Sustainable sourcing of metals
Metals are among the major global contributors to climate emissions, and virgin metal production continues to grow steadily even as the share of recycled material increases. Production processes, including mining, are associated with significant environmental impacts related to raw material extraction, large quantities of waste, high energy consumption, and emissions.
New, more sustainable production methods and initiatives are being implemented and further developed. Initiatives such as Responsible Steel and Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) have been introduced, and ethical issues such as child labour and working conditions are increasingly being addressed. Metals can also be recycled effectively and repeatedly, thereby reducing their environmental impact.
There is accelerating demand for metals and minerals used in new energy technologies (e.g. solar cells and batteries), as well as in electronic devices and networks that enable sustainability. However, several metals are listed on the EU 2020 list of 30 critical raw materials, called CRMs, e.g. lithium, platinum and rhodium.
CRMs are considered critical to society and are associated with a high supply risk. It is therefore important to minimise and, in the long term, phase out their use where possible, to recycle CRMs, and to support recycling programmes for the collection of products containing critical raw materials.
Another aspect related to metals concerns conflict minerals, where armed groups control mineral extraction in order to finance their operations. This illicit trade contributes to violent conflicts and severe human rights violations. The European Commission has adopted a framework regulation and methodology to prevent the financing of armed groups through trade in conflict minerals by promoting responsible sourcing of tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold.
How does the Nordic Swan Ecolabel contribute?
In several Nordic Ecolabelling criteria, requirements for recycled steel, metal plating, and surface coating chemicals have been in place for a long time. Requirements for virgin steel and aluminium, recycled content, and sustainable initiatives have also been introduced in certain product groups, such as Buildings, Furniture and fittings, and Rechargeable batteries.
Requirements for metals may include one or more of the following measures:
Climate change, resource efficiency and circular economy:
- Requirements for primary metal production related to energy use and greenhouse gas calculations, including defined reduction targets.
- Requirements for primary metal production, such as energy efficiency measures or carbon capture and storage.
- A high proportion of recycled metals or the promotion of reuse of metal components.
- Traceability throughout the production chain and commitments to programmes aimed at minimizing the use of metals listed as critical raw materials.
- Requirements to restrict the use of toxic metal plating and harmful surface coating chemicals, or to promote very low emissions or closed plating processes.
Social aspects:
- A high proportion of certified metal in accordance with sustainable initiatives such as Responsible Steel and Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI).
- Commitment to responsible sourcing programmes for the use of critical and conflict minerals and metals.
Environmental background
Metal production currently accounts for around 8 per cent of total global energy consumption, as well as a similar share of fossil-related CO₂ emissions. Recycling can significantly reduce this footprint, as it typically requires far less energy than producing metals from virgin raw materials, since it mainly involves re-melting end-of-life (EoL) materials. By maximising the efficiency of material recovery, both from primary production and end-of-life products, pressure on the supply of primary metals is reduced. This in turn leads to reduced land use for mining and a lower need for landfill.
Metal production processes commonly generate residues, waste, and emissions that can interact with the environment and are particularly harmful when they adversely affect water and air. Plating and surface treatment of metals involve numerous chemicals associated with adverse health and environmental effects and therefore also have significant environmental impacts. Emissions and hazardous waste must be properly managed and disposed of. The reuse of metals and the use of recycled metals significantly reduce environmental impacts across all areas.