Svemin said the value chain pilot will be implemented under an initiative called Traceability for sustainable metals and minerals (TraceMet).

The industry body expects a metal's green footprint will become increasingly important for applications such as electric vehicle manufacturing.

"Your new electric car has zero emissions when transporting you from A to B. But what if the 100kg of copper in the car, making this fossil-free trip possible, comes with a not-so-green footprint from where the copper once was extracted?" asked the association in a press statement.

In the pilot, Svemin will use blockchain technology to trace metals in a value chain for steel, from iron ore mine to steel in trucks, as well as one in copper, from a mine to the use in high-voltage lines.

Svemin chief executive Maria Sunér Fleming said while there are currently several similar active projects in the world on certification and traceability of metals, the Svemin initiative is the only one involving stakeholders from the entire value chain.

Swedish mining firms LKAB and Boliden, vehicle makers Volvo Group and Scania, manufacturers Elektrokoppar and SSAB, and the technology firm ABB are all taking part.