About

The Copper Mark is a comprehensive, credible assurance framework to demonstrate the copper industry’s responsible production practices and industry contribution to the United Nations SDGs. The Copper Mark goes beyond compliance, and focuses on continuous improvement of responsible production. The Copper Mark can improve the lives of colleagues and neighbors, strengthen the communities in which the copper industry does business, and increase the value delivered by the industry to customers and their consumers.

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The Copper Mark:

Provides an efficient system to independently verify responsible production of copper that is recognized as credible by key stakeholders.

Is a flexible system, designed to help copper producers leverage existing systems to demonstrate responsible production.

Was developed to enable customers, investors and other stakeholders identify and make educated decisions about responsible production.

Is a comprehensive, credible system which addresses all major Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.

Creates the foundation for more responsible supply chains and, as a result, positive societal change.

Theory of Change

The Copper Mark Theory of Change (ToC) articulates the desired impact of the organization. The ToC uses a logic of causal chains to connect the Copper Mark’s interventions, results, short- and long-term goals to achieve the desired impact.

Read more about the ToC in the narrative here.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN DESIGN OF THE COPPER MARK

The Copper Mark was initially developed and funded by the International Copper Association (ICA). Throughout the development the Copper Mark Concept, the ICA regularly engaged with external stakeholders and in the following ways:

  • Stakeholder mapping
  • One-to-one meetings
  • A formal survey of copper fabricators
  • Three ICA-led workshops
  • Multi-stakeholder working group

Throughout 2018 and 2019, ICA consulted with stakeholders from downstream markets, investors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), other actors in the supply chain and regulators on the topic of responsible sourced copper. In 2019, the ICA formed a multi-stakeholder working group comprised of NGOs, end users and other actors in the supply chain. The working group met regularly and many of its participants moved on to join the Copper Mark’s Advisory Council in 2020. The input of these stakeholders directly influenced the development of The Copper Mark Concept, including the process and the standards.

 

THE COPPER MARK 

In December 2019, The Copper Mark was incorporated as a separate entity from the ICA. Over the course of 2020, the Copper Mark established its own governance structure and formalized the engagement of stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Multi-stakeholder representation in its governance structure is growing and a commitment is in place to achieve equal representation of industry and non-industry organizations on the Board of Directors by end of 2021. The Copper Mark has defined clear milestones to achieve a balanced representation of stakeholder interests across all its activities.

In May 2020, The Copper Mark launched the multi-stakeholder Advisory Council. The Advisory Council includes seven participants from the ICA working group, ensuring continuity in the implementation of the Copper Mark. Its participants represent industry, downstream, investors, NGOs, and academia. The Advisory Council is responsible to provide strategic guidance on the Copper Mark’s mission and vision and to oversee the technical working groups. Its Terms of Reference are published above.

In addition to the oversight of the Advisory Council, The Copper Mark has three  working groups responsible for the development and maintenance of The Copper Mark Framework, the Joint Due Diligence Standard, and The Copper Mark’s work in on public reporting and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Copper Mark informs stakeholders of opportunities to review and provide feedback on the Theory of Change, Monitoring and Evaluation System, Standards, the Assurance Process, and other policies and procedures through:

  • The Advisory Council and appropriate technical working groups
  • Direct outreach to prioritized stakeholders in accordance with the Copper Mark Stakeholder Outreach strategy
  • The Copper Mark Newsflash
  • The Copper Mark Website
  • The Copper Mark social media channels

 

THE FUTURE OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

The Copper Mark has completed a stakeholder mapping exercise to form the basis of its stakeholder engagement plan. This effort is in addition to the stakeholder engagement activities planned through The Copper Mark’s Standard Development Procedure as well as its regular consultations with stakeholders through its working groups, governance bodies and one-to-one engagements.

Stakeholders are encouraged to engage with The Copper Mark through any of the following means:

  • Introductory dialogues
  • Standard consultation workshops
  • Public standard consultations
  • Joining a working group
  • Sending an email toinfo@coppermark.org
  • Submitting a grievance through theGrievance Mechanism

For more information, contact info@coppermark.org.