Read the full report at --> cri.org/reports/brok... 5/5

⛏️ Nickel ore exported to China was processed into nickel sulfate, a high-quality nickel often used in EV batteries, and ferronickel, used in the production of stainless steel, then re-exported to third countries, including Brazil and India 4/5

🚙 Chinese companies that sourced nickel from MMDC have been documented in electric vehicle supply chains, including JSW MG Motor India Private’s supply chain for its Windsor EV and Comet EV models 3/5

The auto industry is implicated in this damaging nickel supply chain. According to the report:

🔋 One mining operation studied reportedly supplies battery grade minerals to Panasonic, a major battery manufacturer that produces batteries for Tesla and Toyota 2/5

“I got hurt on the job with my hand, snapped a bone. They bandaged me up, told me to keep working, so I did. If I couldn't do my job, then they'd just call the camp and report it. And then the camp would write me up if I didn't do it, and probably send me back to one of the dangerous prisons."

📉 Economic Impact of Prison Labor: A 10% increase in the share of incarcerated workers in a plant is associated with a 10–14% decrease in wages for non-incarcerated (“free”) workers.

💲 Regional Wage Suppression: In the Montgomery area, where Alabama’s Hyundai suppliers are concentrated, auto supplier wages are 7–9% lower than expected compared to similar jobs elsewhere in Alabama and neighboring states.

👷 Widespread Labor Violations: These workers report higher rates of safety hazards and more frequent experiences of wage theft, forced overtime, harassment, and denial of breaks compared to other auto supply chain employees in Alabama.

The researchers found:

⬇️ Lower Wages in Hyundai’s Supply Chain: Surveyed workers employed in Hyundai’s Alabama supply chain reported earning 10-15% less than other auto-sector workers in the state – even after controlling for education, race, gender, and age.

Their stance:

⭕ Mass balance credits are not robust enough to drive genuine decarbonisation.
⭕ Chain-of-Custody models may play a limited, transitionary role - but only with full transparency and verified data.

Now #SteelZero has released its position on mass balance accounting, setting the guardrails for credible use and drawing a clear line between robust transition tools and greenwashing risks.

🖱️ Establish a global database for mine tailings facilities and track the potential availability of minor (or companion) metals
🤝 Forge mutually beneficial partnerships between the communities and countries that host the mines and the importing and processing countries 5/5

🌴 Link mining investments and financing to climate and nature-positive requirements
♻️ Use fiscal, financial, and monetary policies to support investment in responsible mining and infrastructure and promote the circular use of metals in society 4/5

👷 Report financial and ESG outcomes on a site-by-site, gendered and ‘shared value’ basis by mining companies, that also takes Indigenous rights into account
💱 Include mining that meets high ESG standards in the list of sectors that qualify for ‘sustainable ’ and ‘climate’ in finance taxonomies 3/5

They recommend the following interventions:

🏦 Strengthen financial institutions’ capacity to finance mining operations that meet high ESG standards
🛂 Develop a digital product passport for all mineral commodities and their value chains 2/5

But a study last year from @earthworks.bsky.social on remining tailings flagged potential public health impacts and technical challenges that would need to be overcome before remining can be safely pursued as an intervention in sustainable battery supply chains.

earthworks.org/resources/re...

The poll found that:

🇪🇺 63% say large companies with more than 250 employees should face legal obligations to reduce GHG emissions
⚖️ 75% believe large companies should be responsible for human rights harms
🌏 77% say large companies must be accountable for environmental harms throughout value chains