2027 Agenda

Trusted supply chains are built through partnership, not procurement. Automakers, battery manufacturers and technology companies increasingly demand greater visibility into the origins of the materials they buy. But traceability does not begin in a factory. It starts at the mine. As new battery passport and supply chain requirements reshape global markets, mining companies are being asked to provide unprecedented levels of transparency, often at significant cost. Yet leading initiatives, including Volvo's battery passport programme and the Global Battery Alliance's efforts to establish common standards, demonstrate that trusted traceability is only possible when miners, processors and downstream buyers work together. Can transparency remain a supplier obligation, or does the future of responsible sourcing depend on deeper partnerships across the value chain? 

Leadership Imperatives:

• Who should pay for proof? 
• What does true partnership across the value chain look like? 
• Can transparency succeed without shared investment? 
• Who captures the value of traceability?