Mining is an intensive process involving potential social and environmental risks that, if not properly managed, can cause lasting negative impacts. A growing body of research suggests that these risks are associated with a variety of metals and minerals that extend beyond tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold (3TG). Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), investors, customers and other industry stakeholders have increasing expectations on the private sector to drive responsible behavior deep into their supply chains.
What We Do
The Responsible Minerals Initiative seeks to promote the common goal of understanding and contributing to mitigating the salient social and environmental impacts of extraction and processing of minerals in supply chains, leveraging direct and indirect partnerships and using international standards such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights or the OECD Due Diligence Guidance as our guideposts. Together as an industry, and working with all stakeholders, we believe we can make a difference and help companies meet expectations of current and future market, legal and regulatory instruments.
The RMI provides tools and resources to help companies make sourcing decisions that improve regulatory compliance and support responsible sourcing globally, so that minerals supply chains contribute positively to social economic development. Working with participating companies and cross-sector partners, we seek to advance select initiatives to drive meaningful improvement in the mining sector. Throughout this ongoing process, the RMI serves as the voice of progressive industry for responsible mineral sourcing broadly and convenes stakeholders to continually shape and evolve dialogue and practices.
To read more about our programs, tools and resources, please refer to our mineral-specific webpages:
Cobalt Gold Mica Tantalum Tin Tungsten Other Minerals
What You Can Do
Learn more about the actions you can take to promote responsible mineral sourcing:
- Map your supply chain using our reporting templates for tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold or cobalt reporting template.
- Support our industry program for third-party assessments of smelters, refiner and downstream companies.
- Identify and address risks using the Risk Readiness Assessment and the Country Risk Assessment Tool or consult the resources available to help you identify high-risk areas in mineral supply chains.
- Publicly report on your due diligence program, using our conformant and active smelter lists.
- Communicate expectations and build capacity with your supply chain partners. Review our publicly available trainings and sign up for the RMI eLearning Academy.
- Learn more about the RMI’s on-the-ground projects to help local communities and artisanal miners in high-risk areas or support smelters and refiners through the Initial Audit Fund and the Upstream Due Diligence Fund.
Join the RMI
Engage with peers, industry organizations and stakeholders to develop, share and utilize tools and resource for responsible minerals sourcing.
