The Copper Mark’s Criteria for Responsible Production is a credible set of requirements for responsible metal production and sourcing for stakeholders throughout the copper, molybdenum, nickel and zinc value chains.
THE COPPER MARK CRITERIA FOR RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTION
The Copper Mark Criteria for Responsible Production are management system requirements defined in the Risk Readiness Assessment and the Criteria Guide. All participants commit to fully meet all criteria within 24 months. Whether a site produces copper, molybdenum, nickel, or zinc, the standard and process is the same. Only the outcome may vary, resulting in The Copper Mark, The Molybdenum Mark, The Nickel Mark, or The Zinc Mark, or a combination thereof.
The Risk Readiness Assessment (RRA) was created by the Responsible Minerals Initiative. It represents the core expectations from over 40 leading existing voluntary sustainability standards across all major environmental, social, and governance topics.
Download the Risk Readiness Assessment criteria here.
The Criteria Guide provides additional guidance, including a description of the performance determination and means of verification for each criterion.
Download the Criteria Guide here.
The Risk Readiness Assessment criteria and Criteria Guide were revised in October 2023. To help stakeholders better understand the key differences between the 2020 Criteria Guide and the 2023 Criteria Guide (known as RRA 3.0), the Copper Mark has produced webinars in English and Spanish that provide an overview of the changes. The slide decks that were used in the webinars can be downloaded here (ENG) and here (ESP).
The Copper Mark Assurance Process must be implemented at site-level. A site may comprise several activities in different locations in the same geographic area and under the same management control.
Participants are eligible to take part in The Copper Mark Assurance Process using the Copper Mark Criteria for Responsible Production
Participant: a site involved in the extraction, processing, treatment, mixing, recycling, handling, or otherwise manipulating one or more of the principle covered metal products. (copper, molybdenum, nickel, zinc). A Participant is assessed against all 33 Copper Mark Criteria. Only Participants are eligible to make Copper Mark Claims in accordance with The Copper Mark Claims Guide. Depending on the metals, these may be related to The Copper Mark, The Molybdenum Mark, The Nickel Mark, and The Zinc Mark, or a combination thereof.