Amazon has partnered with XPRIZE to design the “XPRIZE Critical Minerals” grand challenge, a global incentive competition aimed at accelerating scalable solutions for the circular production and responsible sourcing of essential materials. The initiative targets the growing strain on supply chains for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and copper, which are vital for the clean energy transition but currently face significant geopolitical and human rights risks.
With global demand for critical minerals projected by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to quadruple by 2040, the competition seeks to move beyond conventional mining. Instead, it will focus on innovations in recovery, reuse, and recycling to keep materials in use longer and reduce the environmental and social pressures of extraction.
“Today’s supply chains weren’t designed for the scale or speed of tomorrow’s demand,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “This is about building supply chain resilience, protecting human rights in mining communities, and ensuring the technologies powering decarbonisation are designed for sustainability.”
The project aligns with Amazon’s goal to reach net-zero carbon by 2040, a target that relies heavily on minerals for its global renewable energy projects and its fleet of over 35,000 electric delivery vehicles. The competition will challenge startups, researchers, and entrepreneurs to develop breakthroughs that can be adopted by governments and industries worldwide.
“XPRIZE Critical Minerals will challenge innovators worldwide to develop sustainable, scalable solutions that meet future demands,” said Anousheh Ansari, XPRIZE CEO.
Amazon and XPRIZE are currently inviting further strategic collaborators and funders to help shape the challenge, which is scheduled for design over the coming months. The ultimate goal is to create economically viable pathways that safeguard both ecosystems and human rights while securing the materials needed for a net-zero future.
