Traceability is an essential concept in the world of rare earth metals, as these materials are highly sought after for their unique properties and applications. Due to their scarcity and importance in a wide range of industries, it is crucial to ensure that rare earth metals are sourced responsibly and sustainably. Traceability is the process of tracking the origins of these metals, from mining and production to their final use, to ensure that they are ethically sourced and meet regulatory requirements. Since these metals can be used in a wide variety of ways, being able to trace these rare earth metals becomes critical, as well as the challenges involved in achieving it, and some of the initiatives that are being implemented to improve traceability.
The Importance of Traceability in Rare Earth Metals
Rare earth metals are a group of 17 elements that are essential for a wide range of technologies, including smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and military equipment. Due to their unique properties, rare earth metals are highly sought after in many industries, however, the production of rare earth metals is often associated with environmental and social challenges, such as pollution, human rights abuses, and land degradation (Binnemans, et al, 2013). These issues have led to growing concerns about the ethical and sustainable sourcing of rare earth metals.
Traceability is an essential tool for ensuring that rare earth metals are sourced responsibly and meet ethical and regulatory requirements. By tracing the origin of these materials, it is possible to identify potential risks and take action to mitigate them. Traceability also provides a mechanism for verifying claims of responsible sourcing and for ensuring that regulations are being met. This is particularly important given the complex and opaque nature of the rare earth metal supply chain, which involves multiple actors and processes.
Challenges in Achieving Traceability
Achieving traceability in rare earth metals is challenging due to several factors. First, the rare earth supply chain is complex and involves multiple actors, including miners, processors, traders, and manufacturers. Rare earth metals are also often traded internationally, making it difficult to track their movement across borders. With the transfer of rare earth metals there is a lack of transparency in the supply chain, with many individuals reluctant to disclose information about their operations. This opacity makes it challenging to identify potential risks and take action to mitigate them. Outside of what has been mentioned there are no globally accepted standards for responsible sourcing of rare earth metals, making it difficult to assess the sustainability of these materials. Finally, there is a lack of awareness among consumers and investors about the importance of responsible sourcing of rare earth metals, making it challenging to create demand for traceable materials.
Initiatives to Improve Traceability
Despite these challenges, there are several initiatives underway to improve traceability in rare earth metals. One such initiative is the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), which is a multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to create a responsible supply chain for minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The CFSI has developed a set of due diligence guidelines for responsible sourcing of minerals, including rare earth metals, which help companies to identify potential risks and take action to mitigate them. The CFSI also provides a mechanism for verifying claims of responsible sourcing, through its Conflict-Free Smelter Program.
Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), which is a multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to improve the social and environmental performance of the mineral supply chain. The RMI has developed a standard for responsible sourcing of minerals, including rare earth metals, which provides a framework for assessing the sustainability of these materials. The RMI also provides a platform for collaboration between stakeholders, including mining companies, processors, traders, manufacturers, and civil society organizations, to share information and best practices.
Various initiatives and regulations have been established to promote responsible sourcing practices for rare earth metals, including the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (European Commission, 2021). In addition, the World Bank has highlighted the importance of responsible sourcing practices for rare earth metals in the transition to a low-carbon future. Recycling of rare earth metals has also been identified as an important aspect of ensuring a sustainable supply of these materials. However, responsible sourcing practices are still necessary for the initial extraction and production of rare earth metals, as recycling alone may not be sufficient to meet the growing demand for these critical minerals (World Bank Group. 2017).
Traceability and responsible sourcing practices are essential for ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of rare earth metals, which are critical for a wide range of applications, including renewable energy, electronics, and transportation. The conclusion of traceability in rare earth metals is that responsible sourcing practices are crucial for ensuring a sustainable and reliable supply of these critical minerals. Traceability allows companies and governments to track the origin of rare earth metals and ensure that they are not sourced from conflict-affected or high-risk areas where human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and other negative impacts are prevalent.
The Chem ID chemical data management software is making the traceability of rare earth metals easier with the capability to track and trace where said metals are coming from and where they are going through transport manifest and other chemical test data. Once the results and manifests have been finalized they can be written to the blockchain via Veriseal to ensure that data is encrypted and secure to be received. For more information or to schedule a demo, email us at info@chemid.com or call us at (737) 231-0772.
Resources
Binnemans, K., Jones, P. T., Blanpain, B., Van Gerven, T., & Yang, Y. (2013). Recycling of rare earths: a critical review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 51, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.12.037
European Commission. (2021). Regulation (EU) 2017/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 laying down supply chain due diligence obligations for Union importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. Official Journal of the European Union, L 130, 1-21. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32017R0821&from=EN
“World Bank Group". 2017. The Growing Role of Minerals and Metals for a Low Carbon Future; The Growing Role of Minerals and Metals for a Low Carbon Future. © World Bank, Washington, DC.https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/4cdae3a6-3244-56e5-9de3-8faa5b6c88da License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”