Cobalt (Co)

Overview#

Cobalt sits at the heart of two very different stories. As a material it stabilises lithium-ion battery cathodes and strengthens high-performance alloys. As a regulated substance it carries both chemical-hazard concerns and sourcing concerns, because much of the world's supply comes from regions where mining conditions draw human-rights attention.

Where it's restricted#

Several cobalt salts are classified as carcinogenic and appear on the SVHC Candidate List under REACH. Cobalt metal itself is under substance evaluation in the CoRAP, so its status could tighten as that assessment proceeds.

Battery use brings a second layer. The Battery Regulation sets requirements that touch cobalt-bearing chemistries, including due-diligence expectations on raw materials.

Toys are a third, and it works the opposite way round to the others. The Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC bans CMR substances in toys as its general rule; Appendix A to Annex II is the list of uses permitted by derogation from that ban. Commission Directive (EU) 2026/192 added cobalt to that appendix, so this change permits cobalt in three narrowly defined uses rather than restricting it further. It applies from 29 August 2026.

The appendix entry classifies cobalt as CMR 1B and sets no concentration or migration limit for these uses.

Two things follow for a supplier. A cobalt position built only on the Candidate List entry is no longer complete for a material that can reach a toy, because toy safety is a separate regime with its own annexes. And a use outside those three is still caught by the general CMR ban, so "cobalt is now allowed in toys" is the wrong reading of this change. Read the consolidated text for the operative wording: Commission Directive (EU) 2026/192, amending Appendix A to Annex II of Directive 2009/48/EC.

Responsible sourcing#

Cobalt is not formally one of the conflict minerals, yet its supply chain faces comparable scrutiny. Concerns centre on artisanal mining conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which produces a large share of global cobalt. Many companies extend conflict-minerals-style due diligence to cobalt as a result. Beyond its RoHS/REACH profile, cobalt is tracked for responsible sourcing through the Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT), alongside mica.

Typical uses#

Battery cathodes are the fastest-growing demand. Cobalt also hardens superalloys for turbines and cutting tools, colours glass and ceramics a deep blue, and serves as a catalyst in chemical and refining processes.