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Circular Economy

IRMA’s Work to Advance Circular Economy Approaches

29 September 2023By

IRMA is working across sectors and initiatives to clarify and advance circular economy approaches to responsible production and use of minerals. Circular economy approaches utilize integrated strategies to address a range of climate, environmental, and social issues associated with primary and secondary materials, reducing waste while capturing greater value from materials and processes throughout the life cycle of the mineral.

Circular economy approaches involve a systems approach throughout the materials life cycle, including:

  • designing products and services for material recovery and reuse;
  • establishing better technology, infrastructure, and policies for the extraction of metals and minerals including from consumer products and existing mine waste; and
  • adopting regenerative approaches to ecosystem impacts.

Demands for minerals associated with the energy transition will require expansion of both primary and secondary production of mined materials for decades to come. At the same time, expectations are increasing throughout supply chains regarding low carbon production methods, broader responsible sourcing requirements, and integration of circular economy strategies ranging from production and sourcing of durable goods, enhancing material reuse and recycling, integrating responsibly sourced recycled and scrap material at the mineral processing level, and beyond.

IRMA formed an Expert Working Group on Mining and Circularity in 2022 to inform integration of circular economy approaches into the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining and IRMA system. We will continue to work to clarify, incorporate, and encourage best practice circular economy approaches throughout all stages of extraction, processing, reuse, and recycling of minerals.

Over the past year, IRMA served as a member of the Expert Working Group on the OECD Handbook on Environmental Due Diligence in Mineral Supply Chains, published in September 2023 and including coverage of circularity and enhanced use of secondary sources.

This year IRMA became a member of the Roundtable on the Responsible Recycling of Metals (RRRM) Non-Ferrous Working Group, collaborating in RRRM efforts to advance understanding of appropriate standards, systems, and tools for the responsible production and sourcing of recycled metals.

IRMA will participate in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) this year in Dubai, engaging in roundtables and events focused on improving environmental and social responsibility in mineral supply chains for the energy transition and opportunities to advance circularity.

If you have recommendations for ways IRMA can advance circular economy approaches or wish to share case studies of successful strategies, please contact us at info@responsiblemining.net.

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SQM Salar de Atacama audit release webinar cover slideSQM Salar de Atacama audit release webinar cover slideBlog

SQM Salar de Atacama audit release webinar

15 September 2023By

On 7 September, the day after the release of the audit report of SQM’s Salar de Atacama lithium operation, IRMA hosted a webinar to discuss the significance of the report, and the IRMA Standard and process through which the operation was independently assessed. Joining the webinar was Javier Silva, SQM’s Sustainability and Community Relations Manager. In volunteering its operation for assessment and scoring IRMA 75, SQM submitted its practices to public transparency, providing information that all stakeholders can use to decide what’s going well, and what may require more attention, at the mine.

The 1 hour webinar, which is about 1/2 presentation and 1/2 Q&A, is available below in English and Español. The slides used in the webinar are available as well.

Español

English

For More Information:
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SQM's Salar de Atacama lithium operation. Credit: SQMSQM's Salar de Atacama lithium operation. Credit: SQMAudits

Se auditaron las operaciones de litio en el Salar de Atacama de SQM (Chile) en virtud del estándar para la minería responsable de IRMA

6 September 2023By 
Corrección del 11 de septiembre: la versión anterior de este comunicado usaba la palabra "certificación". IRMA no "certifica" minas, las evaluamos de acuerdo al Estándar de IRMA. Una mina que logra un puntaje IRMA 75 no es una mina aprobada por IRMA, es una mina que ha obtenido al menos un 75% en las cuatro áreas principales del Estándar IRMA: (1) ambiental y (2) responsabilidad social, (3) planificación de legados positivos, y (4) integridad empresarial

La mina logra IRMA 75 y ofrece información novedosa acerca de su desempeño social y ambiental a las comunidades afectadas y otros actores sociales

Audit packet thumbnail6 de septiembre de 2023 — En el día de la fecha, la Initiative for Responsible Mining (IRMA, por sus siglas en inglés) publicó los resultados de una auditoría independiente de las operaciones de litio en el Salar de Atacama de SQM en virtud del estándar para la minería responsable de IRMA. La mina logra un puntaje de IRMA 75 cuando una auditoría independiente midió su desempeño respecto de ciertos criterios sociales y ambientales específicos.

