Tag Archives: The Copper Mark

ERG Metalkol to become first tailings reprocessing site to commence The Copper Mark process

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Metalkol, a facility wholly owned by Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), has officially commenced The Copper Mark assurance process.

Undertaking the assurance process reflects Metalkol’s commitment to upholding responsible and sustainable practices, in line with the principles and goals stated in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals. This is according to a letter of commitment signed by Metalkol and The Copper Mark on September 12, 2024.

The Copper Mark is a leading assurance framework launched in 2020 to address growing international demand for the responsible sourcing and production of minerals, promoting best practice across the copper, nickel, molybdenum and zinc value chains. The assurance process is a voluntary, transparent and independent award based on third-party assessments by approved assessors that will verify that Metalkol meets the requirements for responsible production practices, the companies say.

Michèle Brülhart, Executive Director of the Copper Mark, said: “We welcome Metalkol as the first tailings reprocessing site to commit to the Copper Mark assurance process. Reprocessing of mine waste is an important part of ensuring responsible production both in terms of minimising the site’s long-term impact, and maximising its efficiency.”

Nicolas Treand, CEO of ERG Africa, said: “The acceptance of our application into The Copper Mark assurance process is a significant milestone for both ERG in Africa and the whole group. Undergoing this assurance process reflects our commitment to adhere to the highest sustainability standards and contribute to the responsible development of the mining sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is essential for the future of the country and its people.”

Achieving The Copper Mark award will align with ERG Africa’s sustainable production commitments, outlined in its Clean Cobalt & Copper Framework. The Framework, first introduced in 2018 as the ‘Clean Cobalt Framework’, and extended to include copper in 2021, aims to ensure high standards of responsible cobalt and copper production, value chain assurance and improved living conditions for local communities near ERG Africa’s operations. The seven goals outlined in the framework are achieved through a comprehensive set of management systems, processes, controls and investments designed to comply with, and go beyond, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance. The framework is independently assured annually by PwC.

The framework also commits Metalkol to the Responsible Mineral Initiative’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process for which it is already annually certified.

The Copper Mark requirements cover all material environmental, social and governance issues. Copper producers who achieve The Copper Mark certification will automatically meet the London Metal Exchange’s three responsible sourcing requirements. These include sourcing management systems, environmental management systems and occupational health and safety management systems.

Freeport-McMoRan adds Grasberg to Copper Mark-approved sites

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Freeport-McMoRan has achieved the Copper Mark at all 12 of its copper producing operations globally after adding its 48.76%-owned Grasberg mine, in Indonesia, to the lineup.

The Copper Mark is an assurance framework to promote responsible production practices for copper, built on the vision of improving practices across the whole industry over time. Its participants commit to fully meet the Copper Mark’s standards within two years of signing up to the assurance process and to continuously strengthen practices as these standards continue to be updated to align with increasing stakeholder expectations on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

The Copper Mark seeks to promote transparency and accountability of its participants in general and especially in the case where a participating site manages complex issues that have significant environmental or social impacts. PT-FI Grasberg, the operating entity for Grasberg, owned 48.76% by Freeport and 51.24% by PT Inalum and PT Indonesia, operates a riverine tailings management system which the Copper Mark recognizes as one such issue.

In addition to the Copper Mark advances, Freeport’s two primary molybdenum sites, the Climax and Henderson operations in USA, were awarded the Molybdenum Mark.

The extensive, independent on-site assessment of PT-FI Grasberg confirmed the site’s conformance with the current Copper Mark expectations and standards, including the Interim Tailings Guidance, which requires all participants to implement the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management, where applicable, and also specifies the expectations for riverine, ocean and lake tailings systems.

The Copper Mark is also developing additional guidance for any participating sites identified as having significant long-term environmental or social impact issues. Once finalised, PT-FI Grasberg will be required to demonstrate conformance with these additional requirements through onsite third-party assurance.

Executive Director of the Copper Mark, Michèle Brülhart, said: “We congratulate Freeport-McMoRan for achieving the Copper Mark at all of its copper operations globally and we are thrilled to see the company continue its commitment to demonstrating its responsible production practices with its two primary molybdenum sites to receiving the Molybdenum Mark.

“We recognise the significant impacts caused by the riverine tailings system at PT-FI Grasberg. During extensive discussions in 2021, the Copper Mark considered available standards and guidance on how to manage riverine, ocean and lake tailings systems. We believe it is essential to engage with copper producers operating in complex environments with a view to increase transparency and provide independently verified information on how sites prevent, minimize and remedy negative impacts.”

Schneider Electric joins the Copper Mark’s responsible production framework

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The Copper Mark, an assurance framework set up to promote the responsible production of copper and demonstrate the copper industry’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of green resource transition, has been joined in this commitment by Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation.

Schneider Electric is committed to sustainable and responsible material sourcing, with copper being a vital raw material in its supply chain. Schneider’s products and solutions help its customers be more sustainable, and the company says it is leading by example working to be more sustainable in its own operations.

With this addition, the Copper Mark has reached 19 industry partners.

