Amazon & XPRIZE: Transforming Critical Mineral Circularity

Lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earth elements are essential for the economy and the energy transition, according to Amazon. The supply chains responsible for mineral transportation are highly concentrated and vulnerable to disruption.

This concentration could create risks for energy security and the pace of decarbonisation. Communities closest to mineral extraction face challenges including unsafe work conditions, human rights risks and environmental degradation.

Amazon is partnering with XPRIZE to address these issues. XPRIZE designs and operates large-scale incentive competitions to solve challenges facing humanity.

Material circularity for minerals

The two organisations are designing the XPRIZE Critical Minerals grand challenge. This global challenge aims to accelerate solutions that advance circularity and transform how critical minerals are sourced, processed and reused.

According to the International Energy Agency, critical mineral demand is projected to quadruple by 2040. This projection could highlight the importance of circular systems.

Kara Hurst is Amazon's Chief Sustainability Officer. She says: "Critical minerals are foundational to transitioning to cleaner energy, but today's supply chains weren't designed for the scale or speed of tomorrow's demand."

Kara adds: "The XPRIZE Critical Minerals competition aims to mobilise innovators worldwide to develop solutions that don't just recover and reuse these materials more effectively, but fundamentally redesign how they flow through the global economy. This is about building supply chain resilience, protecting human rights in mining communities, and ensuring the technologies powering decarbonisation are designed for sustainability and economic viability."

A just transition approach

The partnership aims to reflect a just transition. The International Labour Organization defined this transition as "greening the economy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind."

To Amazon, this means aligning decarbonisation efforts with respect for essential human rights for workers and communities. The aim is to expand access to safe and fair compensated jobs to ensure that the benefits for the green energy transition are shared globally.

For Amazon, this work is central to achieving its Climate Pledge commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040. The company is transforming its infrastructure, from more than 700 wind and solar projects worldwide to battery materials that power more than 35,000 electric delivery vehicles.

These investments are expected to continue expanding alongside business growth. Amazon is working to strengthen raw material supply chains and advance the responsible sourcing of critical minerals.

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Responsible sourcing initiatives

Through initiatives such as the Responsible Minerals Initiative and The Copper Mark, Amazon supports greater transparency, higher standards and more responsible practices across global supply chains. The competition is seeking innovations that can aid in reducing reliance on vulnerable supply chains. It aims to safeguard and advance human rights and ecosystems. The challenge seeks to unlock economically viable pathways for circular mineral production. It also aims to enhance the rate of responsible mineral sourcing.

Anousheh Ansari is XPRIZE's Chief Executive. She says: "Our collaboration with Amazon reflects a shared commitment to strengthening supply chains and advancing more responsible solutions for the clean energy transition."

Anousheh adds: "XPRIZE Critical Minerals will challenge innovators worldwide, from start-ups and research institutions to entrepreneurs developing breakthrough technologies, to develop sustainable, scalable solutions that meet future demands."

By creating solutions that industries, governments and markets can adopt with confidence, the critical mineral competition aims to attract the investment needed to scale essential energy transition innovations.