 |
|
|
|||||
Batteries are powering a significant shift in how we go about our daily lives, ranging from the devices we carry to electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Batteries play a critical role across key sectors from data center infrastructure, military, and microgrid applications to consumer electronics and more. But as demand surges, so does end-of-life material that needs to be managed. Beyond serving as compact energy sources, batteries also represent a domestic source of essential critical minerals. To fully realize their value, it is crucial to close the loop at end-of-life by recovering these minerals and strengthening the supply needed to support a rapidly expanding battery market. To responsibly manage battery materials at end-of-life, extended producer responsibility (EPR) for batteries becomes essential. BATTERY RECYCLING INDUSTRY: GROWTH TRAJECTORY In the U.S., battery EPR laws are being enacted at the state level, leaving battery producers, automotive original equipment manufacturers, and energy storage operators to navigate complex regulations, which vary by state. In states that have passed laws and those with active legislation, jobs will be created to manage these requirements, and we will see an increase in economic activity through the creation of closed-loop supply chains.The battery recycling industry will continue to grow, and battery EPR regulation will only fuel that growth through the creation of a more responsible system to ensure batteries are recycled.When systems are in place that require companies to recover batteries at end-of-life, we will significantly improve our ability to reclaim valuable materials. This applies to all battery chemistries, whether lithium-based or alkaline batteries containing zinc and manganeseyes, alkaline batteries can be recycled, and the recovered minerals from those alkaline batteries can be reused as micronutrients in fertilizers. The groundwork has already been laid, and when you look at battery recycling as a whole, the value of recovering these materials is substantial. That value extends beyond financial benefits to include reduced geopolitical risk, improved logistics and supply chain resilience. THE NATIONAL CHALLENGE The country must address what happens to a battery when its no longer usable. Ultimately, through EPR legislation, we can make it a priority to recover critical minerals and increase the nations ability to produce battery-grade materials. In 2024 alone, the U.S. imported more than one billion batteries. These batteries are made of valuable materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. EPR laws are designed to track a batterys life cycle and, if done right, can help us take advantage of these materials once they are in the U.S. by recycling and reusing the minerals domestically to produce new batteries. STATE LEADERSHIP Battery recycling benefits everyone. Recyclers, producers, legislators, consumers, and the nation must work together to strengthen domestic supply chains, enhance national security, and keep batteries and the critical minerals they contain within U.S. borders. When states introduce EPR bills, they will vary based on battery format or size, but several core principles should remain consistent: Collection: In addition to standard collection sites, expanding to independent collection points increases accessibility. Recycling opportunities must be available to everyone, not limited to a specific group or location. Avoid forfeiture requirements: The battery industry functions as a unified ecosystem, and the goal is to build a closed-loop supply chain. Restricting who can recycle and process the batteries after they are collected jeopardizes existing business models and risks harming the broader industry. Transparency: Full visibility across the entire process from initial recycling through to metal recoveryis essential. Without transparency, innovation within the industry will stagnate. EDUCATION & ACCESS To better implement battery EPR laws, we must enhance consumer education on battery recycling. Many people do not understand how to handle and dispose of used batteries properly. For example, a recent study focused on lithium batteries found that nearly 40% of people do not know they can be recycled, and more than 60% do not know where or how to recycle them. Lithium batteries are far too prevalent in our daily lives for consumers not to have resources and access to responsible recycling. FINAL THOUGHTS I am hopeful that as battery recycling becomes more mainstream and visible to consumers, a larger collection network with increased access will be available, and end-of-life batteries can be properly recycled and processed to recover the critical minerals effectively. And not only is battery EPR a foundation for this and a stronger, more sustainable supply chain, it supports national security and ensures that we in the U.S. increase our global competitiveness through innovation and the domestic sourcing of critical minerals. David Klanecky is the CEO and President of Cirba Solutions.
Category:
E-Commerce
Gen Z is aging into the life moments that define entire industries. As this generation moves through milestones like marriage, homeownership, and family planning, theyre quickly becoming a core target market not just for weddings, but for a wide range of service-based businesses. What matters for these small businesses is how Gen Zs arrival, set against todays economic backdrop, is reshaping expectations for how they serve their customers.While about one in three couples on The Knot in the U.S. are Gen Z, the majority are still a few years away from the peak marrying age of 33. We do know, however, that they are interested in doing so, with 69% of unmarried adults ages 1834 saying they want to get marrieda nearly 10% increase since 2017. As this new generation prepares to celebrate one of lifes most meaningful moments, there will be a major shift in how small businesses are expected to deliver. We are seeing that Gen Z consumers expect more personalization, deeper authenticity, and faster digital-first communication, often alongside less flexibility in spending. Gen Z might be working with smaller budgets, but its not because they lack the desire to invest in their weddings. Rather, it is most often attributed to their current earnings potential. Due to their age, they have not had time to acquire the same amount of funds as millennials. Many Gen Z couples are being intentional about where they spend, investing in the parts of their day that matter most to them and finding creative ways to simplify or scale back elsewhere. For wedding professionals, this shift is already changing the reality of their work. Vendors are serving clients who want thoughtful, high-touch experiences, quick responses, personalization, and visuals that feel Pinterest-worthy, even as overall budgets are more constrained. That often means finding new ways to package services, streamline processes, or rethink how value shows up for each couple. For businesses looking to serve this shifting clientele, intentional adaptation is key. Small businesses should make these four moves now to navigate this market shift. 