Oyu Tolgoi’s responsible production gains Copper Mark

Oyu Tolgoi LLC has been awarded the Copper Mark, the copper industry’s new responsible production program, the company announced on Monday.

Oyu Tolgoi was able to satisfy over 30 criteria for responsible environmental, social and governance operating practices to receive the Copper Mark.

“We are pleased to be among the first in the copper industry to be awarded the Copper Mark, demonstrating our commitment to responsible mining and transparency. We made this achievement together with all our stakeholders and communities in Mongolia,” CEO of Oyu Tolgoi Armando Torres said. “We will continue upholding the highest social and environmental standards and draw on the advice of environmental experts and the communities in which we operate.”

The Copper Mark is the first and only program for responsible production of the copper industry. Originally developed by the International Copper Association with inputs from a broad range of stakeholders including customers, NGOs and producers, the Copper Mark is now an independent entity with a multi-stakeholder council. It is known to be a comprehensive, credible assurance framework to demonstrate the copper industry’s responsible production practices and industry contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

As part of this program, Oyu Tolgoi has reportedly made a series of commitments about the way it operates, how it contributes to Mongolia’s society and economy, and how it manages environmental impacts. These commitments are underpinned by a number of policies, procedures and an approach which recognizes that Oyu Tolgoi has a role to play in supporting the longterm development of Mongolia and sustainable supply chains.

Oyu Tolgoi’s Copper Mark is valid for the period of October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2023.