IRMA supervisa el único proceso independiente e integral para evaluar el desempeño individual de las minas respecto de un estándar consensuado que se rige de forma igualitaria. Tal proceso también mide el progreso posterior de la mina en lograr reducir los daños sociales y ambientales. El proceso riguroso de IRMA invita a todas las personas que se ven afectadas o que puedan verse afectadas por una mina a que compartan sus experiencias y perspectivas con el equipo de auditoría.

Confeccionado tras una década de consultas públicas y mediante aportes de más de 100 empresas y organizaciones, el Estándar IRMA y su proceso de evaluación reconoce los motivos de preocupación de las comunidades indígenas titulares de derechos, las comunidades, el personal minero, los defensores de los derechos ambientales y derechos humanos y otros representantes de la sociedad civil. El sistema independiente de IRMA es el único estándar minero internacional que otorga a esos grupos la misma plataforma para expresarse que a las empresas mineras, los compradores de materiales mineros e inversores.

El Salar de Atacama de SQM se suma a otras 15 minas industriales de todo el mundo que realizan auditorías independientes en virtud del Estándar IRMA en 2023. Después de una autoevaluación inicial, la mina participante contrata a una empresa de auditoría independiente —capacitada y aprobada por IRMA— para hacer una evaluación detallada independiente, incluidas visitas a la mina y las comunidades aledañas.

IRMA 75 significa que la empresa de auditoría ERM-CVS verificó que la mina cumplió todos los requisitos críticos del Estándar IRMA y al menos el 75 % de los criterios del Estándar en cada una de las cuatro áreas: responsabilidad social, responsabilidad ambiental, integridad de la empresa y planeación y gestión de legados positivos. El informe completo de la auditoría está disponible en responsiblemining.net.

“La información que necesitan los actores sociales para decidir qué está bien y qué requiere más atención”.

“Este informe demuestra que las minas que aportan materiales esenciales para llevar a cabo la transición a la energía renovable ahora pueden apuntar a evaluaciones transparentes e independientes sobre su desempeño ambiental y social”, afirmó Aimee Boulanger, directora ejecutiva de IRMA. “Mediante informes de auditoría detallados de IRMA, las empresas mineras, las comunidades y las empresas que compran materiales mineros pueden obtener la información que necesitan para decidir qué está bien y qué requiere más atención en minas específicas”.

Dado que el Estándar IRMA es reconocido mundialmente y se implementa en muchos países, estas auditorías son solo el puntapié inicial de un diálogo creciente entre las empresas mineras y las partes afectadas por sus operaciones. Dado que el proceso todavía no es definitivo, IRMA advierte que se deben revisar e interpretar los resultados preliminares en consecuencia.

“El Estándar IRMA es bastante nuevo”, afirmó Boulanger. “Es un proceso desconocido para empresas que deciden voluntariamente hacer una auditoría, e incluso nuestros auditores certificados todavía están aprendiendo. Lo mismo aplica a los integrantes de la comunidad y los trabajadores que responden las entrevistas como parte del proceso; de hecho, algunas personas todavía se muestran reacias a participar. No hay que perder eso de vista al momento de leer el informe de auditoría del Salar de Atacama de SQM. Celebramos que SQM sea una de las primeras minas que se ofreció a hacer la auditoría de acuerdo con estos criterios tan exhaustivos y rigurosos”.

