Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: As the world's photovoltaic (PV) industry develops at a fast speed, the abandoned amount of PV modules also increases yearly. How to recycle them has become an important issue in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) field. However, there are many blind spots in the ESG value of the current PV module recycling process. These include environmental risks, threats to workers’ health, and imperfect policies. Based on the latest industry data, this study uses literature review and case analysis to examine the current state of PV module recycling and its ESG blind spots. It also proposes suggestions for sustainable development paths. The results show several environmental problems in PV module recycling. For example, the recovery rate of high-value materials is low. There is also heavy metal pollution and secondary pollution caused by chemical treatments. At the social level, workers face high health risks, and public awareness is insufficient. At the governance level, the policy system is incomplete, and responsibility boundaries are unclear. Further analysis shows that improving policies and regulations, enhancing social awareness and corporate technological innovation are the keys to addressing ESG blind spots. This study provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the sustainable development of the PV industry.
Author: Shuyang Gu
Institution: Beijing University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4414477753