News Discussion

Lithium-ion Batteries: Ensuring Safe and Sustainable Use of an Essential Technology

Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) launched the NEDO Challenge, Li-ion Battery 2025 in April 2024. On January 22, the final prize-based competition took place in Kanda, Tokyo. Aimed at initiatives for improving safety and enhancing efficiency in waste disposal and recycling facilities, the contest was titled, "Prevent Fires, Aim for Urban Mining!" It specifically targeted fire and accident risks from improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).

The competition featured two categories. Theme 1 focused on LIB detection devices, while Theme 2 explored mechanisms to prevent or neutralize ignition risks.

Otani Seiun, a Japan 2 Earth partner, competed in Theme 1 and secured third place. Alongside national research institutions and universities, the finalists included companies specializing in machinery, electrical engineering, and measurement. Despite being a waste processing company, Otani Seiun took pride in holding its own against such formidable competitors.

Otani Seiun's decision to pursue this development was inspired by words from its president, Reiko Futagi. On May 15, 2021, my first day as an advisor, she told me that exactly one year earlier, a fire caused by a LIB had broken out at the company's second plant.

"Local residents told me, 'Otani, don't let there be a next time.' Since then, we've appealed to the relevant authorities, but the issue [of proper LIB disposal] remains unresolved. We need to take action," President Futagi recounted.

My guiding principle has always been to seek new challenges, exciting ideas, and meaningful work. Her words moved me. I proposed developing our own [LIB] detection device.

Coincidentally, May 15 was also my birthday, which felt like fate. With a shared commitment to protecting the local community, President Futagi and the board unanimously agreed to fund the company's first-ever technology development initiative.

Two years later in 2023, working with Otani Seiun and its dedicated team, we successfully proved that LIBs can be detected using X-ray imaging combined with artificial intelligence (AI). This led to the finalization of the system's design.

With government subsidies secured, we pushed forward with commercialization. In March 2024, we completed the device and named it the "OSLiB Sorter."

This new system features AI-driven learning capabilities, which allow it to improve detection accuracy, even after installation. Users can easily customize detection settings to meet their specific needs, ensuring greater flexibility.

In addition to detecting LIBs and devices housing them, it can also recover circuit boards and other valuable materials. This process is often referred to as urban mining. The system's adaptability was a key factor in its recognition in the competition.

LIBs were first commercialized in Japan in 1991. Today, they are essential to daily life, powering laptops, smartphones, wireless earphones, and countless other electronic devices. The scientist behind this groundbreaking technology, Akira Yoshino, was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Despite their benefits, there are several significant challenges associated with LIBs.

One major issue is the lack of an established collection system and inadequate recycling technology. LIBs are often improperly discarded, mixed with plastic waste or bulk trash. This has led to frequent fires in garbage collection trucks, waste processing facilities, and recycling plants.

In November 2023, a fire caused by a LIB broke out at Tokyo Central Breakwater Landfill's facility for pulverizing bulky waste, disrupting waste collection for an extended period. More recently, a fire at a waste processing facility in Moriya, Ibaraki Prefecture, remains fresh in memory. According to the Tokyo Fire Department, 107 fires linked to LIB-containing products occurred between January and June 2024 alone.

Another critical challenge is ethically securing resources such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, that are essential for LIB production. For example, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the world's leading cobalt producer. However, it faces mineral conflicts and child labor issues. It is therefore important to block the export of used products containing LIBs and establish a domestic supply chain to recycle these resources.

Recently, I spoke with a researcher who worked alongside Akira Yoshino in developing LIBs. He shared that they had patiently developed fire prevention measures and safety standards before releasing LIBs for commercial use. They were deeply concerned he added, over the rising number of fires caused by LIBs today.

The LIB market continues to expand. However, despite being a Japanese invention, most LIB products are now manufactured overseas. Whether these foreign manufacturers uphold the safety standards established in Japan remains highly uncertain. In fact, a majority of LIB-related fires are caused by low-cost imports.

The safe and reliable use of LIB products requires collaboration among the government, local authorities, manufacturers, consumers, and those involved in resource recycling. Clear labeling on products containing LIBs and establishing well-defined collection routes are essential.

Public awareness must also be raised to strengthen responsible recycling. Advancing these efforts can help us build a sustainable system for LIB reuse and recycling.

Hopefully, the NEDO initiative will catalyze solving these pressing societal challenges.

1. 1. detection　検出、発見、探知；操作、取り調べ
   Smoke detection alarms are essential for fire safety.
2. 2. ignition　点火、発火
   The ignition of the chemical reaction was triggered by the introduction of heat.
3. 3. hold one's own against　～に対して互角に戦う；～に対して自分の立場を守る
   The small company held its own against the large multinational corporations in the market.
4. 4. recount　（～について）詳しく話す、語る
   She recounted her childhood memories in her autobiography.v
5. 5. catalyze　促進する、刺激する；（～に）触媒作用を及ぼす
   The new policy aims to catalyze economic growth.

