Demand for metals used in electric vehicle batteries, as well as in solar panels and wind turbines, is increasing. The pressure to expand mining operations has been linked to impacts including conflict, pollution, displacement, corruption, and fatal disasters in communities and ecosystems worldwide. Examples cited include the Brumadinho dam collapse in Brazil, which claimed nearly 300 lives, and the desecration of sacred Aboriginal sites at Juukan Gorge in Australia.
Clean energy transitions are described as important for mitigating climate change impacts. At the same time, the source material argues that shifting away from fossil fuels should not rely on unsustainable mining practices. It calls for a circular metals economy that prioritizes recycling, reuse, and reducing demand to minimize new mining.
Research on battery metal recovery and potential demand reduction
Findings from the University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS-ISF), in collaboration with US-based NGO Earthworks, address how battery metal recovery could affect supply needs. The research suggests that optimizing recovery could reduce demand for copper, lithium, cobalt, and nickel in the EV battery supply chain by 25% to 55% over the next two decades. It also points to technological advancements that make recovery rates above 90% feasible for these metals as battery technology evolves.
The research further indicates that higher recovery rates could reduce raw material requirements per kilowatt-hour of an EV battery. However, it says current economic incentives and policy frameworks do not sufficiently promote optimal recycling of battery metals. As an example of current performance, it notes that only approximately 12% of lithium is recovered from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.
European Commission proposal covering the full battery lifecycle
The European Union has moved to address these issues through regulation covering the entire lifecycle of batteries. In December 2020, the European Commission proposed a comprehensive regulatory framework spanning 79 articles. The proposal includes due diligence in mineral sourcing and carbon footprint accounting across the battery value chain from extraction to recycling and reuse.
The source material states that additional policy ambition is needed to mitigate adverse impacts from critical supply chains. It highlights calls for stronger targets specifically for lithium recovery from waste batteries. Proposed targets of 35% by 2026 and 70% by 2030 are described as needing elevation to at least 70% by 2026 and 90% by 2030.
Oversight standards and proposed changes to EU regulation
The regulatory approach described also includes environmental and human rights standards for mining operations. Independent third-party oversight is presented as essential for ensuring compliance, aligned with initiatives such as the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance. The source material links these elements to efforts to strengthen safeguards across supply chains.
A Brussels-based NGO, Transport and Environment, has published a position paper identifying gaps and proposing concrete solutions to strengthen EU regulations. The paper’s stated aim is to support production of batteries described as “made in Europe,” with benefits extending to mining-affected communities, workers, and ecosystems globally.
The source material also emphasizes that steps reducing demand for newly mined metals would affect people and ecosystems worldwide. It frames this within the context of transitioning away from unsustainable mining practices while developing a circular battery value chain focused on sustainability and resilience.