International Council on Mining and Metals
The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) was founded in 2001 to improve sustainable development performance in the mining and metals industry. Today, we bring together 23 mining and metals companies as well as 35 national and regional mining associations and global commodity associations to address core sustainable development challenges.
Sustainable development
The ICMM has developed 10 principles to which member companies must adhere. These considerations resulted from a survey of concerned parties both within and outside the council. They seek to comply and reinforce guidelines established by organizations including the OECD and the World Bank.
- Implement and maintain ethical business practices and sound systems of corporate governance.
- Integrate sustainable development considerations within the corporate decision-making process.
- Uphold fundamental human rights and respect cultures, customs and values in dealings with employees and others who are affected by our activities.
- Implement risk management strategies based on valid data and sound science.
- Seek continual improvement of our health and safety performance.
- Seek continual improvement of our environmental performance.
- Contribute to conservation of biodiversity and integrated approaches to land use planning.
- Facilitate and encourage responsible product design, use, re-use, recycling and disposal of our products.
- Contribute to the social, economic and institutional development of the communities in which we operate.
- Implement effective and transparent engagement, communication and independently verified reporting arrangements with our stakeholders.
In combination with the 10 principles, reporting to the public regarding the activities of ICMM as well as independent appraisal of those activities helps ensure compliance.
Members
- African Rainbow Minerals
- Anglo American
- AngloGold Ashanti
- Areva
- Barrick Gold
- BHP Billiton
- Codelco
- Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
- Glencore
- Goldcorp
- Gold Fields
- Hydro
- JX Nippon Mining & Metals
- Lonmin
- MMG
- Mitsubishi Materials
- Newmont
- Rio Tinto Group
- Sumitomo Metal Mining
- Teck
- Xstrata
Self-regulation
In 2003 ICMM in conjunction with the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that none of its members would explore or mine deposits located in World Heritage Sites.[1]
Controversy
ICMM was established to provide guidelines for member companies so they could work toward sustainable development. Even so, many of the companies have been implicated in social and environmental scandals since the council's inception.
References
External links
- Official ICMM website
- Good Practice Mining website
- ICMM: Partnerships for Development profile on database of market governance mechanisms