What’s buried inside your phone, your laptop, or the smartwatch on your wrist? These everyday devices have metals like lithium and cobalt, sourced through computer materials mining that usually comes at a high environmental and human cost.
Polluted rivers, toxic air, and unsafe mining conditions are common outcomes of rare earth metals extraction. As tech production increases, so does the strain on workers and the environment.
The growing demand is pushing companies and regulators to face the urgent need for clearer, more accountable tech supply chains.
In this article, we’ll explore where these materials come from, who’s affected, and what can be done to improve things. You’ll leave with a clearer view of how your tech is made and how you can make more conscious choices moving forward.
Ready to find out what’s powering your devices and their hidden costs? Let’s take a closer look.
Why Computers Depend on Rare Earth and Conflict Materials
All computers, phones, and smart devices rely on a group of metals often referred to as rare earth elements and conflict materials. Rare earths include metals like neodymium and tantalum, while conflict materials cover resources such as lithium and cobalt that are often sourced from regions plagued by political instability or poor labour standards.
These materials are necessary for making modern technology work. Let’s take a look at where they’re used and why they matter so much.
Overview of Rare Earth Elements
Rare earth elements like neodymium are used to create strong magnets. They are important for everything from laptop hard drives to fans in cooling systems.
On the other hand, tantalum is prized for its ability to hold a charge, making it vital in capacitors. Finally, lithium and cobalt form the structure of rechargeable batteries, which power our portable devices every day.
Real-World Example: How Cobalt Powers Your Tech
Cobalt is an essential ingredient in lithium-ion batteries used widely in smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Without it, battery performance and safety drop significantly.
Over 70% of the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where working conditions in many mining sites are dangerous and poorly regulated.
Global Hotspots for Extraction
The rare earth metals’ impact has been rising in line with global demand. China currently dominates the rare earth supply chain, producing more than 60% of these materials.
Meanwhile, countries like Australia, Brazil, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo play major roles in mining and export.
Computer materials mining expands to meet rising demand, and it brings forth real questions about sourcing, sustainability, and responsibility across the tech industry.
The Environmental Toll: Open Pits to Waterways
Mining the materials for our everyday tech has serious environmental consequences. As the need increases gradually, so does the pressure on landscapes, water systems, and air quality.
Computer materials mining often takes place in regions with limited regulation, leaving nature exposed to long-term damage. Here’s how that impact shows up in the real world.
- Land degradation and biodiversity loss: Open-pit mining clears massive areas, typically cutting through forests and natural habitats. Once the land is stripped and the soil removed, ecosystems struggle to bounce back. Consequently, native species are forced out or wiped out completely.
- Water pollution and toxic runoff: Lithium and cobalt extraction can lead to serious water contamination. Chemicals used in processing, such as sulphuric acid, leak into nearby rivers and groundwater. This affects both wildlife and people who depend on those water sources for farming, fishing, or drinking.
- High energy use and emissions: Smelting and refining rare earth elements use a huge amount of energy. Most of that energy still comes from burning fossil fuels, which adds more carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Producing just one tonne of rare earth elements can create up to 2,000 tonnes of toxic waste. That waste collects in tailing ponds or seeps into the soil, oftentimes with no clean-up in sight.
Let’s look closer at how this type of damage unfolds in mining zones around the world.
Human Costs You Don’t See on the Label
The screens we tap and the gadgets we charge each day are built on human effort, but some of that effort comes at a painful cost. These are the human costs we rarely think about: dangerous working conditions, child labour, and lasting health risks.
They’re hidden deep in the early stages of tech supply chains and are easy to miss unless you go looking. So let’s look closer at the conditions inside the mines, the children caught in the middle, and the lasting harm on entire communities.
Unsafe Conditions in Cobalt Mines
In countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), thousands of workers mine cobalt under extremely harsh conditions. Artisanal miners often dig by hand, with no safety equipment, no contracts, and little to no pay security.
Collapses and injuries are common. Even in larger industrial mines, poor oversight means that workers are still at serious risk.
Child Labour in Unregulated Sites
NGO reports have documented children as young as seven working in cobalt mines in the DRC. These children carry heavy loads, inhale toxic dust, and miss out on education. Many families depend on this work to survive, but it comes with a lifelong cost.
Health Effects on Communities
Prolonged exposure to cobalt dust and contaminated water has serious consequences for miners and people living near extraction sites.
Research from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch has shown that many workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo develop chronic respiratory problems and skin infections. These health issues are linked to unsafe mining conditions and long-term exposure without proper protective gear.
Nearby communities also suffer. Water sources used for drinking, farming, and bathing can become polluted by chemicals and tailings from cobalt and copper mining operations.
In Kolwezi, for example, families have reported mysterious illnesses and declining crop yields, as detailed in ABC News’ coverage of mining in southern Congo.
The long-term health risks tied to computer materials mining show just how far the rare earth metals’ impact reaches. These effects continue well after the minerals leave the ground and influence everyday life for those who live nearby.
