Volkswagen Group, BASF, Daimler AG and Fairphone Join Forces Towards Sustainable Lithium Mining in Chile!

With the expansion of e-mobility and digitization going on, demand for lithium is expected to rise in the upcoming years as more batteries are being produced. 

To promote sustainable development and improved natural resources management, the “Responsible Lithium Partnership” was initiated - with Volkswagen Group, BASF, Daimler AG and Fairphone funding the initiative at its inception. 

The Salar de Atacama has the world's most enormous lithium reserves. It accounts for a substantial portion of the overall output. Still, there’s a downside: The ecology in the region is fragile, and there is no agreement on the consequences and dangers of lithium mining and other economic activities in the area. Potential hazards as a result of water and brine table fluctuations might disrupt ecosystems and have an impact on local livelihoods. To successfully address these risks, a collaboration between stakeholders is crucial. 

Additionally, the companies also commissioned the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to coordinate the partnership in search of common ground by establishing a multi-stakeholder framework among all relevant actors in the Salar watershed, such as civil society organizations, indigenous communities, government institutions, mining companies, and others.

The framework aims to facilitate a common understanding of the status quo to jointly develop a shared vision of the Salar de Atacama’s watershed future - one of them being to co-develop a collaborative action plan for the improvement of long-term integrated natural resources management. The partnership is also seeking to synthesize and verify available technical data, improve if deemed necessary and increase accessibility. 

Commencing in Spring 2021, the Responsible Lithium Partnership will have a planned duration of 2.5 years. It is noted that the partnership has no plans towards facilitating the sourcing of lithium, nor the purchase or sale of any raw materials.

All stakeholders are aware of their responsibility along the entire supply chain, including their human rights due diligence for raw material procurement and production. The outcome? A partnership was established - to promote sustainable development, contribute to the resolution of possible negative impacts and reinforce human rights protection.