Search Results

Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM)

Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) is an initiative curated by the industry membership organisation the Mining Association of Canada (MAC).

The Standard evaluates eight topics related to social and environmental performance. TSM was the first mining sustainability standard in the world to require site-level assessments. It is mandatory for all companies that are members of the MAC for their Canadian operations and has been adopted by several other mining chambers around the world.

RMI Cobalt Refiner Supply Chain Due Diligence Standard

The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) is a membership organisation that encourages the responsible sourcing of minerals globally. The Responsible Cobalt Initiative (RCI) is dedicated to identifying, preventing and systemically addressing social and environmental challenges in the cobalt supply chain.

The Cobalt Refiner Supply Chain Due Diligence Standard was developed by the RCI and the RMI. The standard creates enabling conditions for companies to exercise due diligence over cobalt supply chains in accordance with the Chinese Due Diligence Guidelines for Minerals Supply Chains and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance.

Joint Due Diligence Standard for Copper Lead Nickel and Zinc

The Joint Due Diligence Standard was developed collaboratively by the Copper Mark (CuMark), the International Lead Association (ILA), the International Zinc Association (IZA), the Nickel Institute and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI).

The Standard enables companies in the supply chain to comply with the London Metal Exchange Responsible Sourcing requirements, and covers risks associated with conflict and human rights abuses in mineral supply chains. The Standard is designed to enable effective due diligence for producers and traders. It builds on existing standards and it intends to provide flexibility for multi-metal producers which extract both primary and secondary (by-product) minerals at their production sites.

ITA-RMI Assessment Criteria for Tin Smelters

The International Tin Association (ITA) and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) encourage the responsible sourcing of minerals from Conflict-Affected and High Risk Areas (CAHRAs), and, where relevant, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) producers. To incentivize and improve supply chain due diligence in the tin value chain, ITA and RMI collaborated to issue these joint Assessment Criteria for tin smelting companies. This document sets forth the criteria for determining conformance with RMI and ITA program requirements, the OECD Guidance, as well as regulatory requirements on minerals due diligence.

ISO/TS 22451:2021 – Recycling of rare earth elements

ISO is a non-governmental international standard-setting organization with a membership of 167 national standards bodies. It establishes best practices in a very wide range of activities and is not limited to mineral supply chains.

ISO/TS 22451 provides measurement methods for quantifying rare earth elements (REEs) in industrial wastes and end-of-life products in solid, solid-liquid mixture or liquid forms. It provides an overview of sample preparation and measurement of REEs in industrial waste and end-of-life products.

ISO 50015 – Energy Management Systems

ISO is a non-governmental international standard-setting organization with a membership of 167 national standards bodies. It establishes best practices in a very wide range of activities and is not limited to mineral supply chains.

ISO 50001 is designed to provide a practical way to improve energy use, through the development of an energy management system. It establishes general principles and guidelines for the process of measurement and verification of energy performance of an organization or its components.

ISO 45001 – Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems

ISO is a non-governmental international standard-setting organization with a membership of 167 national standards bodies. It establishes best practices in a very wide range of activities and is not limited to mineral supply chains.

ISO 45001:2018 specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, and gives guidance for its use, to enable organizations to provide safe and healthy workplaces by preventing work-related injury and ill health, and proactively improving their OH&S performance.

ISO 26000 – Social Responsibility Management Systems

ISO is a non-governmental international standard-setting organisation with a membership of 167 national standards bodies. It establishes best practices in a very wide range of activities and is not limited to mineral supply chains.

ISO 26000 provides guidance for all types of organisation, clarifying what social responsibility is, helping businesses to translate principles into effective actions and sharing best practices relating to social responsibility, globally. It is not a management system standard and is not intended for certification purposes.

ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems

ISO is a non-governmental international standard-setting organization with a membership of 167 national standards bodies. It establishes best practices in a very wide range of activities and is not limited to mineral supply chains.

ISO 14001 sets out the criteria for an environmental management system and can be certified against these criteria. It maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow, to provide assurance to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved.

IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is a multi-stakeholder body created to meet global demand for more socially and environmentally responsible mining.

The Standard for Responsible Mining v.1.0 was created by IRMA through a multi-year collaborative process, led by a multi-stakeholder board of directors. The Standard is designed to support 4 overarching principles: Business integrity; Planning and Managing for Positive Legacies; Social Responsibility; and Environmental Responsibility.

The IRMA certification is third-party assured against a comprehensive standard for all mined materials (except thermal coal) from industrial-scale mines.

Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management (GISTM)

The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management strives for the ultimate goal of zero harm to people and the environment, with zero tolerance for human fatalities from incidences associated with tailings. It requires operators to take responsibility and prioritise the safety of tailings facilities, through all phases of a facility’s lifecycle, including closure and post-closure. It also requires the disclosure of relevant information to support public accountability.

Copper Mark Criteria for Responsible Production

The Copper Mark is a comprehensive assurance framework focused on demonstrating the copper industry’s responsible production practices.

The Copper Mark Criteria for Responsible Production are management system requirements defined in the Risk Readiness Assessment and the Criteria Guide. The Criteria Guide provides additional guidance, including a description of the performance determination and means of verification for each criterion. All participants of the Copper Mark commit to fully meet all criteria within 24 months. The Risk Readiness Assessment (RRA) is created by the Responsible Minerals Initiative. It represents the core expectations from over 40 leading existing voluntary sustainability standards across all major environmental, social, and governance topics.

Participation in the Copper Mark is open to multi-metal mines that produce other metals alongside copper.