RMI and the Copper Mark Launch Public Consultation on Revised Criteria for Responsible Minerals and Metals

ALEXANDRIA and CHELTENHAM, May 2, 2022 /3BL Media/ - The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and the Copper Mark today announced the launch of a public consultation on the draft Risk Readiness Assessment (RRA) and Criteria Guide. The consultation is available to all interested stakeholders and will be open from May 2 to July 1, 2022.

The RRA is a set of criteria for responsible production created by the RMI and used by mining, smelting, refining, and manufacturing sites across a broad range of metals. It is also the foundation of the Copper Mark Criteria for Responsible Production, against which sites are independently assessed during the Copper Mark Assurance Process. The Criteria Guide offers explanations to help companies implement and assess performance with the 32 industry norms of the RRA across environmental, social and governance issue areas.

With the revision, the RMI and the Copper Mark will work to further ensure the recognition and acceptance of the RRA as a credible set of criteria for responsible mineral production practices by key stakeholder groups, respond to findings of benchmarking exercises and clarify requirements for the implementation of the RRA.

Jennifer Peyser, Vice President of Responsible Sourcing at the RMI, said:

“The RRA has been pivotal to enable risk monitoring in mineral supply chains. Jointly with the Copper Mark, we see this revision as a critical milestone in our efforts to align the RRA criteria with fast-evolving human rights and environmental due diligence expectations and provide our members and their suppliers with a future-fit risk assessment tool.”

Michèle Brülhart, Executive Director of the Copper Mark, said:

“The RRA forms the basis of the Copper Mark’s assurance framework. This revision is key to ensure the commitment our participants make to responsible production practices continues to meet the expectation of consumers, customers and investors. Working jointly with the RMI, we look forward to further strengthen this important tool and support companies along the mineral supply chain in their responsible production and sourcing efforts.”

The consultation will consist of a series of virtual and in-person workshops conducted jointly by the RMI and Copper Mark (register here), where major changes will be outlined and feedback will be collected. In addition, an online feedback form (here) is available for stakeholders that cannot attend the workshops.

Following the public consultation, all feedback will be logged and addressed by the RMI and Copper Mark prior to a second, shorter public consultation.

It is expected that the revised RRA criteria and Criteria Guide will be published in 2023.

For more information, contact the RMI at rmi@responsiblebusiness.org or the Copper Mark at info@coppermark.org.

About the Responsible Minerals Initiative

The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) is an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA). The RMI is a multi-industry initiative with more than 400 member companies. Its members contribute to the development and international uptake of a range of tools and resources focused on minerals supply chain due diligence, including independent third-party audit programs for smelters, Minerals Reporting Templates, supply chain risk assessment tools, Country of Origin data, and guidance documents on responsible sourcing of all minerals/metals. The RMI runs regular workshops on responsible sourcing issues and contributes to policy development with civil society organizations and governments. For more information, visit ResponsibleMineralsInitiative.org

About The Copper Mark

The Copper Mark is an assurance framework to promote responsible practices and demonstrate the copper industry’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Copper Mark uses a rigorous site-level assessment process to independently verify whether individual copper producing sites have responsible production practices. The Copper Mark is built on a genuine commitment to responsible production as we aim to mitigate the environmental and social impact of the copper industry, and positively contribute to sustainable development goals and the green transition.

Media Contacts:

Jarrett Bens, Senior Director of Communications
Responsible Business Alliance
Phone: +1 571.858.5721
jbens@responsiblebusiness.org

Michèle Brülhart, Executive Director
The Copper Mark
Phone: +4178235005
michele.brulhart@coppermark.org