NGOs

published a memo “EU Battery Regulation – Due diligence rules: what next in the implementation?”

The memo’s recommendations to companies include “Source from IRMA-audited mines, directly or indirectly.”

, a diverse network of local, national and global advocacy partners working for an equitable, sustainable, and fossil-free auto supply chain released “The Race to Cleaner Automotive Supply Chains,” a scorecard of major automobile manufacturers’ supply chains assessing their environmental, human rights, and responsible sourcing performance.

In addition to using commitment to IRMA as part of the scoring rubric, the methodology of the scorecard offers that “to drive change at the level of extraction companies may join the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA). IRMA is the only third-party certification of industrial scale mine sites for all mined materials that is governed equitably by the private sector, local communities, civil society, and workers.”

published “An Assessment of Third-Party Assurance and Accreditation Scheme.”

Lead the Charge assessed IRMA as a “robust scheme” that “was the strongest performer by a considerable margin” among the eight systems evaluated, and meets “nearly all of the minimum criteria for governance, auditing, and/or accreditation.”

authored the study, “Pedal to the Metal: how prepared are European carmakers for EV value chain transformation.” “To Decarbonize We Must Invest in the U.S. EV Battery Supply Chain.”

One of the study’s “Key recommendations” is “quicker adoption of best-in-class global standards (such as IRMA),” the only mining standard mentioned. A company’s commitment to the IRMA Standard is used as part of the study’s “Responsible supply chain practices” metric.

published “Tread Lightly: Why IFIs should put people and the environment at the centre of the transition mineral supply chain.”

One of the study’s “Key recommendations” is “quicker adoption of best-in-class global standards (such as IRMA),” the only mining standard mentioned. A company’s commitment to the IRMA Standard is used as part of the study’s “Responsible supply chain practices” metric.

published an article “How the IRMA standard guides sectors towards responsible mining.”

The article “urges the public and business sectors in The Netherlands, the European Union and elsewhere to adhere to the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining, with an eye for the interests of both nature and people.”

, tagline “Europe’s leading clean transport campaign group,” released a briefing report “Paving the way to cleaner nickel.”

The briefing recommends “robust standards” naming only IRMA “to improve environmental and social stewardship.”

authored an opinion piece in eGreenews[i]: “To Decarbonize We Must Invest in the U.S. EV Battery Supply Chain.”

As RMI discusses how to meet U.S. domestic electric vehicle battery demand, they unequivocally endorse IRMA, “Any extraction must be done responsibly and meet the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)’s responsible mining standard.”

released a report “Recharging Community Consent: Mining companies, battery minerals, and the battle to break from the past” which concludes “in general the battery mineral sector’s approach to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) is not sufficiently ready to support a just energy transition under current company policies.”

To address this unreadiness, Oxfam unequivocally endorses IRMA, “Major lithium producers need to be recognized as being some of the first to undertake credible, third-party assurance of their social and environmental performance, including FPIC implementation, in accordance with the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA).” It also gives kudos to those lithium producers that have audited their operations against the IRMA Standard.