Sustainability first
Environmental awareness has probably had the biggest impact on the industry. The world wants Li-ion batteries with the smallest-possible footprint – and rightfully so! Anticipating this, long before sustainability was a global concern, Umicore set up a value chain featuring responsibly sourced raw materials.
Over 15 years ago, Umicore established a Sustainable Procurement Framework for Cobalt that addresses child labour, environmental issues, human rights, miners’ health and safety, and business ethics. In short, every kilogram of cobalt needs to comply with numerous checks. Umicore is the first company in the world to have dedicaed such a sustainable and ethical supply chain framework for cobalt, and the first to have its due diligence process validated, every year, by an external party and in accordance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidelines.
For many years now Umicore has been acting as an industry leader to promote a responsible and sustainable supply of cobalt, among others as co-founder of the Global Battery Alliance.
For other metals in Umicore’s supply chain and their sustainable and ethical sourcing, Umicore applies the principles outlined in its Sustainable Procurement Charter.