However, from a point of view of economic impact, it would make more sense to work closely with authorities in the affected countries to come up with ethical and sustainable means of mining the minerals." "This is exactly what an Israeli company called StoreDot is doing - coming up with new organic compounds for creating high-performance batteries for cars and handsets. "This in itself will be expensive, but not nearly as expensive as class action lawsuits they may face in many jurisdictions in future, along with massive reputational damage."Īn obvious alternative is to invest in research and development to come up with new formulae, processes or technologies for battery production. There is significant potential impact for these firms, who could send inspectors and managers to sites where cobalt is mined. The manufacturers themselves dare not take that as dismissal of the issue in the court of public opinion," he warns. "The courts may, however, pass the buck due to evidence and jurisdiction issues. Once global attention, media focus and social media activity is brought to bear on the issue, he adds, the companies as well as the courts have little option but to take it seriously. "The battery chickens are coming home to roost, and the abuse won't be easily hidden away this time," he says. While device makers like Apple have had to clean up their acts over child labour being used to manufacture its computers and smartphones in China, this issue has not had the kind of global attention until now. "It is one of the global flashpoints of corporate social responsibility, partly because it is a widely-known but little-discussed issue, but primarily because it demonstrably involves child labour and therefore child abuse," he told me. The shocking state of child labourers mining for cobalt in Africa has been thrust into the global spotlight after tech giants Apple, Google, Microsoft, Tesla and Dell were sued this week for their role in how this essential element ended up in their products.Ĭompanies using cobalt from dubious sources have had a free pass until now, says Arthur Goldstuck, managing director of Johannesburg-based researchers World Wide Worx. Tech companies like Apple, Microsoft and Tesla are trying to find a way to access Congolese cobalt in a more humane way with proper accountability. Chinese companies and middlemen have the strongest hold on the market. Efforts are being made to stop child labor in the cobalt mines, but they have not been successful."n"nBatteries needed for phones, computers and electric cars have pushed the global demand for Cobalt through the roof. Two thirds of the world supply is located in southern Congo where men, women and children all work. "n"nCobalt is a vital mineral needed for the production of rechargeable batteries. Some companies have been working on cobalt-free EV batteries to avoid the problem.KOLWEZI, DRC: Miners pull up a bag of cobalt their colleague is digging underground inside the CDM. Last year, only 20% of its materials met those criteria.Ĭobalt mining has been controversial lately due to concerns about worker exploitation and pollution, Engadget reports. The company has announced that by 2030, it intends to use only recycled materials in its products or manufacture them through operations that do not, in total, increase climate-heating carbon pollution. The new announcement is in line with Apple’s stated goals for more eco-friendly long-term changes, Engadget reports. That includes iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. The promise would apply to all products featuring Apple-designed batteries, Engadget says. It has also promised to use 100% recycled rare earth elements and use recycled gold and tin in its circuit boards. By 2025, it plans to use 100% recycled cobalt. In April, Apple announced plans to design only eco-friendly batteries containing recycled components by 2025.Īccording to Engadget, Apple used 25% recycled cobalt in 2022.
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