The Copper Mark is the assurance framework to promote responsible practices along the entire value chain.
Established more than 100 years ago, Naoshima Smelter & Refinery in Japan is located in a vulnerable natural environment. The smelter of copper concentrates is therefore a state-of-the-art operation with a low environmental impact. The company also has a strong focus on recycling and is a leader in the processing of E-scrap. For Naoshima Smelter & Refinery, the recent obtainment of The Copper Mark was an important reaffirmation of its commitment to sustainability.
Naoshima Smelter & Refinery is located on the small, picturesque island of Naoshima in Japan’s Setonaikai National Park. An extraordinary environment renowned for its pristine beaches and contemporary art sculptures. A location that requires a responsible approach, says Masaaki Kato, Manager of Safety & Environment Management Section at the site that is part of Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.
Strong ties with the local community
Right from its inception at the beginning of the last century, Naoshima Smelter & Refinery has maintained strong ties with the local community. Most of the approximately 500 employees live on the island, following in the footsteps of their grandfathers and fathers who also worked for the smelter. The internally developed, advanced ‘Mitsubishi Process’ technology makes the smelting process highly efficient, resulting in a low environmental impact compared to conventional batch-type processes. Three stationary furnaces connected with launders allow for the continuous smelting of copper concentrate into blister copper, thus significantly reducing the leakage of SO2 gas.
Frontrunner in recycling
“We are also strongly committed to recycling,” says Masaaki Kato. “The volume of E-Scrap (such as waste electronic printed circuit boards) that we process with the latest recycling technology is one of the largest in the world.” To realise a decarbonised society, demand for copper will only increase, he expects. With a view to ensuring sufficient supply in the future, the recycling of copper is therefore essential. “In this context, we foresee that there will be a demand for improved traceability of recycled materials. It would be a good thing for The Copper Mark to anticipate this.”
Other certifications as well
Through engagements of the International Copper Association and interactions with mining companies, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation came to realise the need for Naoshima Smelter & Refinery to obtain The Copper Mark. Masaaki Kato: “Qualifying for The Copper Mark gave us the opportunity to have our efforts evaluated across a broad range of categories and to promote our values externally.” The company did not need to start from scratch for this. Naoshima Smelter & Refinery was already certified with ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 9001. In the broader company context of Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, it also meets the responsible sourcing standards set by the LME for, among other commodities, copper. All these programs focus on specific aspects, explains the Manager of Safety & Environment Management Section. “The Copper Mark is the assurance framework to promote responsible practices along the value chain, with criteria that need to be met in terms of the environment, social behaviour and governance. Furthermore, unlike LME, The Copper Mark is site-based, which required a different approach on our part.”
Assessment truly teamwork
With all existing certifications as reference and supported by the Sustainability Department at the headquarters of Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Naoshima Smelter & Refinery prepared and carried out an extensive self-assessment in the run-up to obtaining The Copper Mark. Masaaki Kato: “For this assessment process, we established a dedicated team consisting of representatives from the various departments, each responsible for a specific criterion. This person also handled the on-site audit for their area of focus, with support from members of the Sustainability Department. In preparation for the audit, we also conducted interviews with major stakeholders, including the mayor of Naoshima and local partner companies.”
Creating more recognition
In October 2024, Naoshima Smelter & Refinery was awarded The Copper Mark. All things considered, Masaaki Kato sees participation in this assurance framework as an excellent opportunity for the company to reaffirm the requirements for sustainable copper mining and smelting. “At the same time, it presented an outstanding opportunity to create more recognition for the superiority of Naoshima Smelter & Refinery.”
Focus on biodiversity
The assessment process yielded recommendations in a few areas. “At present, the departments in charge of the few criteria which were ‘partially meets’ are implementing improvement activities,” says Masaaki Kato. One of these is biodiversity, with efforts on the island focussing on enhancing ecological areas, including tree planting. This also serves to compensate for the impact of a major fire that occurred elsewhere on the island years ago.
In conclusion, Masaaki Kato expresses the hope that The Copper Mark will become even more widely recognised and valued among copper industries. “All relevant parties around the world should pursue assurance by The Copper Mark. We would like a situation in which The Copper Mark can further differentiate its participants from non-Copper Mark sites. The more The Copper Mark gains in status, the more important participation will be for copper smelters. Regarding the procurement of copper concentrates, we hope that responsible copper mines will prioritise copper smelters participating in The Copper Mark over non-participating parties to supply their copper concentrates.”