1. Embrace AI to help with productivity, core processes, and content AI and automation tools are table stakes for productivity and core processes, helping streamline communication, scheduling, content, and lead management. In fact, 77% of customers say they expect to interact with a business immediately when they reach out. For Gen Z customers especially, responsiveness is part of the experience, and falling behind on response time can mean losing business before a conversation even begins. Businesses that use AI thoughtfully to handle administrative work free themselves up to focus on what drives loyalty: creativity, care, and human connection. AI-assisted replies can help you respond quickly with personalized recommendations to start the conversation and save time. 2. Keep pace with trends and provide personalization When it comes to weddings, couples want celebrations that feel of-the-moment, yet deeply personal. For wedding vendors, this means being aware of the trends that are impacting planning decisions and simultaneously translating them in a way that feels truly unique and personal to the couple. No matter what your industry is, its important to maintain a balance between being trend-forward and creating personalized experiences. 3. Dont go it alonelean into community and upskilling Change can feel isolating for small business owners, especially when customer expectations are shifting quickly. The business owners who seem to navigate these moments best are rarely doing it alone. Theyre talking to peers, comparing notes, and staying open to learning new tools and approaches. In weddings, we see this play out every day. Vendors share templates, swap tips on using AI to save time, and openly talk through whats working when it comes to pricing, packages, and client communication. These conversations arent just about support, but also perspective. Learning from others who are facing the same challenges makes it easier to adapt with confidence. 4. Make your understanding of Gen Zs values your competitive advantage Gen Zs expectations are high, but theyre also thoughtful and values driven. They care about authenticity, transparency, and purpose, and are often willing to spend on things that feel meaningful to them. For small businesses, this means storytelling and customer relationships matter more than ever. Businesses that do this well tend to connect more deeply with younger customers. When customers understand the why behind what you do, price becomes part of a larger story, one thats more closely connected to value. This matters because younger consumers arent brand-agnostic; theyre increasingly intentional about where they spend. In recent consumer surveys, Gen Zers say theyre willing to shop locally more often, signaling that values and community can meaningfully influence purchasing decisions alongside price and convenience. In other words, when business leaders feel budgets tightening amidst high expectations, leaning into what makes your offering distinct can turn pressure into loyalty. WHY THESE LESSONS EXTEND FAR BEYOND WEDDINGS Whether you run a salon, creative studio, catering company, or consulting practice, you may already be seeing similar patterns. After many years of working with small businesses, one lesson stands firmly in my mind: Adaptability is one of the greatest advantages an entrepreneur can have. The businesses Ive seen thrive do so because they stay curious, embrace new tools, and meet clients evolving needs with empathy and creativity. If you are a small business owner, take this moment as an opportunity to reimagine how you deliver value, connect with clients and your community, and build a business that can grow with the next generation. Gen Z may be shifting expectations, but with the right adjustments, they just may become the next area of growth for your business. Raina Moskowitz is the CEO of The Knot Worldwide.
Category:
E-Commerce
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Health, a product that allows users to connect their medical records and wellness apps to the AI chatbot and get personalized health guidance. The feature, unveiled on Wednesday, creates a separate space within ChatGPT for health questions and discussions, where users can collect data from their connected health apps such as fitness apps and store their health files. Users can also connect to their electronic medical records through a partnership with b.well, OpenAI says. ChatGPT, then, does not have a direct integration with the MyChart patient records app from Epic, for example, but lets individual users make requests for their patient record data through integrations built by b.well. In practice, the patient will see a login through their provider’s portal, which often is a MyChart login page to authenticate into their account. In addition, users can connect ChatGPT Health to wellness apps including Apple Health, Peloton, MyFitnessPal, and Function Health. OpenAI say more than 230 million people globally already ask health and wellness questions on ChatGPT each week. The company says it developed ChatGPT Health over two years in collaboration with more than 260 physicians who have practiced in 60 countries, collecting over 600,000 pieces of feedback on model outputs. The new product gets its intelligence from a specialized OpenAI health model. In collaboration with doctors, the company also created an evaluation tool called HealthBench, which it uses to test the health model. Data in ChatGPT Health is protected using purpose-built encryption, OpenAI says, and health conversations in the Health space are not used to train OpenAI’s models. But privacy advocates remain concerned about the risks of sharing personal health data within a chatbot setting. “While OpenAI says that it wont use information shared with ChatGPT Health in other chats, AI companies are leaning hard into personalization as a value proposition, says the Center for Democracy & Technologys Andrew Crawford in a statement. Especially as OpenAI moves to explore advertising as a business model, its crucial that separation between this sort of health data and memories that ChatGPT captures from other conversations is airtight.”OpenAI says health consumers can use ChatGPT Health to prepare for doctor appointments, understand clinical test results, get diet and exercise advice, and evaluate insurance options based on their healthcare patterns. ChatGPT Health is not FDA-approved, so it’s not to be confused with real clinician diagnosis and treatment. Right now, the new feature is available only to a small group of ChatGPT subscribers and free users. OpenAI plans to expand access and make Health available to all users on the web and iOS in the coming weeks. (You can sign up for the waitlist to request access.) OpenAIs CEO of Applications Fidji Simo wrote in a blog post that she personally used ChatGPT to flag a potential medication conflict during a hospital stay last year, calling the experience an example of AI’s potential in healthcare. Because Ive been dealing with a chronic illness for years, I had already uploaded a lot of my health records into ChatGPT, Simo writes. I asked whether I should be taking this antibiotic given my medical history, and ChatGPT flagged that this particular antibiotic could reactivate a very serious infection Id had a couple of years prior. In the big picture, ChatGPT Health represents yet another front OpenAIs growing platform war with legacy tech players such as Apple, Google, and Meta.
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||