<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[unethicalmining]]></title><description><![CDATA[Unethicalmining]]></description><link>https://www.unearthingcobalt.com/research-blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:09:35 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.unearthingcobalt.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Why Ethical Cobalt Matters to You]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cobalt may seem like a distant commodity, but products made from it - like the phone in your hand or the battery in an EV -are directly tied to people’s lives in the DRC. As international pressure mounts, companies, governments, and consumers are being urged to adopt responsible sourcing policies that respect human rights and environmental protections. As of 2026, discussions about ethical cobalt are shaping legislation, corporate policies, and consumer expectations - yet  much work is still...]]></description><link>https://www.unearthingcobalt.com/post/why-ethical-cobalt-matters-to-you</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698e04a0636516a31670674c</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:49:50 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>simone blance</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Environmental and Governance Challenges]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cobalt mining also poses serious environmental concerns: Improper waste disposal and runoff from mining activities can contaminate water and soil.  Large-scale deforestation and habitat loss occur around mining sites.  Corruption and smuggling in the cobalt supply chain make it difficult to trace ethically sourced minerals.  Without stronger regulation and enforcement, environmental degradation and unfair labor practices will likely continue despite the metal’s importance to global technology.]]></description><link>https://www.unearthingcobalt.com/post/environmental-and-governance-challenges</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698e047531ffa9c2436210ec</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:48:57 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>simone blance</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Global Supply Trends and 2026 Market Shifts]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cobalt exports from the DRC are now regulated under a quota system that started in late 2025 and continues through 2026–2027. Total annual export quotas are set around 96,600 tonnes per year, which is below previous production levels.  As a result: Analysts forecast an 11,000-tonne deficit in the cobalt market for 2026.  This tighter market is driven by administrative changes in the DRC and global demand outpacing supply. This tighter supply could influence battery prices worldwide and...]]></description><link>https://www.unearthingcobalt.com/post/global-supply-trends-and-2026-market-shifts</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698e044ee46957565bf4d4d5</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:48:21 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>simone blance</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Human Cost: Labor Abuses and Child Workers]]></title><description><![CDATA[A 2025-2026 review of cobalt supply chains highlights severe ethical problems in the DRC mining sector, especially in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Many workers operate in informal pits with little protection or oversight.  15–30% of the DRC’s cobalt comes from ASM, where tens of thousands of children may be involved under dangerous conditions.  Reports indicate child labor and exploitative work conditions are widespread, with many miners earning only a few dollars per day.  These...]]></description><link>https://www.unearthingcobalt.com/post/the-human-cost-labor-abuses-and-child-workers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698e041e51a6a74c3cb27f69</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:47:37 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>simone blance</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Is Cobalt and Why It Matters in 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cobalt is a critical metal used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, laptops, and smartphones. Demand for cobalt is expected to keep rising as the world electrifies transportation and energy storage. In 2026 analysts expect a global cobalt market deficit as supply tightens - largely due to export delays and regulatory changes in the DRC.  The DRC still produces roughly 70% of the world’s cobalt, making it  indispensable  for the tech and green-energy industries, despite serious...]]></description><link>https://www.unearthingcobalt.com/post/what-is-cobalt-and-why-it-matters-in-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698ba7f2d471d728ee6cc8d0</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:49:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>simone blance</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are There Alternative to Cobalt? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Despite growing concern over unethical cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there is still no complete substitute for cobalt as of 2026, though several alternatives are reducing reliance on it. Many electric vehicles now use nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries that contain significantly less cobalt than older models, while lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which use no cobalt at all, are increasingly common in buses, affordable EVs, and energy storage systems, even...]]></description><link>https://www.unearthingcobalt.com/post/are-there-alternative-to-cobalt</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698ba758e2bc92e835de377d</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:48:25 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>simone blance</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>