Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is a coalition of nongovernment organizations, mining companies, businesses purchasing minerals and metals for resale in other products, affected communities, and trade unions. IRMA's vision is that of a world in which the mining industry is respectful of the human rights and the aspirations of affected communities; provides safe, healthy and respectful workplaces; avoids or minimizes harm to the environment; and leaves positive legacies. Our mission is to establish a multi-stakeholder and independently-verified responsible mining assurance system that improves social and environmental performance and creates value for the mine sites which lead. The Standard for Responsible Mining launched in June 2018 is a precedent-setting global certification program for industrial-scale mine sites. With growing awareness and demand for ecologically and socially-responsible products jewelers, electronics businesses and others have sought assurances that the minerals they purchase are mined responsibly. The Standard for Responsible Mining’s best practice requirements for mining include elements such as health and safety for workers, human rights, community engagement, pollution control, mining in conflict-affected areas, rights of indigenous peoples, transparency in revenue payments from companies to governments, and land reclamation once mining is done.