Critical metals are essential for batteries, power grids, wind turbines, electronics and high-performance magnets. They are important to industry and the energy transition, but their value chains can come with significant environmental impacts, social risks and economic volatility. Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) brings these dimensions together in one structured framework, which is especially relevant for Belgium, where decisions depend on global supply chains.
Project goal, scope and context
Ecomatters and ARCHE consulting have begun working on a study commissioned by the Knowledge Cell Raw Materials, a unit of the Belgian Federal Institute for Sustainable Development (FISD). This unit has the ambition to become the Belgian benchmark for expertise in raw materials from a sustainable development perspective. The Knowledge Cell fosters the efficient and sustainable use of resources and wants to limit the detrimental effect of raw material production and consumption on society and environment. From January 2026 to October 2026, we will complete five Belgium-focussed studies covering cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel and rare earth elements (REE). For each critical metal, we will assess material from both primary and secondary sources (recycling) from cradle to gate. Transport of materials to Belgium will also be modelled.
Each study includes a life cycle sustainability assessment incorporating:
- LCA (environmental) to quantify impacts such as climate change, resource use and other relevant categories
- S-LCA (social) to assess social topics and risks across the value chain
- LCC (economic) to explore costs and economic considerations across life cycle stages
To ensure relevance to the Belgian context, we will engage with stakeholders who understand local conditions, such as industrial activities, logistics, energy use and recycling.
Specific relevance of LCSA for critical metals
Critical metals are sometimes discussed as if they are interchangeable. In practice, each metal has its own sustainability fingerprint and its own strategic role. This makes LCSA for critical metals particularly useful as it helps to identify what matters per metal and where Belgian decision-makers can realistically influence outcomes.
Metal-specific relevance
- Cobalt is closely tied to responsible sourcing. Beyond environmental impacts, the reliance on artisanal mining raises questions around human rights, labour conditions, governance, and traceability, making the integration of S-LCA essential.
- Copper underpins electrification (wiring, motors, grids). With demand rising and ore grades declining, it is crucial to understand where the environmental pressures are largest (e.g. water and energy use) and what the sustainability profile of recycled copper looks like.
- Lithium is central to battery supply chains. It is frequently linked to high resource intensity and location-specific impacts, meaning the impacts depend heavily on where and how material is produced and refined.
- Nickel is produced through both primary routes from sulfide and laterite ores, as well as from secondary sources such as electronic waste. This study maps the sustainability profile of the main production pathways to identify where environmental, social and economic impacts concentrate along the chain.
- Rare Earth Elements (REE) enable high-performance magnets and other advanced applications, but value chains can be complex and process-intensive. This makes an integrated approach useful for seeing where impacts concentrate (e.g. historically dominated by China).
Across the five metals, LCSA helps to:
- link environmental results with social considerations and economic realities
- identify hotspots and improvement opportunities across the life cycle
- make trade-offs visible, rather than shifting burdens to other geographies or impacts types
- support circularity discussions with a more complete, evidence-based view
This is why LCSA for critical metals is increasingly relevant for policy, procurement and industrial strategy in Belgium and beyond.
What we are doing in the LCSA project with FISD
Our approach is designed to be consistent across metals, while still reflecting the specificities of each value chain and its Belgian connections.
We will:
- define a transparent system model for each metal study
- combine recognised datasets with Belgium-relevant inputs where possible
- use a consistent approach to assess environmental, social, and economic aspects
- develop both metal-specific insights as well as Belgium-specific conclusions
- validate interpretations through engagement with stakeholders, so outcomes are meaningful in practice
The aim is practical output: insights that help decision-makers understand where impacts and risks sit, what options exist, and what questions still need better data.
Want to learn more?
If you would like to learn more about life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA), or the sustainability of (critical) metals in general, contact us or schedule a call with one of our experts.
