负责任的关键矿产供应链的业务重点

Business

prioritiesfor

responsible

criticalmineralsupplychains

Policypaper

CC(

Contents

Aboutthispolicypaper 4

Introduction 5

1Recognisethefullrangeofinterestsatstake 6

2Harmoniseexistingstandards 7

3Strengthentrustthroughinteroperabletraceability 8

4Advancesustainabilitythroughcircularityandmaterialefficiency 10

5Enableresponsiblecriticalmineralinvestmentanddevelopment 12

6Closethepolicygapbetweencriticalmineralsandtheglobalclimateagenda 13

7Protectbiodiversityandecosystemintegrity 14

Conclusion 15

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Aboutthispolicypaper

Thispolicypapersetsoutwhatbusinessesneedfrompolicyframeworkstoensurethatcriticalmineralsupplychainsareresponsible,resilient,inclusiveandfitforpurposeinthecontextoftheenergytransitionandbroaderindustrialtransformation.

Specifically,itfocusesonthesustainabilitydimensionsofcriticalmineralsupplychains:the

standardslandscapetakingshapeacrossjurisdictions,thetraceabilityanddatainfrastructure

beingdevelopedtoenabletrustedsourcing,thecircularitymeasuresneededtoimprovelong-termresourcesecurityandtheinvestmentconditionsrequiredtomobiliseprivatecapitalatscale.

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Introduction

TheInternationalChamberofCommerce(ICC),representingmorethan45millioncompaniesinover170countries,iswell-placedtobringglobalbusinessperspectivestodiscussionsonmineralsupplychains.ICC’smembershipspansthefullmineralsvaluechain–includingproducers,

processors,traders,manufacturers,financiers,technologyprovidersandend-users–acrossbothproducingandconsumingeconomies.

ICCrecognisesthatthereisnouniversallyagreeddefinitionof“criticalminerals”and

thatcountries,institutionsandstakeholdersmayapplydifferingcriteria,perspectivesand

methodologies,dependingonstrategic,economic,technologicalorgeopoliticalconsiderations.

Whiledefinitionsvaryacrossjurisdictions,ICCrefersto‘criticalminerals’asthoseessentialtomoderneconomicsystemsandthetechnologiesunderpinningtheenergytransition,digital

infrastructureandadvancedmanufacturing.

Asdemandforthesematerialscontinuestogrow,ensuringresponsiblesupplychainswillbecomeanincreasinglyimportantpolicypriority.

Aspolicyattentiontothesesupplychainsincreases,approachestodefiningandgoverning“criticalminerals”areevolvingacrossjurisdictions.Differentnationalstrategiesreflectvaryingeconomic

structures,industrialpriorities,resourceendowmentsandsecurityconsiderations.Fromabusinessperspective,greaterinternationalcoordinationandpolicycoherencewillbeimportanttoavoid

unnecessaryfragmentation,marketdistortionsandduplicativeregulatoryrequirementsacrossglobalsupplychains.

Responsibleandinclusiveprojectdevelopmentisnotperipheraltoresilience–itisacore

preconditionforit.Insufficientattentiontoenvironmentalstewardship,biodiversity,communityengagement,robustgovernanceandlocalbenefit-sharingcantranslatedirectlyintosupply

disruptions,projectdelaysandheighteneduncertaintyforbusinessesandgovernmentsalike.

Consequently,businessesacrosscriticalmineralvaluechainsareincreasinglyinvestingin

responsiblesourcingpractices,duediligenceprocesses,traceabilitysystems,emissionsreductionstrategiesandbroadersustainabilityinitiatives.

ICC,therefore,supportspolicyframeworksthatpromoteresponsible,transparentandinclusive

mineralsupplychainswhileenablinginvestmentandinnovation.Thisincludesapproachesthat

encourageregulatorycoherence,supportcapacitybuilding,facilitateresponsibleinvestmentandintegratesustainabilityconsiderationsacrossthefullmineralvaluechain.

