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This paper examines the relationship between sustainability targets and their impacts on corporate environmental innovation. Using data over the period 2009-2018 on 202 companies from BRICS countries, covering firm-level governance, social responsibility and sustainability this paper examines firm-level sustainability targets, and incentives encourage managers to engage in more environmentally friendly activities. Using panel data probit regression, and after controlling for country-level governance and institutional factors, the study finds that embedding environmental targets in corporate strategy does encourage corporate managers to design and develop eco-friendly products and services, and such firm-level commitments at the top motivates managers to promote, market, and label environmentally friendly products. The findings call for greater emphasis on aligning executive compensation with sustainability targets rather than focusing too much on short-term accounting and market-based measures of firm performance. • We explore how sustainability related target its impacts on corporate environmental innovation. • 202 companies' data is collected for BRICS countries between 2009 and 2018. • Panel data Probit estimation was employed to assess likelihood of environmental innovation. • Environmental targets in corporate strategy does encourage corporate managers in developing eco-friendly products. • More companies should be encouraged to include environmental targets in executive compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li-ion batteries are daily present in our electronic devices. These batteries are used in electric and hybrid vehicles supporting the current agreements to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the electric vehicle demand has increased in the world. As Li-ion batteries are composed of critical metals in which there is a risk of interruption of supply in the medium term, recycling is the key to a sustainable future without internal combustion vehicles. Understanding the current scenario and future perspectives is important for strategies of new battery design, recycling routes and reverse logistics, as well as policies for sustainable development. This paper presents an overview of current and future vehicles used worldwide. An increase from 1.3 to 2 billion vehicles is expected worldwide until 2030; an outstanding demand will occur mainly in BRICS countries. The data demonstrated a correlation between the number of vehicles in use and GDP. Patents and processes designed for recycling Li-ion batteries and the new developments on pyro-, hydro-, and bio-metallurgical routes have been revised. The manuscript describes the importance and benefits of recycling as regards the supply of critical metals and future trends towards a circular economy. • The main consumption of EV will be in China, the USA and Europe. • Different types of EV batteries would difficult the design of recycling processes. • Hydrometallurgical route has the advantageous of producing of high pure products. • Biohydrometallurgical and solvometallurgy are ascending technology for battery recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]