Sweden's Minister of Industry, Mikael Damberg, recently met his Finnish colleague, Mika Lintilä, in Brussels. Ministers agreed that the countries in cooperation should initiate preparations for the creation of a liability certificate for products in the mining sector. The purpose of the certificate is to tell you about the responsibility of the entire production chain for different products, such as batteries, ranging from refraction and manufacturing to use and recycling.
"As electric cars become more common, demand for battery mining is also increasing. This underlines the responsibility and perspective of the sustainable development of car manufacturers. Consumers are interested in responsibility in the production chain for batteries, noted Minister of Industry, Mika Lintilä.
According to Minister Mikael Damberg, Sweden has similar thoughts on this.
"Consumers' demands for responsibility are a great opportunity for Finland. Strict regulations allow us to contribute to the technological advancement and competitiveness of the European battery industry, "Lintilä continues.
"Some telephone manufacturers are also going to take a tougher grip on the management of the supply chain of battery minerals, attached to the minister.
Battery minerals are currently available from different parts of the world, including places where environmental, occupational safety, working conditions and other social responsibility issues are not necessarily managed in the best possible way. In the sector, for example, child labor is used.
"In our view, there are grounds for creating a sustainable minerals certificate, so consumers should know the source of their car battery or even their mobile battery," explained Minister Lintilä.
"The EU should be a forerunner in the world, and Finland can contribute to this at EU level. I wish that there is a discussion about the need for a certificate and about the content and effects of the certificate. In addition, I wish you to review how transparency and verifiability can be promoted and consider the criteria for sustainable business.
Source: Ministry of the industry in Finland.
