Did you know that a solar lamp from BRIGHT can replace up to 8,500 disposable batteries?

With the introduction of LEDs, the incandescent lightbulb has long been obsolete. Why not let rechargeable batteries take the place of disposable ones? BRIGHT’s products are charged using solar energy and use rechargeable lithium-based batteries for storage – potentially saving thousands of disposable batteries.

So, what is the difference between a disposable and a rechargeable battery? Both consist of an electron-emitting cathode and a receiving anode which are separated by an electrolyte. However, while a disposable battery can only transfer energy between the cathode and anode once, a rechargeable battery’s chemistry and construction allow the process to be repeated – resulting in undeniable benefits to the environment. Firstly, a disposable battery has a climate footprint 28 times larger than its rechargeable relative [1]. Secondly, the lithium batteries found in BRIGHT’s products perform better in cold weather. Because the electrolytes of disposable alkaline batteries are often water-based, their chemical reactions are slower, negatively impacting their performance and durability.

Yet 160,000 tonnes, or approximately seven billion alkaline batteries, are sold in the EU every year. After only one use, these batteries become waste. Despite their negative impact, Eurostat estimates that only 44 percent of disposable batteries are recycled. In Norway, the number is even lower at 32 percent [2]. Many of these contain hazardous materials, particularly the small button-cell batteries found in watches and small electronics that are marked Pb, Hg or Cd.

The table below shows the number of disposable AA and AAA batteries the BRIGHT SunBell Smart and Move Smart can replace:

Sources:

[1] http://www.uniross.co.za/bio_ademeSurvey.html

[2] https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/batteries/