Mapping Sustainability Standards Systems for Mining and Minderal Supply Chains

Germany imports mineral raw materials from more than 160 countries - currently worth around 66 billion Euros. This also includes a considerable size of indirect raw material imports in the form of semi-finished and finished goods: for metal ores, about five to six times its tonnage is imported indirectly.  How can we ensure that these raw materials are produced in an environmentally friendly manner and with respect for human rights?

Many actors along the complex supply chain of raw materials continuously develop new corporate guidelines while also committing to sustainability initiatives and introducing environmental, social, and transparency standards. This is necessary in order to meet the ecological and social challenges in the mining and processing of raw materials. But what is it that makes sustainability initiatives successful and how can the challenges in the sector be more successfully addressed?

In adelphi‘ s new study “Mapping Sustainability Standards Systems for Mining and Mineral Supply Chains” answers to these questions and recommendations for various actors along raw material supply chains and for political decision-makers are provided. As part of this study, adelphi, together with the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the Center for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) at the Australian University of Queensland, has compiled the results of three research projects dealing with the topics of responsible mining and supply chains.