El informe también es una rendición de cuentas honesta acerca del propio progreso de IRMA a medida que se avanza en perfeccionar el Estándar y el proceso de evaluación. “Si los resultados no reflejan del todo la experiencia de las comunidades, las comunidades indígenas titulares de derechos u otros grupos afectados, nos interesa saberlo” agregó Boulanger. “Los pondremos en contacto con la empresa para que puedan entender mejor su desempeño, y con los auditores si existen problemáticas que pasamos por alto en la revisión. Es uno de los pilares de nuestro compromiso con la transparencia. Invitamos a todas las personas que tengan comentarios sobre nuestro trabajo a que se nos unan para poder seguir mejorando. Encontrar maneras de mejorar es la esencia de nuestro sistema y una medida de nuestro éxito”.

“Llevar a cabo una auditoría de IRMA refleja nuestro deseo de mejorar y nuestra apertura al diálogo”.

“El hecho de que Salar de Atacama haya alcanzado la primera certificación de IRMA 75 para una mina de litio da cuenta del gran empeño puesto por todas las personas que conforman SQM.  Llevar a cabo una auditoría de IRMA y difundir los resultados de nuestra auditoría con absoluta transparencia refleja nuestro deseo de mejorar y nuestra apertura al diálogo con todos los actores sociales afectados acerca de cómo lograr ese crecimiento”, aseveró Ricardo Ramos, CEO de SQM.

Obtener más información en la sesión de preguntas y respuestas del webinario.

  • Para registrarse: https://bit.ly/IRMA-SQMAtacama-webinar
  • Jueves 7 de septiembre, 11am CLST/GMT-3 (hora Chilena)
  • Oradores: Aimee Boulanger, directora ejecutiva de IRMA; Adan Olivares Castro, Líder de América; Javier Silva, Gerente de Sostenibilidad y Relaciones Comunitarias de SQM
  • Debate, preguntas y respuestas sobre el significado de los resultados de la auditoría, y cómo las partes interesadas pueden utilizar la información que proporciona una auditoría IRMA para mejorar la transparencia y el funcionamiento de la operación minera.
  • El seminario web tendrá interpretación simultánea para hablantes de español e inglés. Todos los inscritos recibirán un link con la grabación.

Para más información:

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SQM's Salar de Atacama lithium operation. Credit: SQMSQM's Salar de Atacama lithium operation. Credit: SQMPress Release

SQM’s Salar de Atacama lithium operation in Chile audited against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining

6 September 2023By

Mine achieves IRMA 75, provides new information about social & environmental performance to affected communities and other stakeholders

SQM Salar de Atacama Audit Packet Cover6 Sep 2023 – Today the Initiative for Responsible Mining (IRMA) released the results of an independent audit of SQM’s Salar de Atacama lithium operation against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. The mine achieved IRMA 75 when an independent audit firm measured its performance on concrete social and environmental impact criteria.

IRMA oversees the only independent, comprehensive process for assessing individual mines’ performance against an equally governed, consensus-based standard — and for measuring their subsequent progress in reducing social and environmental harm. The rigorous IRMA process invites all those currently or potentially affected by a mine to share their experiences and perspectives with the auditing team.

Developed through a decade of public consultations, with input from more than 100 companies and organizations, the IRMA Standard and assessment process recognize the concerns of Indigenous rights holders, communities and mine workers, as well as environmental and human rights advocates and other representatives of civil society. The independent IRMA system is the only global mining standard that gives such groups an equal voice alongside mining companies, mined materials purchasers and investors.

SQM’s Salar de Atacama joins 15 other industrial-scale mines worldwide that are undergoing independent audits against the IRMA Standard in 2023. After an initial self-assessment, a participating mine engages a third-party audit firm — trained and approved by IRMA — to conduct a detailed independent evaluation, including on-site visits to the mine and nearby communities.

IRMA 75 means the audit firm ERM-CVS verified the mine met all critical requirements of the IRMA Standard, as well as at least 75% of the Standard’s criteria in each of the four areas: social responsibility, environmental responsibility, business integrity and planning for positive legacies. The full audit report is available at responsiblemining.net.

“The information stakeholders need to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention.”

“This report demonstrates that mines supplying materials essential to the renewable energy transition can now point to transparent, independent evaluations of their environmental and social performance,” said Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of IRMA. “Through detailed IRMA audit reports, mining companies, communities and companies that purchase mined materials can gain the information they need to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention — at specific mines.”

