MAC, Copper Mark team up to enhance transparency, credibility

The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) and The Copper Mark are collaborating on a pilot project seeking to enhance the assurance processes of both Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) and the Copper Mark standards.

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MAC, Copper Mark team up to enhance transparency, credibility

MAC and the Copper Mark are merging their respective assurance processes for pilot testing by MAC members undergoing TSM verification in 2024. The Copper Mark secretariat will manage the assurance process on behalf of MAC. MAC expects nearly all of its members’ facilities undergoing verification in 2024 to do so, which represents about 30 facilities in 2024.

“TSM and the Copper Mark have established a close working relationship and already collaborate on cross-recognition of their respective protocols/standards, implemented through integrated audits joint training and accreditation of assurance providers,” said MAC president and CEO Pierre Gratton in a statement. “We have learned from each other over the past few years, helping each to develop and refine tools, processes, and policies such as assurance processes, conflict of interest policies or assessment reports.”

A crucial aspect of sustainable mining involves proving the time, location, and process used in product production, including the amount of carbon emitted. The industry still faces challenges in tracing the provenance of products as producers strive to distinguish between environmentally preferred metals and traditional, often more polluting, alternatives.

TSM members will note new features. There will be mandatory site visits for operating facilities undergoing verification and minimum standards for employee interviews. Copper Mark will review members’ assurance plans for completeness. A media scan will also be performed. Verifiers will do a gap assessment of any performance below TSM Level A, and the action plans by such facilities to address those gaps will be published.

Copper Mark participants will note improvements in Copper Mark’s understanding of the important role played by national panels in TSM in Canada and elsewhere. They can expect the requirement of an independent TSM oversite process will continue but it will be managed by Copper Mark. Copper Mark staff will also join as observers of MAC’s national Community-of-Interest panel, including the post-verification review process.

Verification results will be disclosed publicly on the TSM website by MAC as well as on the Copper Mark website.

In addition to the pilot project, MAC and Copper Mark aim to merge their networks by finding ways to improve diversity within their leadership. They will assess the outcomes of this year’s pilot to explore further partnerships and merge their efforts with Copper Mark and TSM in 2025 and later. This may also include expanding the partnership to other TSM affiliates globally.