Copper Mark operates under the following key principles:
- Transparency
- Inclusiveness
- Collaboration
- Simplicity
- Continuous Improvement
The multi-part framework has a series of standards, an assurance process, a detailed risk assessment and assessment guidelines. It provides stakeholders with confidence that certified copper production sites can operate according to internationally accepted, responsible industrial practices.
Copper Mark assesses the performance of copper industry participants, which include copper mines, smelting and refining operations, and downstream partners against established standards, with the goal of continuous progress and improvement. Copper Mark provides an opportunity to connect the sector and ensure sustainable standards are demonstrated across the industry. Copper Mark accreditation allows customers, investors, civil society, and site neighbours to recognise an upstream copper site’s commitment to responsible practice and to the UN sustainable development goals.
Copper Mark adopts a Theory of Change that includes a logical set of casual chains to connect interventions, results, and short-term and long-term goals to achieve impact. The Theory of Change shapes the monitoring and evaluation framework by establishing measures of effectiveness.
To be awarded Copper Mark, participants must go through a rigorous third-party assessment at the site level, with an accredited assessor. Sites are re-assessed every three years as criteria are updated considering increasing expectations.
Since the launch of its assurance framework in 2020, over 30 per cent of all globally mined copper originates from sites that have received Copper Mark. Sites currently undergoing assurance represent an additional 10 per cent of global production.
The Copper Mark standards were revised in October 2023 and include new chapters on climate change and the circular economy, requiring climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and include waste reduction actions at sites, reflecting the increased drive to ESG credentials expected by investors and governments globally. Discovery plays a key role in informing the waste management strategies by defining the ore body and informing the mining operation at an early stage, allowing for planning for rock to metal ratio reduction, reduced tailings output and early investment integrated reprocessing infrastructure. Sites are encouraged to undertake life cycle assessments (cradle-to-grave considerations) which require a deep understanding of the ore body at an early project planning point.
Further, Copper Mark, Mining Association of Canada, International Council on Mining and Metals and the World Gold Council are now collaborating to consolidate their individual voluntary standards into a single set of global responsible mining standards and a stakeholder oversight system. The integration process will take the best attributes of each stand ard to develop a single, global standard that is practical for any operator regardless of commodity, geography, or size. This consolidation raises the expectations for ESG considerations in the mining industry, further discussed in a following section.
While most of the existing standards focus on the operational phase of a project, there are references to exploration within some of the key frameworks that are being consolidated. For example, the International Council on Mining and Metals Good Practice Guideline for Mining and Biodiversity, underpinned by the International Council on Mining and Metals Principles, references best practice in exploration relating to biodiversity. Several of the Towards Sustainable Mining Protocols (Mining Association of Canada) apply through the exploration phase.
In parallel to the consolidating standards, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sector Standard for Mining released in February 2024 applies to exploration across all types of minerals. Activities listed in the Standard include prospecting and exploration: surveying of resources, including feasibility assessments, geologic mapping, aerial photography, geophysical measuring and exploration drilling. Copper Mark reference the GRI standards as guides to assist sites to better understand the requirement and application of each Copper Mark standard.
