CRNMC Path to Sustainable Cobalt

From Challenge to Solution – What We Do Today

Cobalt powers the clean-energy revolution, but its extraction can harm people and planet. At CRNMC (Ningbo Chuangrun New Materials Co., Ltd.), we do not just describe the problems—we solve them. Below, every environmental and ethical challenge is paired with the concrete action we are already taking.

Environmental Challenges – CRNMC’s Green Response

Challenge: Deforestation & Habitat Loss

• CRNMC Action: We source cobalt only from mines that operate under a zero-deforestation clause. Since 2022, we have co-funded the re-vegetation of 1,200 acres in the DRC, verified by satellite imagery.

Challenge: Water Pollution

• CRNMC Action: All incoming Cobalt  lots must arrive with third-party water-quality certificates. Our in-house “zero-acid-wash” refining process cuts COD by 85 % and recycles 92 % of process water.

Challenge: Soil Erosion & Land Degradation

• CRNMC Action: Mine-tailings are backfilled and solidified on-site; surplus tailings are converted into eco-bricks for local road construction, eliminating open dumps.

Challenge: High Energy Use & CO₂ Emissions

• CRNMC Action: 100 % renewable electricity powers our cobalt refining lines. A 2023 ISO 14064 audit shows our per-tonne CO₂ footprint is 32 % below industry average.

Ethical Challenges – CRNMC’s Social Safeguards

Challenge: Child Labor & Exploitation

• CRNMC Action: We purchase cobalt exclusively from RCI-audited mines and require blockchain traceability for every batch. Scan the QR code on our product label to see mine-of-origin, transport route, and audit date.

Challenge: Unsafe Working Conditions

• CRNMC Action: A dedicated safety-training fund has equipped 1,800 miners with PPE and emergency-response skills; anonymous reporting hotline is open 24/7.

Challenge: Conflict Financing

• CRNMC Action: Any mine located in a conflict zone is automatically excluded. Quarterly SGS audits confirm compliance.

Closing the Loop – Circular Cobalt

• Battery-to-Battery Recycling: Our 1,200 t/year closed-loop plant recovers ≥95 % cobalt from end-of-life batteries, feeding it straight back into new cathode materials.

• Take-Back Program: Customers can return spent batteries; we handle logistics and pay market-rate for recovered cobalt.

Transparency & Verification

• Annual Sustainability Report (downloadable PDF) lists all environmental and social KPIs.

• All data third-party verified (SGS, Bureau Veritas).

Conclusion

With responsible sourcing, green refining, and circular recovery, CRNMC turns cobalt from a risk into a resource for a sustainable future.