Founded in 2008 by members of the Responsible Business Alliance, formerly the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative, the Responsible Minerals Initiative, formerly the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative, has grown into one of the most utilized and respected resources for companies addressing issues related to the responsible sourcing of minerals in their supply chains.
More than 400 companies from 10 different industries participate in the RMI today, contributing to a range of tools and resources, including the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (3TG and cobalt), Risk Readiness Assessment, Minerals Reporting Templates (3TG and cobalt), industry-wide grievance mechanism, Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiry data, RMI Learning Academy, public global smelter/refiner lists, and a range of practical guidance documents for industry. The RMI runs regular workshops on responsible minerals sourcing issues and contributes to policy development and debates with leading civil society organizations and governments.
Mining is an intensive process involving potential social and environmental risks that, if not properly managed, can cause lasting negative impacts. A growing body of research suggests that these risks may be significant and associated with a variety of metals and minerals that extend beyond tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold. Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), investors, customers and other industry stakeholders are increasing their expectations on private sector responsibility to drive responsible behavior deep in their supply chains.
We have an opportunity and responsibility to include prioritized raw materials in our responsible sourcing strategies. As a multi-industry initiative, we acknowledge the challenges of achieving a state where industry can collectively understand and agree to its part in advancing responsible sourcing. The RMI seeks to promote the common goal of understanding and contributing to mitigating the salient social and environmental impacts of extraction and processing of raw materials in supply chains, leveraging direct and indirect partnerships and using international standards (e.g. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, United Nations (UN) Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights) as our guideposts. Together as an industry, and working with all stakeholders, we believe we can make a difference and commit to meet expectations of current and future market, legal and regulatory instruments.
For more information about the Responsible Minerals Initiative, please visit the RMI website.
