ICMM - International Council on Mining & Metals

PROJECTS

Materials Stewardship Policy

This project informs all activities designed to develop and implement the principles of materials stewardship in our own organizations as well as reach out to other stakeholders in the minerals and metals value chain.  This enables us to define actions and establish relationships beyond our own operations to ensure that Materials Stewardship is implemented throughout the value chain.

Sustainability is the goal, stewardship is the means

To this end, ICMM’s Council of CEOs has adopted the following six-point policy on Materials Stewardship. It sets the strategic direction and is a framework for all activities in the Materials Stewardship program:

1. Guidance for Implementing Materials Stewardship - Developing specific guidance for understanding and implementing effective strategies to improve the stewardship of the minerals and metals we produce.

2. Education - Developing a range of initiatives and activities for introducing a materials stewardship culture into our businesses.

3. Materials Stewardship Indicators - Developing clear reporting guidelines for materials stewardship including indicators for product stewardship to ensure accountability, improved reputation for the sector and increased value for minerals and metals. There is a need to examine the potential for integration within existing reporting and environmental management systems.

4. Outreach Strategy - Building awareness, credibility and participation in materials stewardship for minerals and metals targeting specific metal use sectors and building cross-commodity alliances to communicate the capacity of the sector to ensure the optimal and appropriate use of minerals and metals in society. Identify the role of governments and national authorities in stewardship activity.

5. Commodity Specific Materials Stewardship Plans - Encouraging the development of commodity-specific materials stewardship plans in conjunction with international commodity associations. These plans, and cooperative approaches to their implementation, may streamline and broaden corporate approaches to materials stewardship.

6. Demonstrate Complementary Responsibility - Develop engagement programs with downstream manufacturers, users and recyclers. This includes the establishment of a Materials Stewardship Round Table (MSRT) as a key mechanism for advancing materials stewardship along the value chain.

Materials Stewardship Round Table

The Materials Stewardship Round Table is a core element of the ICMM Materials Stewardship Policy endorsed by the ICMM Council.

To date, there have been two round tables in which ICMM members together with other key stakeholders in the value chain have discussed common issues relating to the optimal and appropriate use of minerals and metals in society.

During the first day of the two-day session ICMM members review progress in the implementation of materials stewardship activities. On the second day, external stakeholders discuss common interests in materials stewardship.

The first round table was held in Washington DC on 4 and 5 December 2007, members shared progress in the implementation of materials stewardship within their respective companies and discussed the concept with a broad range of stakeholders.

During the second roundtable, held in Washington on 28 and 29 March 2009, members discussed the development of a toolkit and, later, representatives of the ICT sector joined a discussion around issues particular to the electronics sector.

The third Material Stewardship Roundtable will be held in Spring 2010.