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The report examines China's position as the world's largest producer and consumer of refined copper, detailing the supply chain from extraction to recycling. It highlights the industry's significant economic contribution and employment generation, while addressing environmental risks such as heavy metal pollution and toxic gas emissions. The document also outlines the Chinese government's regulatory framework, including the 'Admittance Qualification of Chinese Copper Smelting Industry', which sets strict energy, resource recovery, and environmental standards for smelters.

The report analyzes the environmental and social footprints of China's rapid economic growth within three specific sectors: forestry, cotton, and E-products. It argues that because China is a central 'middleman' in global supply chains, it shares responsibility with international partners to address degradation. For forestry, the report highlights China's role as a major importer of illegally logged timber and recommends building capacity in supplying countries and adopting sustainable procurement. In the cotton sector, it notes high water and pesticide use in domestic production and suggests promoting sustainable sourcing and Sino-African cooperation. For E-products, it focuses on the crisis of E-waste and the toxicity of informal recycling, recommending a national E-waste strategy and international cooperation on responsible disposal. The overarching strategy emphasizes national capacity building, leveraging sustainable markets through green procurement, and active participation in international sustainability standards.

The document examines the Indian marine seafood export supply chain, highlighting a stark divide between sophisticated exporters and marginalized fishermen. It finds that while EU and U.S. process regulations like HACCP have improved industry organization, product regulations often act as non-tariff barriers. The author argues that sustainability initiatives, such as the Marine Stewardship Council label, are currently unviable in India due to the multi-species nature of the fisheries and the lack of infrastructure and education at the bottom of the supply chain. Recommendations focus on a 'bottom-up' approach, including the promotion of fishermen cooperatives and basic hygiene training.

The report examines the gap between high compliance in fish processing plants and low compliance in harvesting and pre-processing stages in Pakistan. While market pressures drive processors to adopt HACCP standards to maintain EU exports, the harvesting stage suffers from systemic degradation, over-fishing, and a cycle of indebtedness among fisherfolk. The document argues that institutional failure and the perception of fisheries as an open-access resource have led to the use of destructive fishing gear and the depletion of stocks, necessitating a sustainable fisheries policy that integrates ecosystem management with the economic uplift of coastal communities.

The report details how over 500,000 tonnes of fish are diverted annually from West African coastal communities to produce FMFO for European and Asian aquaculture and livestock. It identifies Mauritania as the primary exporter, with a significant portion of its fish oil destined for the EU, particularly France and Denmark. The document links this trade to major European aquafeed companies and retailers, while highlighting the severe socio-economic impacts on local artisanal fishermen and women processors.

The document argues that the aquaculture industry's dependence on wild-caught fish for feed is ecologically and financially unsustainable, exposing investors and retailers to systemic resource risks, price volatility, and reputational damage. It highlights links between major European aquafeed producers and destructive fishing practices in India, Vietnam, and The Gambia, while asserting that current certification schemes, specifically those from the Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO), are ineffective 'smokescreens'.

The report examines the industrial aquaculture sector's dependence on fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO), highlighting how the extraction of forage fish disrupts marine food webs and undermines food security in vulnerable coastal regions. It criticizes the lack of transparency in supply chains and the inadequacy of current certification schemes, while calling for a transition toward herbivorous species and alternative proteins to protect ocean health.

The report details how over 99% of plastics are derived from fossil fuels, specifically through the production of ethylene and propylene. It highlights the geographic concentration of production near fossil fuel sources, such as the US Gulf Coast, and the high degree of vertical integration between major oil and gas companies and plastics producers. The document also analyzes the shift in feedstocks, noting the US preference for natural gas liquids (NGL) and the dominance of naphtha in China, Europe, and Japan, while projecting that oil consumption by the plastics sector could reach 20% of total consumption by 2050.

Lithium is a critical mineral essential for electric vehicle batteries and grid storage, with demand for these applications expected to reach 97% by 2035. While deposits are globally abundant, viable extraction is concentrated in the 'lithium triangle' (Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile) and Australia. The United States relies on imports for over 50% of its consumption as of 2025, with limited domestic production and processing. Extraction and processing cause significant environmental damage, including water depletion in arid regions and toxic contamination, disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. Recycling remains limited but could potentially reduce the need for new mines by 25% by 2050.

Global Witness reports a surge in unregulated heavy rare earth element (HREE) mining in Myanmar's Kachin State, driven by demand from China for the global green energy transition. The report details severe environmental degradation, including acid-contaminated waterways and soil infertility, alongside critical health issues for workers and social instability in local communities. It highlights that HREE exports to China rose from 19,500 tonnes in 2021 to 41,700 tonnes in 2023, fueling conflict by providing revenue to both the military-aligned militias and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). The document further traces these minerals through Chinese refineries and magnet manufacturers to major global brands like Tesla and Volkswagen, noting a lack of transparency and effective ESG oversight in the supply chain.