As the IRMA Standard is recognized and adopted around the globe, these audits are just the first steps in a deepening dialogue between mining companies and those affected by their operations. And because the process is still evolving, IRMA cautions that the initial results should be reviewed and interpreted accordingly.

“The IRMA Standard is relatively new,” Ms. Boulanger said. “It’s an unfamiliar process for companies that volunteer to be audited, and even our accredited auditors are still learning. The same is true for community members and workers who are interviewed as part of the process, some of whom may not yet feel comfortable engaging. So the SQM Salar de Atacama audit report needs to be read with this in mind. We applaud SQM for stepping forward to be among the first mines audited against such comprehensive and demanding criteria.”

The report also provides an honest accounting of IRMA’s own progress as the Standard and assessment process continue to mature. “If the results don’t fully reflect the experience of communities, Indigenous rights holders or other affected groups, we want to hear from them,” Ms. Boulanger said. “We’ll help them communicate with the company to better understand its performance, and with the auditors on any issues they feel were overlooked in the review. This is a cornerstone of our own commitment to transparency. We invite anyone who has criticisms of our work to join us in making it better. Finding ways to improve is built into our system — and a measure of its success.”

“Committing to an IRMA audit reflects our desire to improve and our openness to dialogue”

“Salar de Atacama’s achievement of the first IRMA 75 for a lithium mine is a testament to the hard work of everyone at SQM.  Committing our mine to an IRMA audit and to the transparent sharing of audit results reflects our desire to improve, and our openness to dialogue with all affected stakeholders about how to do so,” said Ricardo Ramos, CEO of SQM.

Learn more at the Sep 7th Webinar Q&A

  • REGISTER
  • Thursday, 7 Sep, 11am CLST/GMT-3 (Chile time)
  • Speakers: IRMA Executive Director Aimee Boulanger; IRMA Americas Lead Adan Olivares Castro; Javier Silva, SQM Sustainability and Community Relations Manager
  • A discussion and Q&A about the meaning of the audit results, and how the increased transparency an IRMA audit provides can be used by stakeholders to improve the operation.
  • The webinar will be simultaneously interpreted for Spanish & English speakers. All registrants will receive a recording.

For More Information:

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Audits

Auditoria de campo independente de acordo com a Norma IRMA para Mineração Responsável, Mina Várzea do Lopes

1 August 2023By

Entre 28 de agosto e 05 de setembro de 2023, a SCS Global Services (SCS) realizará uma auditoria de terceira parte na mina de minério de ferro Várzea do Lopes, da Gerdau Açominas, com relação à Iniciativa de Garantia de Mineração Responsável (IRMA). A IRMA é um sistema de auditoria voluntário que fornece um conjunto de diretrizes de melhores práticas e requisitos de engajamento participativo das partes interessadas, criado para melhorar o desempenho ambiental e social das operações de mineração.

A auditoria independente e de terceira parte oferece às partes interessadas, incluindo membros da comunidade, trabalhadores, sindicatos, representantes do governo e outros grupos afetados, a oportunidade de dar sua opinião sobre o desempenho ambiental, de saúde, de segurança e de relacionamento com a comunidade da mina. A SCS usará os comentários das partes interessadas para ajudar a determinar o desempenho da operação da Mina Várzea do Lopes em relação à Norma IRMA.

Os interessados são convidados a enviar comentários por escrito para coincidir com a auditoria de campo.

As partes interessadas também podem entrar em contato com a SCS se quiserem ser entrevistadas. As entrevistas serão realizadas virtualmente (telefone ou videoconferência) ou pessoalmente. Os comentários, perguntas e solicitações de entrevistas podem ser feitos por meio do link abaixo; as identidades e observações dos comentaristas serão mantidas em sigilo mediante solicitação.

Link para contato: https://info.scsglobalservices.com/feedback-das-partes-interessadas-do-irma

Após a conclusão da auditoria na Mina Várzea do Lopes, pertencente à Gerdau, os resultados da auditoria independente serão publicados pela IRMA, que apresentará uma pontuação geral de realização: IRMA Transparência, IRMA 50, IRMA 75 ou IRMA 100.