1. 1. What was the main goal of the NEDO Challenge, Li-ion Battery 2025?
2. 2. What is the additional function of Otani Seiun's system beyond detecting LIBs?
3. 3. What are the main challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries, and what actions should be taken to address them?
4. 4. In your opinion, what are the most effective ways to raise public awareness about the proper disposal and recycling of lithium-ion batteries?
5. 5. What role do you think individuals, communities, and governments should play in solving environmental issues caused by improper disposal of technology like LIBs?

「NEDO Challenge. Li-ion Battery 2025／発火を防ぎ、都市鉱山を目指せ！」という懸賞金活用型プロジェクトの最終審査会が1月22日、東京・神田で行われた。これは、リチウムイオン蓄電池（LIB）が回収物に混入することで引き起こされる廃棄物処理・リサイクル現場等での火災・事故等の課題に対し、処理工程における安全性を高めつつ作業の円滑化に資する取り組みに対して懸賞金を供するコンテストである。

コンテストは、テーマ１がLIBの検出装置、テーマ２がLIBの発火危険性の回避・無効化装置で行われた。Japan 2 Earth（J2E）のパートナーである大谷清運はテーマ１に応募、結果は3位入賞だった。決勝に残ったチームは機械・電気・計測の専門会社や国の研究機関や大学であり、廃棄物の一中間処理業者である大谷清運としてはなかなかの健闘ぶりだったと自負している。

大谷清運が開発に着手したきっかけは二木玲子社長の言葉だった。私が顧問として働き始めた2021年の5月15日、社長から前年の同じ日に同社の第２工場でLIBが原因となる火災があったことを聞かされた。

「近隣住民の方から『大谷さん、次はないからね』と言われた。それから関係省庁に訴えているが、解決できずにいる。何とかしたい」（二木社長）。

「新しいこと、面白いこと、意義のあること」を仕事の流儀にしてきた私の心が動いた。「自分たちで検知器を作ろう」と進言。奇しくも5月15日は私の誕生日であったことも何かの縁に感じた。二木社長はじめ取締役全員が「近所の方々を守る」という思いで、社としても初の技術開発に資金を出すことを決定した。

それから2年。「思い」に賛同し協力してくれた会社とともにＸ線画像とAIを組み合わせることでLIBを検知できることを立証、装置の概要が決まった。補助金の交付も受け、事業化を推進、昨年3月にようやく装置を完成、「OSLiBソーター」と名付けた。

装置はAI搭載型による学習機能で導入後も検知精度の向上が図れる。検出物を使用者の希望にあわせ変更でき、カスタマイズも容易で、LIBやその内蔵品だけでなく、基板などの希少な「都市鉱山」と言われる資源も回収でき、そこが評価された。

LIBは1991年に日本で商品化された。今ではパソコンやスマホ、ワイヤレスイヤホンなどいろいろな電子製品に使われ、日常生活になくてはならない。この技術を開発した吉野彰さんは2019年にノーベル化学賞を受賞した。

しかし、その一方で課題もある。一つは、回収ルートが定まらず、リサイクル技術も十分でないことだ。プラスチックごみや粗大ごみに混入して捨てられ、収集するパッカー車や廃棄物処理工場、リサイクル工場で火災が多発している。東京都の中央防波堤処理施設の粗大ごみ破砕処理場で2023年11月、LIBが原因の火災が発生、長期間ごみの回収が滞った。最近では茨城県守谷市のごみ処理設備の火災が記憶に新しい。東京消防庁によると、2024年1月～6月までの間に、LIB内蔵製品から出火した火災は107件も起きた。

もう一つの課題は、LIBの原料となるリチウム、コバルト、ニッケルなどの資源問題である。LIBの生産に欠かせないコバルトの主たる生産国であるコンゴ民主共和国は鉱物紛争や児童労働問題を抱えている。国内で使用されたLIB製品の海外流出を止め、国内で再資源化のサプライチェーンを構築することが重要になっている。

先日、吉野さんとともにLIBの商品開発をしていた研究者と話す機会があった。商品化するうえで火災対策や安全基準も作成し、満を持して発売したことを明かし、LIB原因の火災が多発している状況に大変心を痛めていることを話してくださった。

LIBの市場は拡大している。しかし、日本発の発明なのにほとんどが海外製だ。製造者が日本で作った安全基準をどこまで守っているかがはなはだ疑問だ。実際、火災を起こす大半は海外の安価な製品が多い。

この便利なLIB製品を安全・安心して使うためには国や自治体、製造者、消費者、そして資源循環に携わる者がLIBを使用している製品の表示や回収ルートの明確化し、消費者への周知、リサイクル意識の覚醒を促し、再利用、再資源化の道を作り上げる必要がある。NEDOの今回のこの企画が社会問題解決の起爆剤となることを願うばかりである。