International Critical Minerals and Materials Engagements
Critical minerals that are essential to our economy, energy supply, and advanced technologies/manufacturing. There is a significant increase in demand for certain minerals and materials, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, copper, aluminum, and rare earth elements. Critical mineral and material supply chains must grow rapidly to meet these needs. This increased demand has already fueled the development of new mines, processing facilities and refineries. It is imperative that mining, processing, and recycling facilities be developed in ways that protect people and the environment, promote good governance, create good jobs, and provide economic benefits.
EPA Work in International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
EPA’s Office of International Affairs led an interagency team for the U.S. government’s participation in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Workshop Agreement on Critical Mineral Supply Chains (IWA 45). IWA 45 led a series of international workshops resulting in an ISO report developed by a group of stakeholders including governments, standard organizations, civil society organizations, and industry. The IWA 45 final report supports the understanding of the range of existing sustainability frameworks available for critical minerals supply chains, to assist in improving an organization’ sustainability outcomes.
The final report also includes principles and recommendations that will inform the scope and criteria of future ISO processes developing sustainability standards for critical mineral supply chains, which could be adopted as the basis of national policies and regulations in many countries. The report also includes environment, social, and governance (ESG) criteria to consider in critical mineral supply chain standards and an in-depth comparative analysis of existing sustainability frameworks against these criteria. The IWA 45 report and accompanying analysis of ESG frameworks and standards can be used as a reference in future national and international critical mineral ESG policy efforts.
Contacts
For additional information on EPA's International Trade efforts, contact:
Brianna Besch
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2610T)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail: besch.brianna@epa.gov
(202) 564-6600