The Copper Mark has launched a pilot programme to extend its assurance framework for responsible production to molybdenum, nickel and zinc, with producers of these metals soon able to achieve their respective ‘mark’.
The pilot is the result of a deepening collaboration between the Copper Mark, the International Molybdenum Association, the Nickel Institute and the International Zinc Association to promote sustainable and responsible production and sourcing practices within the copper, molybdenum, nickel and zinc value chains.
The pilot will seek to better understand the application of the multi-metal approach for single and multi-metal producers and the extent to which the multi-metal approach supports participants’ ability to meet upcoming regulatory requirements and market expectations.
The programme will run from November 2022 to July 2023 and will include the independent third-party site assessment of the participating sites against the Copper Mark responsible production criteria, the risk readiness assessment.
The site may receive the Molybdenum Mark, Nickel Mark and/or Zinc Mark if the independent assessment confirms that all criteria are fully or partially met.
A full launch for producers of molybdenum, nickel and zinc is planned for 2023.
The collaboration makes use of existing standards and systems and the organisations are not establishing any new standards.