Mining Principles
Mining and metals are critically important to society – from supporting the promotion of sustainable economic growth and the building of resilient and inclusive communities to enabling the innovations needed to address the urgency of climate change – but they must be produced responsibly. The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) is committed to ethical business practices that support sustainable development. Developed with extensive input from a variety of stakeholders, ICMM’s Mining Principles respond to evolving societal expectations of industry by strengthening ICMM’s member requirements on myriad issues – such as resettlement, mine closure pollution and waste.
Building on the values of members, ICMM’s Mining Principles define the good practice environmental, social and governance requirements of company members that, in turn, will support progress towards the global targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Incorporating robust site-level validation of performance expectations and credible assurance of corporate sustainability reports, ICMM’s Mining Principles seek to maximise the industry’s benefits to host communities, while minimising negative impacts to effectively manage issues of concern to society.
Apply ethical business practices and sound systems of corporate governance and transparency to support sustainable development.
Performance Expectations
Integrate sustainable development in corporate strategy and decision-making processes.
Performance Expectations
Respect human rights and the interests, cultures, customs and values of employees and communities affected by our activities.
Performance Expectations
Implement effective risk-management strategies and systems based on sound science, and which account for stakeholder perceptions of risk.
Performance Expectations
Pursue continual improvement in the health and safety performance with the ultimate goal of zero harm.
Performance Expectations
Pursue continual improvement in environmental performance issues, such as water stewardship, energy use and climate change.
Performance Expectations
Contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and integrated approaches to land-use planning.
Performance Expectations
Facilitate and support the knowledge-base and systems for responsible design, use, re-use, recycling and disposal of products containing metals and minerals.
Performance Expectations
Pursue continual improvement in social performance and contribute to the social, economic and institutional development of host countries and communities.
Performance Expectations
Proactively engage key stakeholders on sustainable development challenges and opportunities in an open and transparent manner, effectively report and independently verify progress and performance.
Performance Expectations
Position Statements are endorsed by the ICMM Council and include specific commitments that members must implement, alongside the Performance Expectations.
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Assurance and validation processes reinforce our members' commitment to transparency, and ensures the credibility of reported progress on social and environmental performance.
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