Built on child labor.

70% of the world’s cobalt is sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo. UNICEF estimates over 40,000 children — some as young as six — mine it by hand, exposed to toxic dust, collapsing shafts, and industrial accidents.

• 70%of global cobalt sourced from the DRC
• 40k+children mining cobalt by hand (UNICEF est.)
• 6+youngest reported age of artisanal cobalt miners

A thirsty, toxic process.

Brine lithium extraction loses up to 800,000 liters of saline water to evaporation per ton — plus 71,000+ liters of fresh drinking water. Hardrock mining still consumes over 80,000 liters per ton and generates carbon-intensive acid-leaching waste.

• 800kLsaline water evaporated per ton (brine)
• 448waste & recycling facility fires across US + Canada in 2025 — a record
• −81%emissions cut if recycling were the norm

A technology built for the few.

Lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths are controlled by a small number of countries and corporations. Cell manufacturing capital is effectively out of reach for most developing nations — the communities with the most to gain are precisely those most excluded from producing it.

• 10companies control 88% of global ESS output
• 2countries host 9 of those 10
• 44%of global Li-ion recycling revenue concentrated in Asia-Pacific