Project: TraceMet - Traceable metals for a sustainable future


> The origin of metals in consumer products is playing an increasing role for both consumers and producers. That is why Svemin has taken the initiative for the completely new traceability system TraceMet. The pilot study is now complete. The purpose of TraceMet is to develop a simplified, but fully functional, IT system to trace certified metals from mining to end use. The project uses the criteria carbon footprint, and amount recycled material. On March 18, Svemin arranged a webinar in connection with the launch of the report from the pilot study. The report is currently only available in Swedish, but an English version will be coming soon. It will be available here on Svemin’s website.

> Watch the webinar from March 18 here

> Press release (May, 2020) on TraceMet here


Swedish pilot study: Blockchain technology to trace metals in sustainable value chains

Our modern green society is very dependent on metals, such as copper, cobalt and lithium. So far, it has been very difficult to know where and how sustainably metals are produced. The solution could be a brand new, Swedish developed, traceability system.

Your new electric car has zero emissions when transporting you from point A to point B. But what if the 100 kilograms of copper in the car, making this fossil free trip possible, come with a not so green footprint from where the copper once was extracted? In order to address this challenge, the Swedish mining industry has taken the initiative to a new pilot project on traceability for metals.

– It is extremely positive that Sweden can take the lead, the question is highly relevant, says Maria Sunér Fleming, CEO of Svemin, Swedish Association of Mines, Mineral and Metal Producers, the owner of the project.

The origin of metals in consumer products plays an increasingly important role for both consumers and producers. The importance of being able to trace the constituents of the product in a clear and transparent way is driven by an increased awareness of the climate change and the strive to reach Agenda 2030 and contribute to the UN’s global sustainability goals.

Svemin’s project is named TraceMet – Traceability for sustainable metals and minerals. The purpose is to develop a simplified, but fully functional, IT-system to follow certified metals along the whole value chain. The pilot project will include one value chain for copper, from mine to use in electrical applications e.g. transformators, as well as one for steel, from iron ore mine to steel in trucks.

There are currently several parallel projects in the world on certification and traceability of metals and minerals. That’s of no threat to the Svemin project, says Maria Sunér Fleming.

– It just shows what a tremendous pressure it is to come forward on this issue. But this project is, as far as we know, the only initiative involving stakeholders from the entire value chains, she says.

TraceMet has several strategic partners in the mining cluster, including LKAB and Boliden, and key stakeholders such as Volvo Group, Scania, Elektrokoppar, SSAB and ABB.

This one-year pilot project started in December 2019 and is managed by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.

– The idea is to make it possible, via block chain technology, to trace both the carbon footprint for the metal and how much recycled material it contains, says the project manager Erik Lindblom, IVL.

The pilot study is largely funded by the Swedish strategic innovation program Swedish Mining Innovation.

– It is important to get a traceability system in place as soon as possible. Svemin’s feasibility study from spring 2019, which was also funded by Swedish Mining Innovation, showed that blockchains are a conceivable way forward, says Jenny Greberg, program director at Swedish Mining Innovation.

Please accept statistics, marketing cookies to watch this video.


Press and media inquiries
Emma Härdmark, director of communications Svemin emma.hardmark@svemin.se, +46(0)70-3466048

Contact

Swedish Mining Innovation: Jenny Greberg, Program Director jenny.greberg@swedishmininginnovation.se +46(0)70-6412840
IVL: Erik Lindblom, Project Manager erik.lindblom@ivl.se +46(0)10-788 65 71

More information about Swedish Mining Innovation

Swedish Mining Innovation is the strategic innovation program for the mining and metal mining industry. Swedish Mining Innovation is part of Vinnova’s, the Swedish Energy Agency and Forma’s investment in strategic innovation areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Download documentation from the feasibility study