Michèle Brülhart, Executive Director, The Copper Mark, said: “We are delighted to welcome Schneider Electric as our newest partner. This partnership will help the Copper Mark to promote and raise awareness around responsible business practices within the digital sector, working with their leaders and suppliers to improve understanding around ESG standards more effectively.”

Daniel W Bartel, Chief Procurement Officer, Global Supply Chain, Schneider Electric, said: “The Copper Mark and Schneider Electric share the same goal to accelerate responsible material sourcing for metals. In particular, Schneider Electric has committed to increase ‘Green Materials’ in products to 50% by 2025. We look forward to engaging further with the Copper Mark to encourage our suppliers to participate in the Copper Mark Assurance Process and aim collectively at responsible copper production.”

Antucoya becomes Antofagasta’s third operation to achieve The Copper Mark

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Antucoya has joined the Centinela and Zaldívar operations in becoming the third Antofagasta operation to obtain The Copper Mark, with the Los Pelambres mine expected to follow suit.

After voluntarily completing a self-assessment process and then undergoing an independent audit, Antucoya was granted the mark, becoming the ninth mine in Chile and the 29th in the world to receive The Copper Mark.

“We are very pleased to continue to make progress towards achieving our goal of obtaining The Copper Mark at all our operations,” Iván Arriagada, CEO of Antofagasta plc, said. “In 2021, Centinela and Zaldívar received it, now Antucoya has, and we hope that soon Los Pelambres will also receive it.”

The Copper Mark offers workers, investors, copper end-users and communities a simple and credible way to verify that a company has sustainable practices, based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The accreditation process includes on-site audits where a company has to demonstrate compliance with 32 criteria over five categories: business and human rights, community, labour and working conditions, environment and governance.

Having granted Antucoya this seal, The Copper Mark will conduct another review within 12 months, and then, every three years thereafter, it will carry out new evaluations to certify compliance with all the criteria included in the certification.

Leonardo González, Antucoya’s General Manager, added: “We are very proud to obtain this seal just days after celebrating our fifth anniversary as a company. People, sustainability and transparency are paramount to the way we produce copper and develop mining for a better future.”

The International Copper Association (ICA) began work on The Copper Mark initiative in 2017 in response to growing demands from investors, banks, suppliers and NGOs for information on the environmental, social and governance performance of copper producers. The Copper Mark has been independent of the ICA since December 2019.

Another six mining operations apply for ‘The Copper Mark’

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The Copper Mark, the assurance framework to promote responsible practices and demonstrate the copper industry’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, has added six new participating sites to its pending list of mining operations to have achieved its Assurance Process.

Five of the six operations are US mines majority owned by Freeport-McMoRan, namely Bagdad, Chino, Tyrone, Safford (pictured, the Lone Star project) and Sierrita. The sixth is Compañía Minera Condestable SA in Peru, owned by Southern Peaks Mining.

These sites are now beginning the process of assessment based on the Copper Mark’s Assurance Process, The Copper Mark said, adding that the total number of participating sites is set to grow to 23 with these new additions.

To receive the Copper Mark, copper producers must be assessed independently against a comprehensive set of environmental, social and governance criteria on a site-by-site basis. The Copper Mark was originally founded and developed by the International Copper Association, in conjunction with various stakeholders including financial institutions, commodities exchanges, non-governmental organisations, original equipment manufacturers and copper fabricators. The Copper Mark now is an independent entity and builds on the advice of its multi-stakeholder advisory council.

The Copper Mark also added two new fabricator partners to its list of industry partners, with Nexans and Halcor both joining as partner organisations that use or rely on copper in their businesses and have made a public commitment to the Copper Mark’s vision and objectives of promoting responsible copper production.

Michèle Brülhart, Executive Director of the Copper Mark, said: “We are delighted to secure new partners in Nexans and Halcor, both of which recognise the vital importance of the sustainable production of copper, both for the local communities within which the copper industry operates and for the wider green transition.

“The addition of six new participating sites from our long-standing partner Freeport-McMoRan and our new participant Southern Peaks Mining will enable us to build further on the momentum and progress made by the Copper Mark last year in working to embed responsible production practices within the copper industry.”

Kathleen Quirk, President and Chief Financial Officer of Freeport-McMoRan, said: “We are proudly committed to the Copper Mark. Responsible production is central to Freeport’s strategy of being foremost in the global copper industry. The Copper Mark helps to demonstrate our responsible production practices to all of our stakeholders. Copper plays an essential role in the technologies necessary to develop and deliver clean energy. As one of the world’s largest copper producers, we understand we play a critical role in the global energy transition, and we are dedicated to supplying the global economy with responsibly produced copper.”

Adolfo Vera, President of Southern Peaks Mining, said: “We are very proud to be part of the Copper Mark, as it emphasises our commitment to modern mining, relying on innovation, striving for social and environmental responsibility, and focused on the sustainable development of the industry for the benefit of our country. We believe that the Copper Mark is the new standard for world-class mining and would be thrilled to see more Peruvian companies adopting this standard. At SPM, we work hard in following a path to becoming a mining company recognised by our high standards. A mining company that generates an excess of well-being while aiming to cause little to no negative impact to the world.”