Packers partner with Batteries Plus, promote battery recycling

Heather Graves

Staff

August 12, 2024

GREEN BAY – For the past several years, Aaron Popkey, Green Bay Packers director of public affairs, said the team has put a significant focus on sustainability as part of its Green Initiative – “using renewable resources and other sustainable practices on gameday and every day.”

This effort, Popkey said, includes:

• The team’s First Downs for Trees program – which plants trees in Northeast Wisconsin to target the carbon emitted by the Packers’ air charters to road games. Since starting, Popkey said the Packers have planted more than 7,000 trees. 
• Implementing energy-efficient facility upgrades at Lambeau Field when completing stadium renovations – which has recently included energy-efficient stadium boilers, upgraded HVAC, lighting and kitchen equipment.
• Recycling and landfill diversion programs on gamedays and every day at Lambeau Field.

Earlier this month, the Packers’ announced a partnership with Batteries Plus – which was founded in Green Bay in 1988 – that Popkey said complements the team’s existing sustainability efforts.

The partnership, he said, launches a new battery recycling initiative aimed at educating and raising awareness about battery recycling among Packers fans.

“The Green Bay Packers are proud to be a part of this vital initiative,” Popkey said. “As a team deeply rooted in the community, we recognize the importance of sustainability and are committed to promoting responsible recycling practices among our fans.”

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and others from the Department of Energy were in attendance for the announcement to show support for the initiative.

Granholm described the partnership as a “huge step” in American energy independence and building a full American critical material supply chain.

“(We can accomplish this) in a responsible way by recycling the materials we already have in our system,” she said. “Partnering with Batteries Plus and a great football team like the Packers will create this cycle.”

Granholm said soon all the energy in the United States will be running on wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal and micro-electric power.

“All of these devices require the use of critical materials – lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, nickel,” she said. “In this global race to lead in producing these technologies, some countries are going to be the buyers, and some are going to be the sellers, the makers, the people who are employing folks – in this case, stamping it made in America, used in America and sold around the world.”

Granholm said part of that is making sure “we are not ceding the territory to competitor nations like China, for example,” who have a big footprint in critical minerals and critical minerals processing.

To succeed in those endeavors, Granholm said, “we need to build back up that whole supply chain for these products in America.”

“That means we are going to be extracting critical minerals responsibly,” she said. “That means we are going to be processing them responsibly. That means we’re going to look at trade laws. And that means we’re going to recycle the materials already in the system.”

Granholm said that is what the partnership between the Packers and Batteries Plus is all about.

“It’s a way to stand up and say, ‘we are going to be energy independent,’ – and one important component of that is recycling these critical minerals,” she said. “We have a plan to solve the challenge. We’re teaming up with an innovative American company, like Batteries Plus, and a great American football team to create this circular economy and recycle the materials we already have.”

Because the materials in batteries have already been processed, Granholm said they are more pure when they go through the system a second time.

Part of getting to that point, she said, is education.

“Thank goodness we have partners like the Green Bay Packers that are going to help educate people about what they can do with their old batteries,” she said.

Initiative details

Scott Williams, CEO of Batteries Plus, said the initiative is the result of a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at “dramatically increasing battery recycling nationwide” by removing financial barriers for consumers, enhancing operational efficiencies and educating communities on responsible battery recycling.

“This grant is a pivotal step in our mission to make battery recycling accessible and mainstream,” he said. “By eliminating recycling fees at our stores and developing advanced recycling workstations, we’re removing barriers and making it easier for consumers to do their part in preserving both our natural resources and the strength of our domestic supply chain.”

Williams said the initiative is a “win-win-win” in bringing the message to a wider audience.

“For us to have the (support of the) Department of Energy and partner with the Green Bay Packers as we do the right thing to solve a cultural truth in America, is a perfect day for us,” he said.

Though a desire to recycle is there, Williams said more than half of Americans don’t know where to take their batteries to be recycled.

“As a part of this program, we are asking folks to clean out that old battery drawer, bring in their alkaline, bring in their rechargeables, bring in their lithium and we will recycle responsibly,” he said. “We have a great opportunity to become the front door for American recycling.”

The backend processes, Williams said, have been there.

For 30 years, Batteries Plus has annually processed 50 million pounds of batteries, including more than 1 million pounds of lithium-based batteries – a number that Williams said continues to grow.

However, the communication, the engagement, the understanding – “that’s what’s been missing.”

“This initiative/partnership opens that up,” he said.

Williams said this partnership gives Batteries Plus the opportunity to expand upon the processes already in place to make recycling batteries more mainstream and efficient to better protect the environment. 

“It makes battery recycling easy, convenient and at no cost to the consumer,” he said.

Through the partnership, fans are encouraged to bring their used batteries to their local Batteries Plus store.

Popkey said Wisconsin recyclers will be eligible to win experiences, prizes and other incentives – including the opportunity to present the game ball before a Packers home game this season. 

Wisconsin schools will also be invited to participate in battery recycling contests, with the winning classroom receiving a memorable, exclusive Lambeau Field experience. 

A Batteries Plus display – complete with interactive games, recycling information and recycling opportunities – will be located on the Fan Walkway on the east side of Lambeau Field before the Sept. 29 game against the Minnesota Vikings and Oct. 13 game against Arizona Cardinals.

“The Packers are going to help educate and raise awareness with our fans and others in the area about the ease, the importance and the process of battery recycling,” Popkey said.

Williams said many people often say they want to do the right thing for the environment – “they just need to know how.”

For more information on the initiative and to find your nearest recycling location, visit batteriesplus.com or energy.gov.