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Assessing impacts of responsible sourcing initiatives for cobalt: Insights from a case study

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  • Mancini, Lucia
  • Eslava, Nicolas A.
  • Traverso, Marzia
  • Mathieux, Fabrice

Abstract

Used in e-mobility and electronics, batteries are key technologies in the decarbonisation of the economy and in accomplishing the aims of the European Green Deal. Cobalt is one of the materials used in lithium-ion batteries, and its extraction is a concern in terms of human rights abuses, child labour, and tragic working conditions particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which supplies around 60% of the world's supply, with a relevant share of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM). Responding to these risks, some programs for the responsible sourcing of cobalt have been launched in recent years. Several policy initiatives at EU level aim to promote ethical sourcing of battery raw materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Mancini, Lucia & Eslava, Nicolas A. & Traverso, Marzia & Mathieux, Fabrice, 2021. "Assessing impacts of responsible sourcing initiatives for cobalt: Insights from a case study," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:71:y:2021:i:c:s0301420721000325
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anni Orola & Anna Härri & Jarkko Levänen & Ville Uusitalo & Stig Irving Olsen, 2022. "Assessing WELBY Social Life Cycle Assessment Approach through Cobalt Mining Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-26, September.
    2. Falko T. Buschke & Christine Estreguil & Lucia Mancini & Fabrice Mathieux & Hugh Eva & Luca Battistella & Stephen Peedell, 2023. "Digital Storytelling Through the European Commission’s Africa Knowledge Platform to Bridge the Science-Policy Interface for Raw Materials," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    3. Marcin Wołek & Aleksander Jagiełło & Michał Wolański, 2021. "Multi-Criteria Analysis in the Decision-Making Process on the Electrification of Public Transport in Cities in Poland: A Case Study Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-13, October.
    4. Kasmaeeyazdi, Sara & Abdolmaleki, Mehdi & Ibrahim, Elsy & Jiang, Jingyi & Marzan, Ignacio & Rodríguez, Irene Benito, 2021. "Copernicus data to boost raw material source management: Illustrations from the RawMatCop programme," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Julia Pelzeter & Vanessa Bach & Martin Henßler & Klaus Ruhland & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2022. "Enhancement of the ESSENZ Method and Application in a Case Study on Batteries," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-25, May.
    6. Cathryn Earl & Izhar Hussain Shah & Simon Cook & Christopher Robert Cheeseman, 2022. "Environmental Sustainability and Supply Resilience of Cobalt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-10, March.
    7. Imbrogiano, Jean-Pierre & Steiner, Bodo & Mori Junior, Renzo & Sturman, Kathryn, 2023. "What enables metals ‘being’ ‘responsible’? An exploratory study on the enabling of organizational identity claims through a new sustainability standard," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    8. Gudrun Franken & Philip Schütte, 2022. "Current trends in addressing environmental and social risks in mining and mineral supply chains by regulatory and voluntary approaches," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 35(3), pages 653-671, December.
    9. Deberdt, Raphael, 2022. "Land access rights in minerals’ responsible sourcing. The case of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

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