Major industry players including Glencore, China Molybdenum, Umicore and Tesla, announced in May they were piloting Re|Source, a blockchain solution for end-to-end cobalt tracing.

Amnesty International reports in recent years had put a spotlight on child labour and human rights issues in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

In its Impact Report 2020, Tesla said it had opted to collaborate with Re|Source because it was industry-led, designed to be readily accessible and inclusive to all parties across the supply chain and scalable, so it could include other critical battery materials in the future.

"Where we can be assured that minerals, including cobalt, are coming from mines that meet our social and environmental standards, we will continue to support sourcing from the DRC and other regions," Tesla said.

Glencore said last week the pilot was being tested in "real operating conditions" in the DRC and Europe, with plans in place for further pilots in Asia and the US later this year, and the final pilot across the entire Tesla supply chain expected in the fourth quarter.

"The launch of the final industry solution is expected in 2022 and is being supported by boutique blockchain technology studio, Kryha," Glencore said.

Responsible Minerals Initiative and the Cobalt Institute have joined Re|Source as strategic advisors,