GB/T 8897.6-2024Primary batteries - Part 6: Guidance on environmental aspects (English PDF)

4.1 Overview

The process of predicting and judging the environmental impact of batteries is complex.

Attempting to address a particular environmental impact may affect one or all stages of the battery life cycle. Nevertheless, the environmental impact of batteries shall still be considered when developing battery standards. The provisions in the standard shall reflect generally accepted strategies for improving the environment, including pollution prevention and resource conservation.

4.2 Purpose of this document

The guidelines in this document reflect generally accepted environmental regulations or national laws and are not intended to represent an environmental improvement strategy for a specific region.

When technological innovations bring benefits to the environment, the environmental guidelines in battery standards shall be reviewed.

Overly conservative clauses in standards may hinder innovation and environmental improvement. To address such negative effects, it is advisable to consider revising the standards.

4.3 Selection of batteries

Whether or not the choice of electrochemical system is part of the battery design, the choice of electrochemical system will have an impact on the environment. Failure to meet the performance requirements required by the device and the appropriate electrochemical system shall be selected shall have an impact on the environment.

Reliable information and clear guidance shall help users make better product choices when purchasing batteries.

In some applications, rechargeable batteries may be more environmentally friendly than other batteries because they can be recharged and reused. In such cases, rechargeable batteries shall be considered. However, when selecting batteries, emphasis shall be placed on performance requirements, duty cycle, toxic or non-renewable materials contained in the battery, charging equipment, total energy consumed by charging the battery during its life cycle, and other factors to achieve the goal of protecting the environment and saving costs.

Rechargeable batteries or small lithium primary batteries are good for the environment when used in high-current products (such as electric toys) or when portable power is frequently used. In daily equipment with medium or low current requirements or infrequent use, alkaline zinc-manganese dioxide batteries are more environmentally friendly.

4.4 Recovery rate

Some laws and regulations clearly stipulate the battery recycling rate, that is, the percentage of the total mass of batteries recycled in a natural year to the annual average mass of batteries put on the market in the previous three years.

5.1 Overview

Corresponding battery standards or environmental management requirements have been established in foreign countries. Batteries placed on the market in these countries or regions shall comply with the latest relevant regulations, see Annex A for details.

Annex A does not cover all battery-related regulations in detail. Global directives that do not apply to batteries are shown in Annex B. Battery manufacturers shall consider local laws and regulations in the following aspects.

a) Battery design;

b) Parts procurement or supplier selection;

c) Quality control, parts and raw material analysis;

d) Labeling.

5.2 General

The following applies to hazardous substances, content limits, preparation of batteries for analysis, and methods for analyzing hazardous substances in batteries (such as connection terminals, wires, and casings). In addition, batteries shall be analyzed separately and their contents shall be confirmed. In addition to the battery itself, the contents of each battery part shall be obtained by separate analysis, or relevant information provided by the supplier.

The test sample can be obtained by processing the components of the battery indiscriminately. However, this may cause the target substances (mercury, cadmium, lead, etc.) to sublime or dissolve during the sample generation process and may be interfered with by the individual elements during the measurement process, resulting in losses. In view of this risk, the method of distinguishing the components before preparing the test sample is preferred to the method of not distinguishing specific components. However, in cases where it is difficult to distinguish the battery components for some reason, alternative methods such as freezing and rolling can be used.

NOTE. The above only applies to ordinary cylindrical batteries.

5.4.2 Component classification

The components, parts and materials of batteries are divided into 4 categories. The more finely the metal parts are distinguished, the simpler the acid dissolution and measurement becomes. Peelable labels shall be considered plastic parts, but those baked or written on the metal casing shall be considered metal parts. The following are the four categories.

a) Cathode mass (including electrolyte), carbon rod;

b) Anode colloid (including electrolyte), anode zinc can;

c) Plastic, paper (including separator);

d) Metal parts (iron-nickel series parts, aluminum alloy parts, copper alloy parts).

5.5 Disassembly process

5.5.1 Alkaline zinc-manganese dioxide battery

Battery disassembly shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of GB/T

20155-2018.

5.5.2 Non-alkaline zinc-manganese dioxide batteries

Battery disassembly shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of GB/T

20155-2018.

5.6 Dismantling personnel qualifications

Battery disassembly shall be performed by professionals in accordance with instructions.

5.7 Sample preparation and analytical methods

Sample preparation and analysis of mercury, cadmium and lead shall be carried out in accordance with GB/T 20155-2018.

7.1 General

Primary batteries that comply with 5.3, such as mercury-free batteries, cadmium-free batteries and lead-free batteries, will not pose a threat to the environment during normal use and waste disposal. They shall be disposed of as other waste in domestic waste.

7.2 Confirmation of the characteristics of hazardous waste

7.2.1 General

Primary batteries, including alkaline zinc-manganese dioxide batteries and non-alkaline zinc-manganese dioxide batteries, are not harmful to the environment during normal use and solid waste disposal because they do not meet the following hazardous waste requirements. Generally speaking, if a solid waste does not meet any of the following requirements (toxicity, flammability, reactivity, corrosiveness), it is not a hazardous waste.

7.2.2 Toxicity

According to the identification procedures of GB 5085.2-2007, GB 5085.3-2007 and

GB 5085.6-2007, any hazardous component whose content exceeds the standard concentration limit shall be deemed to be toxic.

7.2.3 Flammability

The identification is carried out according to the identification procedure of GB 5085.4-

2007.If any requirement is met, it is deemed to be flammable.

7.2.4 Reactivity

The identification is carried out according to the identification procedure of GB 5085.5-

2007.If any requirement is met, it is considered to be reactive.

7.2.5 Corrosiveness

The identification shall be carried out according to the identification procedure of GB

5085.1-2007.If any requirement is met, it shall be deemed to be corrosive.

7.3 Hazardous waste control

If the battery is confirmed to contain harmful components, such as mercury, cadmium, and lead, the content of which is specified in GB 24427-2021.Waste of mercury-free batteries, cadmium-free batteries, and lead-free batteries can be regarded as non- hazardous waste. Transboundary movement shall be disposed of in accordance with the

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. These waste batteries can be disposed of with general garbage because they do not pose a threat to the environment.

8.1 General

Every product has an impact on the environment. This impact runs through every stage of the product life cycle. Environmental factors shall be considered from the production of raw materials, manufacturing, consumption to solid waste collection to limit the impact of waste batteries on the environment. ISO Guide 64.2008 Chapter 4 describes what needs to be considered and how.

8.2 Environmental assessment

8.2.1 Overview

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