These are the people rarely seen in the supply chain conversation, but they are the ones carrying its heaviest burden.
The Supply Chain Maze: Who’s Responsible?
After materials are pulled from the ground, they begin a journey that’s surprisingly hard to trace. This is the supply chain maze, a network of suppliers, processors, and manufacturers spread across countries.
With so many players involved, holding anyone accountable for environmental or human rights issues becomes difficult. Tech supply chain ethics are often buried under layers of contracts and outsourcing.
Here’s how this complexity plays out behind the scenes.
- Long, hidden supply chains: Raw materials like cobalt or lithium pass through multiple hands before they reach a battery or circuit board. Each transfer makes the origin harder to verify. Documentation may be incomplete, and suppliers often won’t reveal where their materials came from.
- Tech companies and accountability gaps: Some big brands have published reports or sourcing guidelines. However, these rarely come with firm commitments or enforcement. Audits are limited in scope, and very few supply chains are fully transparent from end to end.
- Growing demand for traceability: Customers and advocacy groups are asking harder questions. In response, some tech companies are testing blockchain-based tools that record every stage of a mineral’s journey, from the mine to the manufacturer. This could help flag conflict zones and unsafe labour sites earlier in the process.
The rare earth metals’ impact doesn’t stop at environmental damage. China’s control of much of the global supply also creates trade dependencies and political risk. As the need for ethical sourcing grows louder, supply chain clarity is becoming a priority.
What’s Being Done
With mounting concern over the environmental and human toll of computer materials mining, governments and companies have started to respond. But the progress is slow, patchy, and often voluntary. Some regulations exist, and a few brands are stepping up, but many efforts still fall short of real accountability.
Here is what’s in place and where the gaps remain.
Global Regulations Are Still Updating
The European Union introduced the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation in 2021, requiring importers of tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold to carry out due diligence on their supply chains.
In the U.S., Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act mandates similar reporting for companies sourcing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries. However, enforcement remains inconsistent, and rare earth metals are often excluded.
Voluntary Industry Efforts
Some companies participate in the Responsible Minerals Initiative, which sets audit standards for ethical sourcing. While this sounds promising, participation is optional and largely self-governed.
Few tech companies disclose their full supply chain, and only a handful, like Fairphone and Apple, offer detailed reports on sourcing practices. Others remain vague, using broad sustainability statements without much proof.
Recycling and Circular Design
To reduce reliance on new extraction, some manufacturers are exploring recycling programs and modular product designs. This change supports tech supply chain ethics by lowering demand for freshly mined materials and encouraging long-term use of existing devices.
These early steps matter, but much more needs to be done to create a truly accountable system.
What Can You Do as a Consumer or Business?
Businesses and consumers both play a part in affecting demand. Tech supply chain ethics may feel out of reach, but individual choices still carry weight.
Here are some practical ways to make a difference.
- Choose refurbished or modular devices: Refurbished devices save working tech from landfills and lower the demand for freshly mined resources. Meanwhile, modular models, like those from Fairphone, allow you to replace parts like batteries and screens without needing to discard the entire device.
- Support certified ethical brands: Brands that publish full supply chain reports and work with third-party certification bodies signal a stronger commitment to ethical sourcing. Look for labels like Fairtrade, Conflict-Free Smelter, or references to the Responsible Minerals Initiative.
- Extend product lifespan: Simple habits, such as using protective cases, avoiding overcharging, and doing software updates, can significantly extend your device’s life. When you no longer need it, gifting, selling, or repurposing it keeps it in circulation longer.
- Recycle responsibly: E-waste contains valuable metals that can be recovered. Use approved drop-off points or brand-led take-back schemes to ensure responsible processing and to reduce environmental harm from improper disposal.
Consumer Checklist:
- Is the brand transparent about sourcing?
- Does the product offer repair or upgrade options?
- Are there trade-in or recycling programs?
- Have you considered a refurbished model?
Every choice adds up. These small steps help move the tech industry toward more ethical, sustainable practices.
Choosing Smarter Tech Starts with Awareness
Every device has a cost that goes far beyond the checkout screen. From the mines that extract lithium and cobalt to the factories that assemble our devices, the impacts stretch across ecosystems and communities.
These effects are often hidden, but they condition the world behind our screens.
In this article, we explored how computers rely on materials like cobalt and lithium, the environmental damage caused by mining, and the human side it leaves behind.
We also examined why tech supply chains are hard to trace, where big brands stand on ethical sourcing, and what actions are being taken. Finally, we shared steps you can take to make more responsible choices with the tech you use.
At Chaire-Cycledevie, we analyse the full life cycle of computers, including manufacturing, energy use, and end-of-life disposal, to understand and reduce their environmental impact.
If you’re looking to take smarter action as a consumer, business, or policymaker, our research can help guide the way.
Visit our site to learn more and take your next step towards more ethical, informed tech use.