Minerals used in electric cars will be certified green by blockchain

An EU-funded certification program using blockchain is being developed to attest to sustainable rare-earth production conditions, as vehicle manufacturers demand proof that the materials used to manufacture electric vehicle motor and battery components are not available. linked to rampant pollution.

The system will set global standards and give confidence to consumers who demand products that can be considered sustainable, two of the organizers told Reuters.

Rare earths are 17 related minerals found dispersed in the Earth’s crust and used in electric vehicle engines and wind turbine generators. Processing rare earth ore is a complex operation involving solvents and toxic waste that need to be disposed of with care.

The Circular System for Rare Earth Sustainability Assessment, or CSyARES, should be ready in about three years, said Reia (Rare Earth Industry Association) and Dutch supply traceability company Circularise.

The European Union is funding the project through EIT Raw Materials, an organization that implements a European bloc action plan drawn up in 2020 to secure critical minerals for the bloc. The amount of the financing was not disclosed.

The system will track rare-earth metals using blockchain tokens, or digital passports, through the complex supply chain from mining to end-of-life, said Teresa Oberhauser of Circularise.

Circularise and Reia are two of the five partners involved in CSyARES. The other three are the German BEC, the Danish Grundfos and the Londoner Minviro.

Auditing firms already issue sustainability certificates for mining products, including some rare metals.

The European Union considers rare earths a top priority because 98% of the bloc’s permanent magnets, also vital for the military sector, are imported from China.