A joint investigation by Global Witness and Radio Free Europe (RFE) identifies a supply chain connecting Wintershall Dea's gas condensate production in Western Siberia to the Salavat refinery, which in turn supplies diesel to companies with Russian military contracts. While the report notes it is not possible to determine if a specific barrel of diesel contains Wintershall's condensate, it highlights that the refinery's output reaches suppliers for the Federal Guard Service (FSO) and other military units. The report criticizes Wintershall for its continued shareholding in these ventures and its pursuit of German government compensation despite these connections.

The document details how the 'nickel fever' for electric vehicle batteries is threatening the biodiversity and indigenous communities of Raja Ampat, Papua. It highlights the ecological destruction of coral reefs and mangroves caused by sediment runoff from open-pit mining, the violation of indigenous land rights, and the contradiction of a 'green transition' powered by coal-fired smelters. The report identifies specific companies operating in the region and calls for the Indonesian government and international stakeholders to halt mining in small islands and enforce strict human rights and environmental due diligence.

Global Witness traced the journey of Russian oil from the port of Primorsk to the UK via India, highlighting the use of a 'shadow fleet' of aging tankers and a refining loophole that allows Russian crude to be imported into the UK as refined products. The report identifies the role of Gatik Ship Management and the St Kitts and Nevis ship registry in facilitating this trade, and notes that refineries in Vadinar and Jamnagar process Russian crude for re-export to Western markets, including purchases by Shell and BP.

Global Witness reports that heavy rare earth mining has exploded in Myanmar's Kachin Special Region 1, driven by China's need to offshore its polluting mining industry. The process, primarily in-situ leaching, causes severe environmental degradation, including water poisoning and deforestation, while funding militias affiliated with Myanmar's military regime. These minerals, specifically dysprosium and terbium, are critical for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines, linking global green energy goals to human rights abuses and ecological collapse in Myanmar.

Global Witness reports that illegal heavy rare earth mining in Myanmar's Kachin Special Region 1 is surging to meet global demand for electric vehicles and wind turbines. The process, driven by Chinese investment and controlled by militias linked to the Myanmar military, causes severe environmental damage, including water poisoning and deforestation. These minerals are primarily exported to Chinese state-owned enterprises, which then supply global manufacturers of permanent magnets.

A Global Witness investigation reveals that Myanmar has become a critical source of heavy rare earth elements (HREE) for global EV and wind turbine magnets, with exports to China surging from 19,500 tonnes in 2021 to 41,700 tonnes in 2023. The report documents catastrophic environmental damage in Kachin State, including the use of toxic chemicals like ammonium sulfate and oxalic acid via 'in-situ leaching,' which has contaminated rivers and caused severe health issues for miners. The mining activity is largely illegal and controlled by militias aligned with the Myanmar military or the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), potentially funding conflict. The supply chain links these minerals to Chinese state-owned enterprises and subsequently to global brands such as Tesla, Volkswagen, and Siemens Gamesa, though the report notes a lack of definitive evidence for every specific product.

Global Witness reports that while the US and UK have banned Russian-origin nickel, the EU has not, creating a loophole where Russian nickel is refined in Finland and then legally exported to the US. The report highlights the environmental degradation and human rights abuses linked to Norilsk Nickel's operations in the Arctic, the company's ties to the Russian military-industrial complex, and the challenges of conducting corporate due diligence in a repressive political environment. It recommends that the EU implement targeted sanctions on Russian nickel, maintain strict thresholds for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and prioritize circular economy strategies to reduce dependency on Russian minerals.

Global Witness reports a surge in unregulated heavy rare earth element (HREE) mining in Myanmar's Kachin State, with exports to China rising from 19,500 tonnes in 2021 to 41,700 tonnes in 2023. The report details devastating environmental damage caused by in-situ leaching, including poisoned watercourses and severe health issues for workers. These minerals are vital for permanent magnets used in EVs and wind turbines, linking global brands like Tesla and Volkswagen to a supply chain dominated by Chinese state-owned firms and Myanmar-based militias. The report argues that the trade finances conflict and calls for strict supply chain due diligence and import restrictions on Myanmar-sourced HREE.

The report analyzes the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of China's role as a global leader in seafood production and processing. It identifies critical challenges including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, resource depletion of high-value species, and the environmental impact of intensive aquaculture. Through case studies of tilapia, cod, and live reef food fish, the document highlights the need for improved traceability systems, alignment with international certification standards (such as MSC and BAP), and a transition toward low-carbon, eco-friendly production to maintain market access in the EU and US.

The report evaluates a wide range of U.S. food companies, including fast food chains, grocers, and distributors, on three sustainability metrics for meat sourcing. The vast majority of the assessed companies, such as Subway, Starbucks, and Costco, have no commitments to reducing Scope 3 emissions, implementing sustainable feed sourcing, or ensuring responsible manure management. A few companies show partial progress: Walmart's 'Project Gigaton' aims to reduce Scope 3 emissions by one billion tons by 2030, and McDonald's has a Science Based Target to reduce emissions intensity by 31 percent by 2030. However, the report notes that many of these efforts are voluntary or lack the rigorous standards and reporting necessary to ensure absolute emissions reductions across the full supply chain.