LG Electronics (066570.KS) is strengthening its environmental, social and governance management through a campaign that collects and recycles discarded batteries from home appliances.
The company said on the 2nd that it is running "BatteryTurn," a cordless vacuum battery collection campaign, jointly with the Korea Environment Corporation and E-Cycle Governance, a nonprofit organization that manages the recycling of discarded electronics in Korea. Through the 30th of next month, participants can return used cordless vacuum batteries — regardless of manufacturer — to LG Electronics service centers nationwide. Contactless participation through the online brand shop is also available.
LG Electronics is encouraging participation by offering discounts on purchases of its LG CordZero cordless vacuums for those who return used batteries. The company has run the BatteryTurn campaign continuously since 2022, drawing a cumulative 200,000 participants through the first half of this year. Annual participation has more than quadrupled, from 12,000 people in 2022 to more than 50,000 last year, and the company plans to extend that growth this year with two campaigns including the current one.
The used batteries collected total 340,000 units, or 156 tons by weight. From these, the company has recovered more than 13 tons of rare metals including nickel, lithium, cobalt and manganese. Lithium in particular is used as a key material in electric vehicle batteries. Lithium gathered from 1,500 used batteries is enough to build a battery for one midsize electric vehicle.
LG Electronics returns the proceeds from recovering and recycling rare metals from used batteries to local communities. Using funds raised through the BatteryTurn campaign, the company donated 15 LG CordZero AI ObjetCollection A9 cordless vacuums to Pine Tree Home, a children's welfare facility, the previous day. It has previously donated cordless vacuums to residential facilities for people with intellectual disabilities, welfare facilities for single mothers and community welfare centers that provide free meals to vulnerable groups.
LG Electronics plans to reduce environmental pollution and resource waste by recycling waste including used batteries. It collected 640,000 tons of discarded electronic products last year, and 5.65 million tons cumulatively since 2006. The waste recycling rate at its business sites at home and abroad reached 97.3% last year, meeting its 2030 target of 95% ahead of schedule.
"We will expand resource circulation activities that customers can easily join, contributing to building a sustainable future," said Son Chang-woo, head of LG Electronics' Living Solution Business Unit.
