Energizer has introduced a new line of batteries that are the world’s first to be partially made from recycled batteries.
The Energizer EcoAdvanced AA and AAA batteries are among the company’s highest highest performance batteries. But what makes these little guys unusual is that 4 percent of the new batteries comes from old batteries.
While 4 percent doesn’t sound like a lot, it’s certainly a step in the right direction. An awful lot of batteries get thrown out, and using even a small portion of the materials to create new products could go a long way toward reducing electronic waste.
According to the Wall Street Journal, materials including zinc and manganese are re-used in these alkaline batteries, and it took Energizer 7 years to figure out how to use them in a way that offered strong performance.
Now that there’s a market for recycled batteries, Energizer is hoping that more recycling plants will process them which could lead to future batteries made with larger percentages of recycled materials.
Of course, if you want to spend less time and money buying new batteries, you could also just buy rechargeable batteries that can be used and recharged dozens or hundreds of times.  They tend to cost more than alkaline batteries in the short run, but they can save you a lot of money int the long run.
If you’re interested in picking up some EcoAdvanced batteries, Energizer is offering coupons for up to $3 off a pack.