Principles and objectives

The IRMA Standard aims to promote best practices in social and environmental responsibility throughout the mining and mineral processing life cycle. It addresses the key issues of transparency, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability. The objective is to guide mining operations in reducing negative impacts, improving governance, and leaving positive legacies for communities and ecosystems.

Principle 1: Business integrity

This principle emphasises the need for mining entities to conduct operations with transparency and compliance. Companies are expected to adhere to host country laws and international standards, especially in human rights and environmental protection. Business integrity includes gender equality initiatives, grievance mechanisms, and financial transparency, promoting trust between companies and communities. The standard also requires entities to have public liability accident insurance to cover significant accidents, as seen in the Brumadinho disaster, which cost over USD 3.66 billion.

Principle 2: Planning for positive legacies

Mining entities should plan projects to create long-term benefits for workers, communities, and the environment. Early engagement with stakeholders is crucial to address potential social and environmental risks. Entities are encouraged to integrate Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) into their planning, identifying and mitigating negative impacts while maximising positive legacies, such as community development and job creation. In addition, post-closure monitoring for up to 25 years, particularly for water quality, is essential to ensure no pollutants exceed safety criteria.

Principle 3: Social responsibility

Social responsibility focuses on ensuring mining projects contribute positively to local communities. Companies must engage in meaningful consultations with affected groups, particularly Indigenous peoples, respecting their Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Additionally, resettlement plans should be developed to compensate displaced communities and enhance their livelihoods, paying attention to vulnerable groups within the community. Worker health is a major focus, with compensation requirements for work-related injuries and illnesses, including medical expenses, wages during recovery, rehabilitation, and funeral costs in the event of fatalities. Mental health support for workers, especially after accidents, is also emphasised.

Principle 4: Environmental responsibility

Mining activities must minimise environmental harm by assessing risks and implementing best practices. Companies are required to manage water resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent pollution. Rehabilitation of biodiversity and ecosystems impacted by mining operations is essential, with a focus on restoring habitats and improving sustainability practices in waste and materials management. Biodiversity assessments must now include flora, fauna, and fungi, recognising their role in maintaining ecosystem health. Long-term environmental monitoring post-closure is critical for protecting ecosystems.

Recommendations

The report recommends that mining companies adopt independent third-party audits to verify compliance and performance. Regular updates to financial assurance mechanisms are encouraged to ensure adequate funds for site rehabilitation and closure. It is also recommended that companies strengthen community engagement efforts, with quantitative monitoring of environmental and social performance indicators. Regularly updating ESIAs to reflect changing contexts is essential to maintain responsible mining practices.

This standard seeks to raise the bar for mining operations by incorporating comprehensive environmental and social governance frameworks, ensuring responsible practices and creating lasting benefits for all stakeholders involved.