What Is the Environmental Impact of Lithium Mining?   

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Lithium is an essential resource used in the manufacturing of rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. Found in everything from smartphones to pacemakers, modern technology relies on lithium to keep our devices charged and working. 

While rechargeable batteries may seem like an eco-friendly idea, there is a high environmental cost associated with lithium batteries. The environmental impact of lithium mining is quite negative and contributes to harmful emissions in the atmosphere, water pollution, and more. 

In this blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at how lithium is mined and why it’s harmful to the environment. 

What Is Lithium Mining? 

There are a couple of different ways that Lithium is mined from the Earth. For example, Australia is the leading lithium supplier in the world, and mines this element from ore mining. Other leading suppliers on a global scale such as Chile, extract this material from salars, or underground lakes/pools. 

No matter how the lithium is extracted, it is sold to manufacturers who use the element to make batteries. These batteries end up in popular technology such as: 

  • Computers 
  • Mobile phones 
  • Digital cameras 
  • Electric vehicles 
  • Calculators 
  • Hearing aids 
  • & more 

While mining may provide job opportunities for locals, the negative environmental impacts these mines have on the surrounding areas often outweigh any pros. 

Reasons Why Lithium Mining Is Bad for the Environment 

  1. Releases Harmful Emissions

When mining for this element, excess amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the environment and contribute to greenhouse gases. 

  1. Pollutes Water Sources

Nearby streams, rivers, lakes, and other water sources often become polluted with chemicals used to complete the extraction process, harming all living organisms that rely on that water source in one way or another. 

  1. Produces Large-Scale Mining Waste

Mining for this element is not sustainable and leaves behind harmful chemical byproducts that can take generations to go away, but not before depleting fertile land. 

  1. Wastes Millions of Gallons of Water

Approximately 500,000 gallons of water are used to extract one ton of Li. This water is rarely if ever reused, and decreases the amount of water available to local agriculture farms. 

Interested in Switching to Eco-Friendly Chemicals? 

Ecolink is proud to provide companies with greener alternatives to harsh chemicals. Our products are responsibly sourced and manufactured with the environment and our customer’s satisfaction in mind. 

Want to know how your company can benefit from switching to eco-friendly chemicals? 

Reach out to us today to learn more! 

How Are Cobalt Batteries Mined?   

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Cobalt (Co) is a chemical element that is found in lithium-ion batteries. These types of batteries are essential to our everyday lives—from our smartphones to our cars, cobalt lithium-ion batteries are found in millions of electronic devices. However, the cost of using cobalt batteries isn’t necessarily monetary. 

In order to make cobalt batteries, miners must extract the element from the land. Cobalt mining is often unethical, harming not only the environment but the workers who risk their lives extracting this chemical. 

In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at how cobalt is mined. 

How Is Cobalt Mined? 

Cobalt comes from the earth in the form of mined metals. Open-pit mining is the most common method of extracting this element for batteries. These mines are predominantly located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where cobalt is extracted and sold to be used in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries. While the Congo has a tremendous amount of natural resources which help supply the world with energy, the individuals mining this product suffer greatly due to the makeshift conditions in which they operate.   

Considering the fact that cobalt is extremely toxic and releases harmful emissions into the environment, mining of this material poses a major health concern for individuals living near cobalt mines. Children that are born in these mining areas can suffer both physiological and neurological damage from excess exposure to the element. 

Miners of this element spend long days mining in dangerous conditions where they are overworked, extremely underpaid, and have little to no rights. It’s not uncommon for children to work in the mines, whether out of necessity to help provide for their families or as forced labor. 

As more companies slowly become aware of the toll that their batteries are having on the environment and workers, some are starting to switch to greener alternatives such as manganese-based batteries. However, as long as cobalt batteries are in demand, cobalt batteries are mined and unethical working and environmental conditions continue. 

Interested in Sustainable Chemical Solutions??  

At Ecolink, we are committed to providing companies in various industries with greener chemical alternatives. Not only are our products a safer choice, but they are cost-effective and available to buy in bulk sizing options. 

Start shopping for industrial-grade chemicals on our website, or reach out to one of our expert team members today to learn more about our high-quality products! 

Benefits of Cobalt-Free Batteries for the Environment 

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Cobalt is a chemical element that is one of the essential materials used to create the lithium-ion battery that’s used in everything from remotes to computers. However, the popularity of this element is decreasing due to how expensive it is. Many manufacturers are making the switch to cobalt-free batteries that work just as well if not better than batteries with this material.

While cost is one of the main reasons manufacturers are choosing batteries without cobalt, environmental reasons are also important. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the benefits of cobalt-free batteries for the environment. 

What Are the Benefits of Using Batteries Without Cobalt?

Cobalt mines exist in several parts of the world and are extremely damaging to the environment. Mining releases large quantities of carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions into the air, which is dangerous to all living beings—including humans. Those who live near or work in a cobalt mine are put at a higher risk of excess exposure and serious consequences to their health.  