A SCS é uma empresa de certificação aprovada pela IRMA com sede em Emeryville, Califórnia. Para obter mais informações sobre a SCS, visite www.scsglobalservices.com.

A Norma IRMA é a mais completa norma de mineração do mundo para minas em escala industrial e a única administrada igualmente por todas as partes interessadas: empresas de mineração, compradores de minérios, investidores, organizações trabalhistas, comunidades e ONGs da sociedade civil.  A auditoria no local da mina de acordo com a Norma IRMA é voluntária.  Para obter mais informações sobre os requisitos e a certificação da Norma IRMA, acesse www.responsiblemining.net.

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Audits

28 Aug onsite audit for Gerdau’s Várzea do Lopes Mine

1 August 2023By

Between August 28 and September 5, 2023, SCS Global Services (SCS) will commence an independent audit of Gerdau’s Várzea do Lopes Iron Ore Mine operation to evaluate its performance under the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) Standard for Responsible Mining.  IRMA is a voluntary assessment system that provides a set of best practice standards and participatory stakeholder engagement requirements created to improve mining operations’ environmental and social performance.

The third-party, independent audit provides stakeholders, including community members, workers, organized labor, government representatives, and other interested parties, the opportunity to give feedback on the mine’s environmental, health, safety, and community performance.  SCS will use stakeholder comments to help determine how the Várzea do Lopes Mine operation performs relative to the IRMA Standard.

Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments to coincide with the on-site audit.  Stakeholders may also contact SCS if they would like to be interviewed.  Interviews will take place virtually (telephone or videoconference) or in person.  Stakeholder comments, questions, and interview requests can be made through the link below; commenters’ identities and remarks are kept confidential upon request.

Link:   https://info.scsglobalservices.com/irmafeedback

Upon completion of the Gerdau’s Várzea doLopes Mine audit, IRMA will publish the independent audit results and present an overall achievement score: IRMA Transparency, IRMA 50, IRMA 75, or IRMA 100.

SCS is an IRMA-approved certification body with head offices in Emeryville, California.  For more information about SCS, please visit www.scsglobalservices.com.

The IRMA Standard is the world’s most comprehensive mining standard for industrial-scale mines and the only one equally governed by all stakeholders: mining companies, mineral purchasers, investors, organized labor, communities, and civil society NGOs.  Mine site verification under the IRMA Standard is voluntary.  For more information on the IRMA Standard requirements and certification, visit www.responsiblemining.net.

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Audits

Auditoria de campo independente de acordo com a Norma IRMA para Mineração Responsável, Mina Miguel Burnier

1 August 2023By

Entre 28 de agosto e 05 de setembro de 2023, a SCS Global Services (SCS) realizará uma auditoria de terceira parte na mina de minério de ferro Miguel Burnier, da Gerdau Açominas, com relação à Iniciativa de Garantia de Mineração Responsável (IRMA). A IRMA é um sistema de auditoria voluntário que fornece um conjunto de diretrizes de melhores práticas e requisitos de engajamento participativo das partes interessadas, criado para melhorar o desempenho ambiental e social das operações de mineração.

A auditoria independente e de terceira parte oferece às partes interessadas, incluindo membros da comunidade, trabalhadores, sindicatos, representantes do governo e outros grupos afetados, a oportunidade de dar sua opinião sobre o desempenho ambiental, de saúde, de segurança e de relacionamento com a comunidade da mina. A SCS usará os comentários das partes interessadas para ajudar a determinar o desempenho da operação da Mina Miguel Burnier em relação à Norma IRMA.

Os interessados são convidados a enviar comentários por escrito para coincidir com a auditoria de campo.

As partes interessadas também podem entrar em contato com a SCS se quiserem ser entrevistadas. As entrevistas serão realizadas virtualmente (telefone ou videoconferência) ou pessoalmente. Os comentários, perguntas e solicitações de entrevistas podem ser feitos por meio do link abaixo; as identidades e observações dos comentaristas serão mantidas em sigilo mediante solicitação.

