ETI Insights: Mined minerals & metals – Challenges & opportunities in HRDD

Serious human rights abuses, including labour exploitation, environmental degradation, and violations of Indigenous rights, remain widespread in mineral mining. These issues are under increasing scrutiny from civil society, affected communities, and policymakers. Despite this, alongside growing regulatory and market pressures, many companies still lack visibility beyond their tier one suppliers and struggle to implement meaningful HRDD. Addressing human rights risks in mining requires companies to engage in stronger multistakeholder collaboration, improve supply chain mapping, and take concrete action to prevent and mitigate harm. 

Speakers

Maurice van Beers
Project Leader - Fair Work, Just Transition Expert & Coordinator Latin America, CNV Internationaal

Cecilia Tiblad Berntsson
Director of Services - Europe, Africa and Americas, The Centre for Child Rights and Business

Jeroen Hoff
Chief Sustainability Officer & Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Quality, Connect Bus  

The issue

Companies relying on mined materials face growing regulatory and stakeholder expectations to conduct proper human rights due diligence (HRDD). Laws such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EUCSDDD) and the Norwegian Transparency Act require companies to identify, prevent, and mitigate human rights risks in their supply chains. The EU Batteries Regulation further enforces due diligence obligations for companies sourcing critical minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy technologies. 

The shift to ‘clean’ energy is driving a sharp rise in demand for key minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that demand for these materials will more than triple by 2030, with EV battery mineral demand increasing nearly ninefold between 2024 and 2050. As regulation tightens, businesses must take concrete steps to improve supply chain transparency and accountability. 

The webinar

This webinar will share the outcomes of recent research conducted by ETI on HRDD within the mining and metals industry, focusing on eight businesses across the renewable energy, construction, and electric vehicle sectors. This research includes insights from interviews with leading experts. The session will explore the challenges these businesses face in carrying out effective supply chain due diligence, particularly beyond tier one suppliers. It will highlight the challenges and opportunities identified, alongside practical approaches to improve HRDD through supply chain mapping and transparency. Participants will also hear about strategies to address human rights risks, as well as the role of multistakeholder initiatives in strengthening corporate responsibility and enhancing supply chain visibility.

Presentation & recording