Againstthisbackdrop,ICCsetsoutbelowkeybusinessprioritiesforacoherent,inclusive,responsibleglobalapproachtocriticalmineralsupplychains:

1Recognisethefullrangeofinterestsatstake

2Harmoniseexistingstandards

3Strengthentrustthroughinteroperabletraceability

4Advancesustainabilitythroughcircularityandmaterialefficiency

5Enableresponsiblecriticalmineralinvestmentanddevelopment

6Closethepolicygapbetweencriticalmineralsandtheglobalclimateagenda

7Protectbiodiversityandecosystemsintegrity

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1Recognisethefullrangeofinterestsatstake

Criticalmineralvaluechainsencompassawiderangeofactors,operatingacrossdifferent

economic,regulatoryandgeographiccontexts.Theseincludelargemultinationalmining

companies,juniorexplorationfirms,state-ownedenterprises,commoditytraders,downstreammanufacturers,recyclersandartisanalandsmall-scaleminingoperators.Policyframeworks

shouldrecognisethisdiversityandmustavoidone-size-fits-allapproachesthatmaybedifficulttoimplementacrossdifferentoperatingenvironments.

Effectivegovernanceframeworksshouldthereforebeflexible,risk-basedandproportionate,

takingintoaccountdifferencesinscale,technicalcapacity,accesstofinanceandregulatory

infrastructure,whilstdrawinguponwell-establishedresponsiblebusinesspractices.International,regionalandnationalinitiativesshouldworkinacomplementarymanner,whilesupporting

capacitybuildingandpracticalimplementation,particularlyforsmalleroperatorsand

developingeconomies.

Countriesparticipatingincriticalmineralsupplychainsmayprioritisedifferentpolicyobjectivesdependingontheirpositioninthevaluechain.Consumingeconomiesoftenemphasisesupplychainresilience,responsiblesourcingandtransparency,whileproducingeconomiesmayplacegreateremphasisoneconomicdiversification,valueaddition,industrialdevelopmentandlocalbeneficiation.

Fromabusinessperspective,durableandeffectivegovernanceframeworksshouldseekto

accommodatethesedifferentprioritiesinabalancedandcooperativemanner,whilemaintainingattractiveinvestmentconditionsandavoidingunnecessarymarketdistortions.Frameworksthatpromotebroadparticipation,transparency,responsiblepracticesandstandardsandshared

ownershiparemorelikelytoattractlong-terminvestment,supportresponsibleproductionandprovidethepredictabilityneededforstablesupplychains.

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2Harmoniseexistingstandards

Businessesoperatingacrosscriticalmineralvaluechainsincreasinglyfaceacomplexlandscapeofoverlappingduediligence,sustainabilityandtraceabilityrequirements.TheUnitedNations

EnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)andIntergovernmentalForumonMining,Minerals,MetalsandSustainableDevelopment(IGF)identifiedmorethan100sustainabilitystandardsandinitiativesapplicabletothemineralsandmetalssector.1Whiletheseinitiativesreflectgrowingattentiontoresponsiblesourcingandsustainabilityperformance,theproliferationofframeworksmayalsocreateunnecessarycomplexityandimplementationchallengesacrosssupplychains.

Thesechallengesareparticularlysignificantforsmalleroperators,includingartisanaland

small-scaleminingoperatorsandbusinessesindevelopingeconomies,whichmayfacemore

limitedadministrative,technicalandfinancialcapacitytonavigatemultipleoverlappingsystemssimultaneously.Excessiveduplicationcanalsodivertresourcesawayfrompracticalsustainabilityimprovementsandoperationalperformance.

ICCsupportsgreateralignment,interoperabilityandmutualrecognitionacrossexisting

sustainabilityandduediligenceframeworks.Fromabusinessperspective,improvingcoherence

betweenstandardsandregulatoryrequirementscanreduceunnecessarycomplianceburdensandsupportwiderparticipationinresponsiblesupplychains.

Concretely,thisincludes:

•Supportingconvergenceinitiatives.EffortssuchastheConsolidatedMiningStandard

Initiative(CMSI),bringingtogetherfourestablishedandwidelyappliedresponsiblemining

standardsintoasingleglobalstandardunderasharedmulti-stakeholdergovernance

framework,representanimportantsteptowardsgreatercoherenceandsimplificationwithinthesector.

•Promotingmutualrecognitionandinteroperability.Governmentsandregulatoryauthorities

shouldseekgreaterrecognitionofequivalentsustainability,traceabilityandduediligence

frameworksacrossjurisdictions,reducingduplicativereportingandcertificationrequirementsforcompaniesoperatinginternationally.

