Social impacts of mining critical raw materials

Widespread local impacts across six social dimensions

Based on case studies covering eight critical raw materials (CRMs) in ten producing countries, the report shows how their mining affects communities across six social domains: economic effects, employment and education, population dynamics and gender, territorial conflicts, environment and health, and human rights. Examples include the displacement of farmers in Guinea for expansion of bauxite mines, unsafe working conditions and child labour in Congolese cobalt mines, and water conflicts in Chilean copper mining regions. 

Structural factors behind recurring patterns of impact

While impacts vary by metal and context, common impacts point to structural causes. These include weak enforcement of social safeguards, limited access to robust grievance mechanisms, unequal distribution of costs and benefits, shrinking civic space and power imbalances in global supply chains. Political and market pressures to secure raw materials quickly and cheaply, often override local rights, protections and long term sustainability. 

Mineral governance: progress, but limited in reach and effectiveness

Several EU instruments, from multilateral cooperation to corporate regulation, address sustainability risks in supply chains. The Critical Raw Materials Act promotes strategic and equitable partnerships and encourages high standards, but is not binding. Due diligence laws aim to enhance corporate accountability, but face delays, uncertainty and limited scope. Enforced regulations such as the Conflict Minerals Regulation also remain narrow and face challenges due to untransparent supply chains. Together, these efforts mark progress, but fall short of being enforceable or grounded in local mining realities, and do not address deeper economic- and power imbalances. The Netherlands can support stronger mineral governance by contributing expertise at EU level, co-developing equal mineral partnerships, promoting corporate accountability via instruments like the International Responsible Business Conduct (IMVO) covenants, and reducing demand through circular economy strategies focused on reuse, recycling and smarter material use.