Opportunities for ABRI members to build their B2B networks are growing. As mentioned in the 30 March Member Bulletin, the ABRI website is one pathway for reaching potential customers. It received over 1,500 visits to the commercial battery recycling search function in the March Quarter.
There are also web based platforms emerging that will provide a central marketplace for connecting companies with unwanted products and materials with companies who can recycle and/or reuse these products and materials. This type of approach could be used for transacting used EV and BESS batteries.
In Europe, Cling Systems has developed a market platform for aggregating used EV li-ion batteries from car dismantlers, repair workshops, production lines, and other collectors worldwide. Cling Systems is also developing a data module to map out information on battery packs including their chemistries, cells and modules. This allows sellers and buyers to value the battery and its potential for second life applications or raw material content for recycling. Their byline is Building the Online Mine.
The latest platform to come to ABRI’s attention is The Surpluss, which is starting up in Australia building on operations in the UAE and the UK.
Surpluss advises The platform creates an intelligent ecosystem for buyers of used batteries or other used materials to collaborate with interested buyers. For example, holders of used batteries/materials across Australia can put these on the platform, so interested parties can source according to the frequency of output and proximity. The system also tracks financial performance (such as revenue made/saved) and sustainability performance (such as landfill diversion in KG, links with the UN Sustainable Development Goals) so exchanges can be quantified for management reporting.
The Surpluss is industry agnostic, the battery value chain can supplement or benefit from other industries that form part of the overall ecosystem such as mining, renewables and e-waste to create cross-sector efficiencies that typically would not occur. There is also an opportunity to lease out surplus, such as idle assets/machinery, co-share warehouse space, and many others to reduce overhead costs and participate in the sharing economy as an accessible route to the circular economy with a practical edge.
The Surpluss won’t replace the emerging supply chain traceability and digital passports, it helps drive the much needed collaboration and the identification of underused and undervalued resources to make help make give businesses the information they need to drive both financial and environmental sustainability in their firms.
ABRI is looking to organise a presentation from The Surpluss in coming months.
|