ResponsibleSteel recognises the Copper Mark as an input material programme for Progress Levels 1 to 3 of the International Production Standard

The steel sector relies heavily on mined and processed minerals as an input to production processes. To help ensure that steel companies can increasingly source minerals from responsible suppliers, ResponsibleSteel recognises input material programmes that are well placed to credibly verify the ESG performance of suppliers.

The Copper Mark is the leading assurance framework for the responsible production of Copper, Molybdenum, Nickel, and Zinc, with the latter three being important contributors to the steel value chain.

The Copper Mark submitted a self-assessment of their Risk Readiness Assessment (RRA 3.0) in December 2023 for recognition against the ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard. Following a public consultation and additional improvements, the Copper Mark is now a recognised programme for Progress Levels 1, 2 and 3 of Principle 3’s responsible sourcing requirements. It is the fourth programme to achieve recognition by ResponsibleSteel.

Annie Heaton, CEO of ResponsibleSteel commented, “A product’s sustainability goes far beyond the boundary of the site where it is produced. It’s imperative not only that steelmakers are operating responsibly but that they are also able to source input materials responsibly. That means seeking credible verification that the metals and ores they are buying come from mines subject to the same principles as they demonstrate with ResponsibleSteel. Recognising the Copper Mark as the fourth input programme under Principle 3 of our Production Standard will go a long way in supporting steelmakers looking to source zinc, molybdenum and nickel from suppliers complying with rigorous ESG standards, and we’re delighted to welcome them into the ResponsibleSteel ecosystem.”

“We welcome this recognition as it will help buyers of zinc, molybdenum and nickel materials on the journey towards Certified Steel. It marks another step in making the standards and assurance landscape collaborative and supporting continuous improvement across the supply chain”, said Michèle Brülhart, Executive Director at the Copper Mark.

Find out more about the Copper Mark here or learn more about ResponsibleSteel’s recognition process here.