The dirty secret of "white oil"

We often talk about the big things such as fossil fuels, plastics, emissions, etc due to their visibility but, there are several things affecting the environment and us that go unnoticed. Synthetic chemicals or manufactured chemicals today are everywhere and in everything so much so that our world would have functioned the same without them. Is it possible for us to ever live in a toxin-free environment?

The production and consumption of chemicals is currently a $5 trillion industry globally and is expected to double by 2030. Addressing the impact of chemicals and recycling is extremely important for COP26. COP26 has convened several events to explore opportunities and tackle the chemical sciences’ role in sustainable and climate action challenges. They believe that addressing the chemicals strategy will bridge the gap between SDGs 12 (Responsible consumption and production) and 13 (Climate Action). 

A major growing concern for these institutions is addressing inadequate battery recycling and fast-charging batteries. Automation and growing momentum in electric cars aid as a catalyst to the increasing consumption of chemicals. This is mainly because these industries are dependent on lithium-ion batteries and the disposing techniques are inadequate and unsustainable. Well, it's crucial to ask, how sustainable and green are electric cars as a solution to the climate crisis? 

While electric cars seem to greenwash consumers due to lower emissions, the lithium batteries used by them are detrimental to the environment on an industrial scale. While several businesses have found expansion and mining opportunities in the electric cars industry that run on “white oil” or lithium, several experts claim this is not the best alternative to fossil fuels. 

There seems to be an immense communication and knowledge gap in the education, business, and government institutions. This is preventing economies from achieving their targets for climate action and close, coherent collaboration across institutions will provide better innovative strategies that can actually work! Well, it's time for a reality check for all the so-called green companies!