Life cycle assessment of battery minerals to 2040: contribution of voluntary sustainability initiatives

Kurzfassung

The expansion of electric mobility is intensifying demand for lithium, nickel, and manganese, increasing the environmental burdens of mineral extraction and processing. Voluntary sustainability initiatives (VSIs) have emerged to encourage improved environmental management, yet their long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. This study explores a proof-of-concept of how VSI-aligned operational interventions could influence the future environmental performance of battery mineral supply chains, using a scenario-based prospective environmental assessment informed by life cycle modelling. By integrating Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) with VSI-aligned process measures such as air pollution control devices (APCDs), we assess midpoint impacts including climate change, particulate matter formation, and human toxicity. Results show that systemic background decarbonization dominates reductions, while VSI-inspired interventions deliver complementary benefits, including up to around 75% reductions in particulate matter formation for nickel beneficiation and localized process-level reductions of up to around 90%. These findings highlight how coupling systemic and operational measures can improve resource efficiency and environmental performance in battery-mineral supply chains.