IWA 45:2024
(Main)Sustainable critical mineral supply chains
Sustainable critical mineral supply chains
This document surveys the range of existing sustainability frameworks available for critical mineral supply chains to aid understanding and assist in improving an organization’s sustainability outcomes. It includes an analysis of: — the requirements contained in existing sustainability guides or frameworks and where these tools are similar and where they diverge; — sustainability topic areas within existing guides and frameworks that have been accepted in different regions and jurisdictions. This document did not assess the effectiveness of existing standards or frameworks in improving the sustainability performance of their users or how performance was assessed. The results show that the existing sustainability frameworks are extensive and varied in the upstream supply chain. The analysis undertaken as part of this document will help inform the development of potential future ISO work programs and standards development, without duplicating or conflicting with existing frameworks. This document can also be used by organizations outside of ISO with respect to understanding available sustainability standards or frameworks.
Titre manque
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
International
Workshop
Agreement
IWA 45
First edition
Sustainable critical mineral
2024-08
supply chains
Reference number
© ISO 2024
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Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Sustainability topic areas to consider in critical mineral supply chain standards . 5
4.1 General .5
4.2 Mineral exploration/extraction/mining/mineral recovery on-site processing/off-site
processing and refining .5
4.2.1 Environment .5
4.2.2 Social .6
4.2.3 Economic/Governance .6
4.3 Circularity and end of life .7
4.3.1 Environment .7
4.3.2 Social .7
4.3.3 Governance .7
4.3.4 Technical .7
5 ISO Standards relevant to sustainable critical mineral supply chains . 7
5.1 ISO standards under development .7
5.1.1 ISO/TC 298, Rare earth and ISO/TC 333, Lithium: joint working group 6 on
sustainability (under development) .7
5.1.2 ISO/TC 82, SC 7, Sustainable mining and mine closure . .8
5.2 Existing ISO standards .9
6 Assessment of existing sustainability frameworks relevant to critical mineral supply
chains . 9
6.1 Background .9
6.2 Commonalities and differences across frameworks.10
6.2.1 General .10
6.2.2 Governance structure and stakeholder engagement . 12
6.2.3 Continual Improvement . 12
6.2.4 Conformity assessment . 13
6.2.5 Environmental protection and health and safety . .14
6.2.6 Labour protections .16
6.2.7 Community and social responsibility .17
6.2.8 Ethical Business Practices and Transparency .17
7 Conclusion .18
7.1 General .18
7.2 Coherence, coordination and cooperation .18
7.3 Stakeholder Engagement and Governance .19
7.4 Topic areas for Sustainability Standards . 20
7.4.1 General . 20
7.4.2 Recommendations. 20
7.5 Priority areas for future international standardization . 22
7.5.1 General . 22
7.5.2 Recommendations. 22
Annex A (Informative) STANDARDS/FRAMEWORKS COMPARISON MATRIX .24
Annex B (Informative) Workshop contributors .28
Bibliography .32
iii
Foreword
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International Workshop Agreement IWA 45 was approved at workshops hosted in Tokyo (Japan), New York
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iv
Introduction
Critical minerals are vital to the production of materials and equipment needed to deliver clean energy
technologies. This means that we are increasingly relying on critical mineral supply chains, from mine to
product, for the transition to net-zero emissions.
Simultaneously, we must ensure that hard-won environmental gains in critical mineral supply chains are
not lost in the rush to deliver low, and zero, emission technologies, nor are the rights of communities and
Indigenous people overlooked due to the new imperatives.
That presents the world with a challenge – to ensure a reliable supply of the materials needed to tackle
climate change, while offering environmental and social protections which preserve human rights.
Sustainability frameworks, guidelines and standards are central to achieving these goals. They provide
best-practice for the mining industry and corporations throughout the critical mineral supply chain as well
as guidance for policy-makers seeking to ensure a responsible and reliable approach.
The ISO’s International Workshop Agreement on Sustainable Critical Minerals Supply Chains (IWA 45) has
been developed by a group of stakeholders from the mineral supply chain and designed for stakeholders
in the critical mineral supply chains, who need such a framework to assess their operations and measure
sustainability.
NOTE A list of IWA 45 participants is provided in Annex B.
This document is designed to assist those stakeholders in understanding the existing landscape of
frameworks, guidelines and standards currently available and to determine which best suit their needs.
A survey was undertaken of a range of stakeholders across geographic regions to identify relevant
frameworks, guidelines and standards that organizations are already using to assess and improve the
sustainability of critical mineral supply chains.
This document examines governance structures, sustainability topic areas and requirements within
existing frameworks. It details 30 frameworks, guidance and standards relevant to the sector. While there
was no attempt to determine the effectiveness of any of these instruments in improving sustainability,
this document provides an objective overview of the scope of governance, assurance pro
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