When companies use less harmful materials to create cobalt-free batteries, they are helping… 

  • Reduce harmful emissions into the environment 
  • Reduce risk to workers’ health 
  • Ensure little to no battery shortages 
  • Create products with longer battery life 

One of the less toxic elements that are replacing cobalt in more eco-friendly batteries is manganese. Here are some of the reasons why manganese-based batteries are a better choice: 

  • Lower cost 
  • Mined ethically 
  • Cause little to no damage to the environment 

Since cobalt batteries have been used for several years, it’ll take time for some companies to jump on board and switch to greener alternatives. However, many car companies are beginning to implement eco-friendly battery options into their manufacturing processes, showing other companies that it’s possible to make the switch. 

Are you Looking for Eco-Friendly Chemicals for Your Company?   

Let Ecolink be your trusted chemical provider. For decades, we’ve supplied companies with greener chemical alternatives in bulk quantities. Want to learn more about how our products can help your business? Reach out to us today for a free consultation! 

Why Was BioSafe 1025 Discontinued?  

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Resin and coating solvents are notorious for their strength and reliability since they are depended on by many workers to weaken and strip various tough coatings. Unfortunately, most of these solvents come with a dangerous cost, as they are usually highly toxic to both humans and the environment.  

One example of these risky solvents is BioSafe 1025, which was eventually discontinued, presumably because of the health hazards and environmental risks associated with the product.  

Why Was Biosafe 1025 Discontinued?  

Though BioSafe 1025 was relied on by many companies for removing resins and coatings, the product possessed multiple hazards: 

  • Flammability 
  • Reproductive toxicity  
  • Severe eye irritant 
  • Respiratory irritant 
  • Skin irritant 
  • Environmental toxicity  

Are there any Safer Alternatives? 

Since many relied on this product before its discontinuation, they may be looking for a safer alternative that is just as effective.  

One example of the ideal replacement for BioSafe 1025 is Safe Strip, an environmentally preferred paint and resin solvent. Not only is Safe Strip safer for the environment, but it creates a significantly safer work environment with its desirable characteristics: 

  • Biodegradable 
  • Recyclable 
  • Non-flammable 
  • Powerful performance, comparable to solvents like MEK and methylene chloride 
  • Low VOC emissions 
  • No ozone-depleting components 
  • Effective on all coatings, including high-solids epoxy and polyurethane resins 
  • Removes coatings in only one step 
  • Significantly lower Inhalation Hazard Index than MEK or methylene chloride, making it much safer for commercial and industrial use.  
  • Can be used in immersion tanks, gun cleaning tanks, or as a brush-on, rinse-off solvent 

With the formulation of a product like Safe Strip, companies no longer have to compromise worker and environmental safety for quality, as Safe Strip balances the effectiveness of traditional solvents with environmentally-friendly characteristics.  

Looking to Purchase Safe Strip for Your Business or Industrial Needs?  

Click here to check out the Safe Strip product page or to purchase, or click here to reach out to our staff at Ecolink with any questions regarding our products.  

Discover the Benefits of Safe Strip Paint Remover  

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Hundreds of companies and workers around the world depend on paint removing chemicals to strip various coatings from desired surfaces, whether to check for cracks beneath paints or to revamp an old paint job. Sadly, a majority of these paint strippers are highly toxic and harmful to both the environment and the workers using them, as the main ingredient in them is dichloromethane, also known as methylene chloride.  

To learn more about the negative effects of dichloromethane and how to find a safer alternative for your paint and coating removal needs, read on. 

Why Is Dichloromethane Unsafe?  

Though effective as a paint stripping chemical, dichloromethane presents multiple risks to human health and the environment, including but not limited to: 

  • Respiratory irritation 
  • Severe eye irritation 
  • Reproductive toxicity 
  • Neurotoxin, meaning it can potentially damage the brain and central nervous system 
  • Likely to be a carcinogen, as studies have shown high exposure levels can cause lung and liver cancer 
  • Contributes to ozone depletion 

Why Should I Use Safe Strip Paint Remover Instead? 

Some may believe that eco-friendly paint removers are not as effective as traditional paint removing chemicals, but this is not the case with a product like Safe Strip, which balances the effective performance of traditional paint strippers and environmentally/worker friendly characteristics.  

Utilizing Safe Strip paint remover over other harmful paint removers provides many beneficial characteristics: 

  • Biodegradable 
  • Recyclable 
  • Non-flammable 
  • Low VOC emissions 
  • No ozone-depleting components 
  • Removes coatings in only one step 
  • Effective on all coatings, even epoxy and polyurethane resins 
  • Powerful performance, comparable to dichloromethane and MEK 
  • Significantly lower Inhalation Hazard Index than dichloromethane, making it much safer for both industrial and commercial applications 
  • Can be utilized in gun cleaning tanks, immersion tanks, or as a brush-on, rinse-off solvent 

With these desirable qualities, companies no longer need to choose between quality and worker safety when looking for a paint remover.  

Looking to Purchase an Eco-Friendly Coating/Paint Remover? 

If you are looking to purchase Safe Strip for your business or industrial needs, you are in the perfect place! Here at Ecolink, we provide chemicals for companies looking to create safer work environments without compromising quality.  

Click here to check out the Safe Strip product page and purchase, or reach out to specialized staff with any questions. We offer a free quote and consultation to help your company find the chemicals and quantities perfect for your needs!