Blockchain: A Practical Solution to Monitor Corporate Supply Chains

The persistence of human rights abuses within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—particularly in the cobalt mining industry— underscore the failure of international labor protections and corporate due diligence. Despite the International Labor Organization and United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (Ruggie Principles), corporations continue to profit from child labor, forced labor, and unregulated artisanal mining. Existing accountability mechanisms, reliant on state enforcement and voluntary corporate compliance, have proven inadequate to address these labor issues. This Comment argues that blockchain technology offers a practical, scalable solution for supply chain transparency, capable of mitigating labor rights violations in resource extraction industries. This Comment applies the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s five-step framework for corporate supply chain due diligence in coordination with the Ruggie Principles to explore how blockchain can enhance corporate accountability and labor rights protections. It also discusses real-world examples of corporations already using blockchain technology for broader ethical and sustainability initiatives, such as carbon capture and environmental conservation. While blockchain alone is not a panacea, its integration within existing human rights frameworks represents a critical step toward eliminating exploitative labor practices in the DRC and beyond.