Unveiling the Dark Side of Innovation: Sustainability, Cobalt Mining, and Modern-Day Slavery

Authors

Kaitlin Schleich, Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of LawFollow

Abstract

As the need and demand for sustainability come to the forefront of innovative efforts by technology companies, the use of rechargeable batteries has only become more prominent. A critical mineral in the manufacture of such batteries is cobalt. Looking deeper into how manufacturers get their hands on cobalt exposes the troubling cobalt-mining practices largely taking place within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This article dives into the underbelly of the cobalt-mining industry, revealing the egregious human-rights abuses occurring in the DRC and examining the current legal and ethical landscape surrounding cobalt mining around the world. In both small-scale artisanal mines and larger industrial mines, child labor, physical and verbal abuse, and non-livable, low wages are commonplace. As the mines expand, and the land, homes, and farms of Congolese residents are destroyed in the process, Congolese people wind up with little to no choice but to work in the mines. This article addresses how current legislation and initiatives in the United States and internationally miss the mark in responding to the increasing volume of problems in the DRC’s cobalt mines, and how past cases involving human rights abuses in the supply chains of United States companies have panned out. Finally, this article emphasizes the need for change and reform as innovation efforts continue to increase worldwide.

Recommended Citation

Kaitlin Schleich, Unveiling the Dark Side of Innovation: Sustainability, Cobalt Mining, and Modern-Day Slavery, 27 SMU Sci. & Tech. L. Rev. 135 (2024)