: “The recycling process is not panacea for the problem of waste management. The utilization of waste materials under the framework of the circular economy constitutes the ultimate target although certain conditions have to be met. It is necessary that certain environmental criteria are included in the existing regulatory framework to ensure proper recycling procedures.
Ms. Mairi Nikolaou, representative of ETVA VIPE highlighted the following: “We are greeting the initiative of Green Mission and Sunlight Recycling and we are clearly stating our intention to actively participate in this action as we believe that the industrial companies are responsible for the proper recycling process that must be followed.”
Mr. Konstantinopoulos, expert evaluator of the European Commission in issues concerning environmental legislation alignment, stated: “The initiative of Green Mission demonstrates the need for awareness by all involved parties with regard to the environmental-friendly recycling of batteries. It is certain this initiative will become catalyst for the further development and operation of the circular economy in Greece amid difficult circumstances.”
All member companies of Green Mission share the common values of consistency, of respect and of circular economy based entrepreneurship, demonstrating at the same time their commitment towards the proper management and recycling of waste materials related to lead-acid batteries.
It is worth noting that since the year 2014 and following a large investment of 31 million Euro, Sunlight Recycling activates in the area of Komotini as the most technologically and environmentally upgraded recycling unit for lead batteries in Europe.
The plant which has vertically integrated the production process of Systems Sunlight has a capacity of 25,000 tons of used batteries on annual basis and guarantees the recycling process of lead-acid accumulators with almost zero effect on the environment.
*Companies – Members (in alphabetical order)
| ABB |
| ACE POWER ELECTRONICS |
| AEIFOROS |
| ALTER EGO |
| ATTIKES DIADROMES |
| ATTIKI ODOS |
| BARBA STATHIS |
| CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY |
| CORINTH PIPEWORKS |
| DELTA |
| ELVAL |
| ENGIE |
| HALCOR |
| HELLENIC CABLES |
| HERON GROUP OF COMPANIES |
| HYGEIA HOSPITAL |
| IDE INTRACOM |
| ISOMAT |
| IT SPARKLES |
| JOTIS FOOD |
| KION ARCHITECTS |
| NOVA |
| PUBLIC |
| RAYCAP |
| SIDENOR |
| SYMETAL |
| SYSTEMS SUNLIGHT |
| TERRA NOVA |
| TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING |
| TYRAS |
