Casuarina Consulting Submits CLEAN‑EV Proposal to Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – 26 May 2026 – Casuarina Consulting, a Barbados‑based sustainability and policy strategy firm, today announced the submission of a project proposal to the Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund (BESF) titled CLEAN‑EV (Circular Economy & Lifecycle Action for Electric Vehicles – Waste Prevention). The proposal seeks BDS $171,045 to establish a national policy and circular economy framework for the safe disposal, recycling, and second‑life use of lithium‑ion electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Barbados has committed to 100% renewable energy by 2030 and now operates the largest electric bus fleet in the Caribbean (89 buses), with private EV adoption rising rapidly. However, the country has no national policy, no legislation, no designated collection points, and no public education on EV battery disposal. The first wave of bus batteries will reach end‑of‑life between 2028 and 2032, posing urgent risks of toxic chemical leakage into the island’s sole freshwater aquifer and fire hazards that the Barbados Fire Service has said are difficult to manage with current equipment.

“A clean energy future is only possible if it is done mindfully, without creating new environmental hazards for future generations,” said Ramon Jackman, Founder of Casuarina Consulting. “CLEAN‑EV turns battery waste into an opportunity, a self‑financing circular economy that protects our water, creates new investment pathways in second‑life storage, and gives the entire Caribbean a replicable model.”

The 12‑month project delivers three integrated outputs:

A Cabinet‑ready statutory instrument amending the Environmental Management Act to classify lithium‑ion EV batteries as hazardous waste and mandate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – shifting disposal costs from taxpayers to importers.

A Circular Economy Value Roadmap identifying three commercially viable second‑life use cases (solar farm storage, telecom tower backup, community centre peak shaving) and a pre‑feasibility study for a local battery repurposing workshop.

An open‑source CARICOM EV Battery Management Toolkit containing legal templates, technical guidelines, a training module for fire and waste workers, and a finance guide to accessing climate funds – designed for immediate replication across CARICOM member states.

The project will be executed through an open innovation think tank model, engaging specialists in legal drafting, battery engineering, and regional stakeholder facilitation. Direct beneficiaries include the Government of Barbados (policy and legal tools), EV battery importers (clear regulatory framework), and all Barbadians (protected groundwater and reduced fire risk). Indirect beneficiaries include CARICOM states, which will receive the toolkit at no cost.

The proposal was developed following Casuarina’s successful shortlisting by the United Nations for the Caribbean Tourism Resilience Initiative (CTRI), a market‑driven certification and blended finance system for tourism resilience and a submission to the UNDP's Youth4Climate call for proposals.

Casuarina Consulting invites BESF’s consideration and looks forward to partnering with government, the private sector, and regional organisations to implement CLEAN‑EV.

About Casuarina Consulting

Casuarina Consulting is a Barbados‑based sustainability strategy and advisory firm. We help businesses, governments, and investors turn complex environmental and social challenges into actionable strategy, fundable projects, and long‑term resilience.

Our core work spans three areas: Strategy & Alignment (ESG, sustainability roadmaps, climate adaptation), Proposal Lead & Development (grant writing, proposal development), and Business Intelligence & Growth (weekly risk briefings, workshops, strategic business cases).

We also run the Planet X Business Collective – a learning hub and community offering sustainability tools, intelligence, and peer dialogue for professionals at the intersection of commerce and climate.

Rooted in the Caribbean and guided by a UN‑shortlisted climate resilience framework, Casuarina Consulting delivers practical, equitable, and lasting value – for people, the planet, and future generations.