Many manufacturers are now pushing for raw materials that are extracted in more responsible ways. This is driven by social pressures like the US Dodd-Frank Act, European Conflict Minerals Regulation or the UK Modern Slavery Act.
The extraction of high-demand critical raw materials often comes with a heavy price for nature and human health. In this article we will explore some of the main environmental issues caused by mining:
Water and Air Pollution
Whether it’s the mining of metals like copper or gold, or minerals such as nickel and cobalt, chemical leaching and acid mine drainage are major environmental issues caused by raw material mining. It’s not just about the immediate impact either as abandoned mines can leave a legacy of damage lasting decades and even centuries.
Moreover, mining can also have a direct impact on the health of local people through polluted water and food. In Madagascar for example, the booming industry of mining for gems and metals has been linked to rainforest deforestation and destruction of natural lemur habitats.
Furthermore, many of the chemicals used in mining processes can be toxic to animals and humans. This is especially true of Cyanide, which is sprayed on ore to separate the metals from their oxides. Cyanide can kill wildlife and contaminate soil, water streams and lakes both locally and further downstream.
Thankfully, there are steps being taken to mitigate these impacts including the growing uptake of supply chain due diligence by companies. This approach enables a more responsible sourcing of raw materials with a focus on sustainability and traceability. But the truth is that we need to make a fundamental shift from a society built on mining and resource extraction to one of reduced consumption and reliance on critical raw materials.
Land Degradation
The mining of raw materials can disrupt ecosystems. When soil is excavated it releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This is particularly true of surface mining where the oxidation of organic material in the soil results in significant emissions. In addition, vegetation removal for mining also releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air.
The dumping of toxic wastes can cause even further damage to the environment. When cyanide and mercury are released into water streams they poison marine life and contaminate freshwater supplies. The destruction of habitats caused by mining also harms wildlife and reduces the ability of ecosystems to provide valuable services like nutrient cycling, hydrological regulation, and climate regulation.
When mining companies are required to perform social and environmental due diligence, they can mitigate the negative impacts of their activities on the environment. This can include measures such as restoring contaminated land to a suitable condition for the future use of the area, transplanting or culturing any endangered plants found on site, and ensuring that the mines do not disturb important ecosystems.
However, this can be difficult, especially when large-scale industrial mining is involved. The Brumadinho dam disaster in Brazil in January of 2019 is just one example where the industry has been criticised for not taking its responsibility for environmental sustainability seriously enough.
Carbon Emissions
Many industrialized countries depend largely on the import of abiotic raw materials. Therefore, they are exposed to negative environmental impacts of mining activities in other world regions. This leads to an ethical co-responsibility between raw material intensive manufacturing companies and their suppliers.
This is why sustainable raw material supply chains are gaining importance and why the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Taskforce on Nature Related Disclosures (TNFD) have set out to establish robust reporting guidelines that address these issues. In this context, the sustainability of mining is currently under intense scrutiny. This is mainly due to the fact that, in contrast to energy and land use, mining activities are often associated with a variety of adverse environmental impacts.
These range from the destruction of natural wildlife corridors to the pollution of rivers and water bodies by heavy metals such as mercury and cyanide. In addition, mining activities are responsible for the release of carbon emissions. The underlying causes are primarily the burning of coal and oil to produce electricity during the extraction and processing of raw materials.
The resulting carbon emissions are a significant contributor to global warming. For these reasons, carbon emission data are a key part of our evaluation of the environmental impact of a raw material.
Toxic Waste
The raw materials extracted from mines produce a cocktail of toxic waste that can affect the health and well-being of nearby populations through ground, air and water pollution. This is particularly true for mining operations that use acid to sift through ore, which can contaminate drinking water supplies and poison ecosystems. Similarly, the leaching of metals from oxidized ores can pollute natural wildlife corridors. This is particularly acute in countries such as Madagascar where illegal gem and metal mining has been linked to rainforest depletion and habitat loss for lemurs.
Whether it’s acid mine drainage, cyanide leaching or residual copper in mill tailings, mining’s poor environmental legacy can last for decades and even centuries. This is not only harmful to the immediate area of a mine, but can also impact the entire surrounding landscape through contamination of water streams and the creation of sinkholes and acid bogs.
As demand for critical raw materials continues to grow, industrialized nations and mining countries need to work together more closely on responsible extraction and supply chain management. This is especially true as the US Dodd-Frank Act, European Conflict Minerals Regulation and Modern Slavery Act make it more important than ever that companies are compliant with global standards.