RMI releases new standard suite for social, environmental, OHS and governance risks

The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), announced Wednesday the release of its new standard suite that provides a common framework against which companies can assess environmental, social, occupational health and safety, and governance performance in their operations and mineral supply chains.  The new standard suite expands the due diligence toolkit for responsible sourcing, processing and manufacturing of raw materials to meet new and emerging regulatory requirements and to encourage continuous improvement of supplier practices across a comprehensive set of indicators, RMI said.  The standard suite underwent an extensive review process in 2024-2025, beginning with benchmarking against new and incoming regulations, including the EU Battery Regulation, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. The new standard suite includes the revised Facility Standard for Social, Environmental, OHS and Governance Risks, applicable for assessment of a mineral processor’s operations; and the Supply Chain Due Diligence Module Plus, focused on risk management systems for sourcing primary and secondary materials.  The module is an add-on available only in combination with the RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) standards or Downstream Assessment Program (DAP). The new standard suite provides a strengthened framework for risk management, based on internationally recognized guidelines including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct.  The standards were also designed to support requirements outlined in new mandatory due diligence regulations, including the EU Battery Regulation and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.  These standards help companies identify, assess and mitigate risks, remedy impacts, monitor and report on sustainability management systems, and enhance transparency and accountability within their supply chains, RMI said. The evolving regulatory landscape and voluntary standards present a significant expansion of expectations, actions, and investment by companies all along the minerals value chain.  As such, the RMI said it has also expanded its team providing technical assistance, as well as new trainings, guidance and tools available to mineral processors engaged in an RMI assessment, free of charge.  “With this new standard suite and accompanying training and technical assistance resources, the RMI has significantly expanded its due diligence support to RMI members and mineral processors in our assessment program,” RMI executive director Jennifer Peyser said in a statement.  “The RMI standards remain rooted in longstanding international norms while now reflecting newly emerging company needs and stakeholder expectations for regulatory compliance, managing sustainability risks and impacts, and fostering responsible mineral supply chains,” Peyser said. More information about the new RMI standards and associated tools is here. Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Mining.com