Ernest Scheider

There's a whole host of items on that periodic table of the elements. And so copper might be the one that people might know the most about. It's used in wiring, it's used in motors and many other electronics. Lithium is used in lithium ion batteries, as the name of course implies. But the lithium ion battery really started to take off in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Record for up to 12 hours on one battery with a Sony Stem and a Handycam camcorder. For decades before that, it was used in things like greases or in pharmacologic. So its use has definitely mushroomed in recent decades. Nickel is used to make stainless steel, but its use in the lithium ion battery has become extremely important in that same timeframe as well.

Record for up to 12 hours on one battery with a Sony Stem and a Handycam camcorder. For decades before that, it was used in things like greases or in pharmacologic. So its use has definitely mushroomed in recent decades. Nickel is used to make stainless steel, but its use in the lithium ion battery has become extremely important in that same timeframe as well.

Record for up to 12 hours on one battery with a Sony Stem and a Handycam camcorder. For decades before that, it was used in things like greases or in pharmacologic. So its use has definitely mushroomed in recent decades. Nickel is used to make stainless steel, but its use in the lithium ion battery has become extremely important in that same timeframe as well.

Rare earths are a subset of critical minerals.

Rare earths are a subset of critical minerals.

Rare earths are a subset of critical minerals.

They're a group of 17 minor metals found on that periodic table of the elements, and they're used to make magnets that turn power into motion. So the thing that makes your cell phone vibrate is a magnet made from rare earths. So broadly, when we look at critical minerals, copper has been one of the most important for many, many, many years.

They're a group of 17 minor metals found on that periodic table of the elements, and they're used to make magnets that turn power into motion. So the thing that makes your cell phone vibrate is a magnet made from rare earths. So broadly, when we look at critical minerals, copper has been one of the most important for many, many, many years.

They're a group of 17 minor metals found on that periodic table of the elements, and they're used to make magnets that turn power into motion. So the thing that makes your cell phone vibrate is a magnet made from rare earths. So broadly, when we look at critical minerals, copper has been one of the most important for many, many, many years.

But when we look at all these other assortments of these niche areas like lithium or cobalt or rare earths, They've just exploded in popularity because of this electrified transition that our entire global economy is going through right now.

But when we look at all these other assortments of these niche areas like lithium or cobalt or rare earths, They've just exploded in popularity because of this electrified transition that our entire global economy is going through right now.

But when we look at all these other assortments of these niche areas like lithium or cobalt or rare earths, They've just exploded in popularity because of this electrified transition that our entire global economy is going through right now.

One of the things that I like to talk about is just think about all of the gadgets and gizmos in your house, Noelle, that are powered by lithium-ion batteries today that weren't even 20 or 30 years ago. So a great example is a leaf blower. Leaf blowers historically have been powered by two-stroke engines and that are just really bad for the environment.

One of the things that I like to talk about is just think about all of the gadgets and gizmos in your house, Noelle, that are powered by lithium-ion batteries today that weren't even 20 or 30 years ago. So a great example is a leaf blower. Leaf blowers historically have been powered by two-stroke engines and that are just really bad for the environment.

One of the things that I like to talk about is just think about all of the gadgets and gizmos in your house, Noelle, that are powered by lithium-ion batteries today that weren't even 20 or 30 years ago. So a great example is a leaf blower. Leaf blowers historically have been powered by two-stroke engines and that are just really bad for the environment.

They emit this noxious plume of pollutants that contribute to climate change. And so many governments across the planet are actually outlawing them or phasing them out. Washington, D.C., for instance, has determined that they should be banned. The answer, many people say, is get a leaf blower powered by a lithium ion battery.

They emit this noxious plume of pollutants that contribute to climate change. And so many governments across the planet are actually outlawing them or phasing them out. Washington, D.C., for instance, has determined that they should be banned. The answer, many people say, is get a leaf blower powered by a lithium ion battery.

They emit this noxious plume of pollutants that contribute to climate change. And so many governments across the planet are actually outlawing them or phasing them out. Washington, D.C., for instance, has determined that they should be banned. The answer, many people say, is get a leaf blower powered by a lithium ion battery.

And so you're starting to see these sprout up at home improvement stores across the United States and really the world. Here's the question that I have, though. Where do all the critical minerals used to make that electric leaf blower come from? Do we know that the copper is ethically sourced?