Youth-led environmental group Solidarity for Environmental Education and Development for Sustainability (SEEDS PH) pushed for the inclusion of Motolite on the list of brands that are being recognized internationally as #heroesofrecycling in line with the annual celebration of Global Recycling Day last March 18.
Jonero Dacula, co-convenor of SEEDS PH, said Motolite – the most reliable automotive battery brand in the Philippines – has been investing heavily to make sure the used lead-acid batteries in the country are being collected and recycled, instead of contributing to environmental degradation.
“Motolite has a longstanding partnership with corporations, civic organizations like the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), battery dealers, and other groups for the collection of used lead-acid batteries that are considered hazardous wastes. These old batteries are then being brought to Motolite’s third-party recycler Evergreen.
Environmental Resources Inc. (EERI), which is recovering close to 99 percent of the batteries’ components,” Dacula said.Using German technology, Motolite makes use of these recycled materials in producing a complete line of batteries for different applications, including the New Excel, which is recognized by experts as the Philippines’ best automotive battery; the Excel EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) for start-stop vehicles; the Excel DIN mostly used for European cars and certain American and Japanese vehicles; the Sea Master; Solar Master; TruckMaster; GolfMaster; and a host of low-maintenance batteries as well as motorcycle batteries.
Last year, Motolite managed to collect 32,727 metric tons of used lead-acid batteries, including those sold by its competing brands that do not have recovery and recycling programs.
“Motolite is the only player in the country’s automotive battery industry that has a recycling program. Motolite, thus, is no longer dependent on virgin plastic and mined lead in the production of its batteries. This should earn the brand the distinction of being one of the global #heroesofrecycling. We are also calling on Filipino motorists to support Motolite for its efforts to protect our environment, unlike other brands,” added Dacula.