Lumet is developing a database and map of voluntary sustainability standards relevant to mining, minerals, metals and materials. Our initial guidance draws on our previous work on sustainability standards where we examined and categorized standards according to:
- Ownership and management of the standards initiative. For example whether the program is controlled by group of businesses, by a multistakeholder group, or even by a government agency.
- Criteria. The type of criteria that a standard imposes varies. Many of the voluntary sustainability standards present requirements for management procedures and processes, providing what is essentailly a management system standard along the lines of ISO 9000 or ISO 14001. Other standards impose performance outcomes that demand, for example, a level of greenhouse gas emissions, a quantified level of procurement, or a demonstration of social development.
- Auditing and assurance. How assurance is performed and overseen supports program credibility and efficiency. Some programs work under a system of great indepenence, where auditors are qualified by an accredition authority that is separate from the standards development organization. Less mature programs sometimes muddle standard development with auditor selection with auditor oversight.
Since that early analysis we have added communications as an important dimension. How the reporting of conformity to a standard is conveyed varies. Some programs support certifications that appear at facilities. for example as a document on a plaque, or even on products, as a label. Other programs simply publish a list of conformant participants on their website. Irregardless, it is important to be clear what is covered in a statement of conformity: is the scope of applicabity at the company-level, for example describing a multinational corporation; is it particular to a single facility, defined by its fenceline and ownership; or the scope of conformity to a specific material or end-product that can be labelled for customers.
Intial analysis shows that standards programs vary in their coverage of minerals, metals and materials – and many mining standards are actually material agnostic, applicable to mining of any mineral. Notably, there is a fairly clear line between programs that serve large scale mining (LSM) versus those that focus on small scale and artisanal mining (ASM), which exhibit a host of problems and risks particular to aspects like uncontrolled working conditions and even the legality of operations.
Most standards we have identified focus on upsteam (mining) operations or midstream facilities like smelters and refineries. There is also growing attention to downstream standards, for example those intended to control market participations, and end-of-life standards that support more recycling.