CSR Europe and Drive Sustainability Set Up a New Sustainability Atelier in the DRC
The programme is developed in collaboration with the Chamber of Mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to strengthen responsible sourcing of raw materials and due diligence practices in the electric vehicle battery supply chain.
The effort is part of the project Extractives for Development.
CSR Europe and Drive Sustainability - the leading automotive partnership of 11 OEMs - have developed a Sustainability Atelier aimed at improving the sustainability of the electric vehicle battery supply chain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo together with the Chamber of Mines DRC. The delivery of the Atelier, developed in the framework of the project Extractives for Development, is expected by Autumn 2022.
This effort builds upon the stakeholder dialogue delivered by CSR Europe in Lubumbashi, on the 30th of May. The event brought together both Western and non-Western Large-Scale Mines (LSM), subcontractors, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) cooperatives, civil society organisations, and governmental actors to identify common challenges in the responsible sourcing and due diligence practices of cobalt and copper extraction in the DRC.
Participants highlighted the following priorities for action:
Working conditions and respect for the human rights of workers.
Labour conditions in relation to LSM’s subcontractors.
Socio-economic development of local communities and the DRC Mining Code’s approach to CSR provisions.
The relations between LSM and ASM and the assurance of security.
Governance and the rule of law in the face of corruption and bribery.
Professional skills development and lack of structural support to the education system.
Environmental impact of mining
Europe’s effort to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 relies significantly on its ability to electrify transport. However, the production of and electric batteries and engines require massive supply of cobalt, 80% of which is sourced in the DRC. As the supply for cobalt is expected to rise by 585% by 2050 , urgent action is needed to make sure that companies and their suppliers are taking responsibility for their environmental, social and ethical practices.
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