Expected Outcome:

Projects outcomes will enable achieving the expected impacts of the destination by increasing access to primary raw materials and secondary raw materials, in particular critical raw materials^[1] for EU industrial value chains and strategic sectors.

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

-Improve responsible sourcing of raw materials and responsible business conduct initiatives with regard to raw materials;

-Equip the raw materials sector with tools to enable implementation of relevant regulatory initiatives;

-Identify and address gaps in the raw materials supply chains due diligence;

-Improve responsible supply of raw materials to Europe in line with the EU principles for sustainable raw materials, which are a non-regulatory set of principles based on the EU acquis. They set out requirements for sustainable raw materials and extraction and processing in Europe in terms of social, environmental and economic performance.^[2]

Actions are expected to contribute to the implementation the EU action plan on Critical Raw Materials.^[3]

Scope:

Responsible sourcing and due diligence are growing in importance throughout the raw materials value chain, highlighting the need to address possible risks of adverse impact to human rights and the environment in corporate behaviour. Consumers and investors increasingly expect supply chain transparency where due diligence obligations are an important part. Recent regulatory initiatives are underway for responsible sourcing and supply chain due diligence.

Knowledge in the area supply chain due diligence needs to be strengthened to limit complexity and enable a level playing field for responsible sourcing of raw materials.

The proposal should build on the state of the art in sustainable raw materials traceability and on the experience of existing EU projects on international responsible sourcing and contribute to strengthening responsible sourcing agenda.

Actions should envisage clustering activities with other relevant selected projects for cross-projects co-operation, consultations and joint activities on cross-cutting issues and share of results as well as participating in joint meetings and communication events. To this end proposals should foresee a dedicated work package and/or task, and earmark the appropriate resources accordingly.

Actions should facilitate the market uptake of solutions developed through industrially- and user-driven multidisciplinary consortia covering the relevant value chain and should consider standardisation aspects when relevant. The action should also include the analysis of financial opportunities ensuring the market exploitation and replication of the circular business model behind the developed solutions as new processes, products and/or services.

[1]https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials_en

[2]https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/6d541f66-0f81-11ec-9151-01aa75ed71a1

[3]COM (2020) 474