Sustainable Resilience in Critical Mineral Supply Chains: An ESG and Circular Economy Perspective

ABSTRACT Supply chains for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are now at the heart of low‐carbon transitions and geopolitical competition. This study conducts a systematic review that blends quantitative synthesis with the contextual richness of qualitative thematic analysis to clarify how these chains are shaped by environmental, social and governance (ESG) dynamics. Drawing on 106 peer‐reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025, this study examines the links between ESG performance, recycling practices, and supply chain resilience through a single integrative lens. Descriptive statistics and a correlation matrix summarize the direction and strength of reported relationships. At the same time, thematic analysis uncovers technical, economic, and institutional barriers, policy misalignments, and regional asymmetries in the sustainable supply of critical minerals. Building on these insights, the paper proposes the Critical Minerals Integrated Sustainability Framework (CMISF), which connects institutional theory with the resource‐based view to explain how ESG capabilities and recycling capacity support resilience. The study highlights the importance of harmonized ESG standards, patient investments in recycling infrastructure, and genuinely collaborative governance among firms, regulators, and communities to sustain critical mineral systems over the long term, with explicit implications for corporate strategy, risk management, and long‐term competitive positioning in critical mineral industries.