Critical impacts

The Copper Mark aims to address critical impacts identified in the copper, molybdenum, nickel, and zinc supply chains.  Our strategy focuses on the full value chains of these metals.

CRITICAL IMPACTS

The Copper Mark standards are regularly reviewed to focus on addressing critical impacts of copper, molybdenum, nickel and zinc on people and planet. These include:

  • Reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption contributing to climate action.
  • Increasing the use of renewable energy sources across our participants’ operations.
  • Increasing recycled content to reduce GHG emissions along the value chain.
  • Increasing water efficiency throughout the value chain, particularly at the mine level.
  • Increasing opportunities for sustainable, inclusive, and decent livelihoods, both within the value chain and the communities connected to it.
  • Increasing conservation, preservation and restoration of life on land and the ecosystem.

RESPONSIBLE VALUE CHAINS

Our 2023-26 strategy focuses on the development of responsible value chains from the mine level to the end-product. This includes:

  • An assurance framework that is fit for purpose for the full value chain: Building on our activities initiated with copper producers and refiners, our current focus is on copper semis-fabricators. The Copper Mark is looking to make several adjustments to its assurance framework to account for the different operational and risk profile of semis-manufacturers.
  • Standards to support compliance with regulatory and market expectations on responsible sourcing: The Copper Mark has been providing assurance on supply chain due diligence since 2022, using our 100% OECD-aligned Joint Due Diligence Standard (JDDS) for copper, molybdenum, lead, nickel and zinc.
  • Updated standards to market expectations on climate action:The Copper Mark is building the mechanisms necessary for customers to be confident that their suppliers have been independently verified to:
    • Have calculated their GHG emissions using a recognized calculation methodology.
    • Have science-based targets in place to reduce those emissions.
    • Implement a climate strategy for mitigation and adaptation that is aligned with the 1.5° scenario.
    • Set science-based targets for climate action.
    • Increase recycled content (for supply chain actors).

For more information on these changes, see here.

  • Public disclosure of sustainability data: Our participants are required to publish annual sustainability reports, helping to build transparency on ESG and due diligence practices across the metal value chains. In this way, the Copper Mark acts as an up-to-date and credible source of information for value chain investors on those operations which are committed to responsible practices.