Link para contato: https://info.scsglobalservices.com/feedback-das-partes-interessadas-do-irma

Após a conclusão da auditoria na Mina Miguel Burnier, pertencente à Gerdau, os resultados da auditoria independente serão publicados pela IRMA, que apresentará uma pontuação geral de realização: IRMA Transparência, IRMA 50, IRMA 75 ou IRMA 100.

A SCS é uma empresa de certificação aprovada pela IRMA com sede em Emeryville, Califórnia. Para obter mais informações sobre a SCS, visite http://www.scsglobalservices.com/.

A Norma IRMA é a mais completa norma de mineração do mundo para minas em escala industrial e a única administrada igualmente por todas as partes interessadas: empresas de mineração, compradores de minérios, investidores, organizações trabalhistas, comunidades e ONGs da sociedade civil.  A auditoria no local da mina de acordo com a Norma IRMA é voluntária.  Para obter mais informações sobre os requisitos e a certificação da Norma IRMA, acesse www.responsiblemining.net.

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Audits

Onsite audit for Gerdau’s Miguel Burnier Mine coming 28 August

1 August 2023By

Between August 28 and September 5, 2023, SCS Global Services (SCS) will commence an independent audit of Gerdau’s Miguel Burnier Iron Ore Mine operation to evaluate its performance under the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) Standard for Responsible Mining.  IRMA is a voluntary assessment system that provides a set of best practice standards and participatory stakeholder engagement requirements created to improve mining operations’ environmental and social performance.

The third-party, independent audit provides stakeholders, including community members, workers, organized labor, government representatives, and other interested parties, the opportunity to give feedback on the mine’s environmental, health, safety, and community performance.  SCS will use stakeholder comments to help determine how the Miguel Burnier Mine operation performs relative to the IRMA Standard.

Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments to coincide with the on-site audit.  Stakeholders may also contact SCS if they would like to be interviewed.  Interviews will take place virtually (telephone or videoconference) or in person.  Stakeholder comments, questions, and interview requests can be made through the link below; commenters’ identities and remarks are kept confidential upon request.

Link:   https://info.scsglobalservices.com/irmafeedback

Upon completion of the Gerdau’s Miguel Burnier Mine audit, IRMA will publish the independent audit results and present an overall achievement score: IRMA Transparency, IRMA 50, IRMA 75, or IRMA 100.

SCS is an IRMA-approved certification body with head offices in Emeryville, California.  For more information about SCS, please visit www.scsglobalservices.com.

The IRMA Standard is the world’s most comprehensive mining standard for industrial-scale mines and the only one equally governed by all stakeholders: mining companies, mineral purchasers, investors, organized labor, communities, and civil society NGOs.  Mine site verification under the IRMA Standard is voluntary.  For more information on the IRMA Standard requirements and certification, visit www.responsiblemining.net.

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Gender

Gender equality, gender protections and IRMA

21 July 2023By

The IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining contains requirements integrating gender equality and gender protections in Chapters 1, 2 and 3. Today we posted a Spanish language fact sheet explaining them.

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Thumbnail of cover of IRMA comments to ANSI re DIN ISO raw materialsThumbnail of cover of IRMA comments to ANSI re DIN ISO raw materialsComments

Comments to ANSI re DIN ISO Sustainable Raw Materials Proposal

30 June 2023By

On 30 Jun, IRMA submitted comments to the American National Standards Institute regarding the DIN ISO Sustainable Raw Materials Proposal. Available here, the introduction is excerpted below:

June 30, 2023

Steven Cornish
ANSI Senior Director of International Policy and Strategy
scornish@ansi.org

Dear Mr. Cornish,

Thank you and your colleagues at the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the opportunity to submit comments on the DIN ISO Sustainable Raw Materials Proposal.

We do not think the ISO Sustainable Raw Materials standard as outlined in this proposal is needed because the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is already addressing the gaps identified in the proposal.

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