PROJECTS
Life cycle management
There are three areas that are central to managing materials throughout their life cycles:
1) Eco-efficiency – Added value and sustainable materials use is achievable through the application and assessment of eco-efficiency. ICMM is developing a sector-based approach to eco-efficiency to help maintain viability in an increasingly competitive materials market.
2) Recycling– Metals can be recycled with no inherent degradation in properties and exploiting this is a key component of their sustainable use. For ICMM, engaging in recycling activity is an important aspect of the commitment to materials stewardship, whereby companies extend their interest beyond the plant gate and consider the whole life cycle.
3) Life cycle assessment – A qualitative understanding metals and minerals life-cycles is vital for an effective materials management policy. ICMM is committed to improving the application of LCA techniques to metals and facilitating the sharing of data.
A life cycle approach is vital for sustainability
In all three areas ICMM is working to ensure that companies, scientists and policy makers have access to the most robust and appropriate concepts and tools for assessing minerals and metals. For the industry this is a vital component of sustainable development and will help to ensure that access to increasingly competitive markets is maintained.
What will our work achieve?
- We want to see the development of generic life cycle tools and protocols for metals which work across a number of different industries and foster acceptance that minerals and metals can contribute to sustainable products.
- We are aiming for common thinking amongst commodity associations in order to establish a basis for enhanced reputation and credibility for the relevant approaches for metals and minerals.
- Recognizing that specialists in different metals could provide useful information to each other, we aim to foster cross-commodity interaction and co-operation on this topic. This should assist in identifying common problems in data gathering and barriers to increasing activity which could be addressed efficiently through collective approaches.
- Ultimately, we want to increase awareness and encourage implementation of appropriate policies amongst member companies and other stakeholders. There are important businesses, environmental and regulatory benefits to be gained through their use.
PROJECT DETAILS
Developing robust life cylce management approaches for minerals and metals to maximize their value to society.
- Partner
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- UNEP
- SETAC
- OECD
- Contact
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Minerals and Metals Management 2020
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Materials Stewardship: Eco-efficiency and Product Policy
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GHS: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
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Metals Environmental Risk Assessment Guidance (MERAG)
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Maximizing Value: Guidance on implementing materials stewardship in the minerals and metals value chain
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Ores and Concentrates: An industry approach to EU Hazard Classification
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ICMM Newsletter: Volume 5 Number 1 - Feb 2006
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Maximizing Value: a summary
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» Read more
RELATED LINKS
- ICMM presents Chinese version of Minerals and Metals Management 2020
- Materials Stewardship Policy
- 'Action for a safer world' - ICMM's May Newsletter
- ICMM commits to mercury stewardship
- ICMM MERAG and HERAG publications promoted at SETAC World Congress
- ICMM presents at SETAC World Congress
- ICMM and Eurometaux publish REACH compliance guidance
- Mitsubishi's "urban mines" - recycling for production
- Water use efficiency at Alcoa's Fusina facility
- Guide to use of chemicals in the mining and metals industry
- WBCSD eco-efficiency learning tool
- 3 R initiative
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
Principle 04:
Implement risk management strategies based on valid data and sound science.
Principle 08:
Facilitate and encourage responsible product design, use, re-use, recycling and disposal of our products
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