•Encouraginginclusiveprocesses.Thedevelopmentandconvergenceofsustainability

frameworksshouldinvolvebroadparticipationfromproducingandconsumingcountries,industry,financialinstitutions,civilsociety,workers’representativesandaffected

communities.Inclusiveprocessescanhelpsupportwideruptakeandlong-termcredibilityacrossglobalvaluechains.

•Governmentsandinternationalorganisationsshouldavoidcreatingnewsustainability,duediligenceortraceabilitystandardsunlessaclearmarketgaphasbeendemonstratedandshouldfirstassesswhetherexistingcrediblestandardscanberecognised,alignedormadeinteroperable.

1UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(2025),StocktakeofSustainabilityStandardsandInitiativesformineralsandmetals:LeveragingsynergiesbetweenSustainabilityStandardsandInitiativesandpublicinstrumentstoenhanceenvironmental

governance.Nairobi.

/20.500.11822/48989

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3Strengthentrustthroughinteroperabletraceability

Traceability–theabilitytoverifytheprovenance,movementandrelevantsustainabilityinformationassociatedwithmineralsacrosssupplychains–isbecomingincreasinglyimportantforregulators,investors,downstreamindustriesandconsumers.

Well-designedtraceabilitysystemscansupportresponsiblesourcing,strengthensupplychain

transparency,facilitateduediligenceandimproveconfidenceacrossglobalmarkets.Atthesametime,traceabilityapproachesshouldremainpracticalandproportionateacrossdiverseoperatingenvironmentstoavoidcreatingunnecessarybarrierstoparticipationinglobalvaluechains.

ICCwelcomesinitiativesaimedatimprovingdigitalinteroperabilityandtrusteddataexchange

acrossmineralsupplychains,includingtheUNTransparencyProtocolandrelatedinitiatives

developingcommonapproachestosupplychaindatasharing.Theseeffortsshouldprioritise

interoperabilitywithexistingsystems,strongdatagovernance,cybersecurityandconfidentiality

protections,leveragingexistingstandardsandreportingframeworksandaccessibilityforoperatorsacrossdifferentregionsandlevelsoftechnicalcapacity.

ICCsupportsthedevelopmentofshareddigitalinfrastructuretofacilitatetrustedandinteroperableexchangeoftraceabilityandsustainabilitydataacrosssupplychains,includingthroughitsco-

leadershipoftheGlobalMaterialsDataHub(GMDH)initiative.2Thisworkisnotintendedtocreateanewstandalonetraceabilityplatform,butrathertopromoteinteroperabilityandconnectivity

betweenexistingdatasystems.

Suchapproachesshouldavoidunnecessaryduplication,bedevelopedthroughinclusivemulti-stakeholderprocesses,supportvoluntaryandinteroperabledata-sharingpractices,ensurethatdataownersretaincontrolovertheirowndata,provideappropriatesafeguardsforcommerciallysensitiveandconfidentialinformationandbuildonopenprotocolsandstandards.

Traceabilityrequirementsshouldberisk-basedandproportionate,buildingonexistingstandards

andreportingframeworks,takingintoaccountthecharacteristicsofspecificminerals,supplychainsegments,operatingcontextsandidentifiedsustainabilityrisks.Flexibleapproachescanhelpavoiddisproportionatecomplianceburdens,particularlyforsmalleroperatorsandbusinessesoperatingindevelopingeconomies.

Cleargovernanceframeworksfortraceability-relateddataareessential.Companiesshouldhaveconfidenceregardingdataownership,accessrights,confidentialityprotectionsandthetreatmentofcommerciallysensitiveinformation,whileenablingappropriatetransparencyandaccountabilityforregulators,investorsandotherstakeholders.

2TheGMDHinitiativeisbeingadvancedbyICCinpartnershipwithUNEP,Systemiqandabroadgroupofindustry,government

andstakeholderpartners.Theinitiativeaimstoexplorehowinteroperable,open-protocolsolutionscanconnectandenhance

thedevelopmentofatrustedandgloballyaccessibledatainfrastructuretoimprovetheavailability,comparabilityandexchangeofsustainabilityandtraceabilityinformationacrosscriticalmineralsandmaterialsvaluechains.

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Greaterinternationalcoordinationontraceabilityapproacheswillbeimportanttoreduce

fragmentationacrossjurisdictionsandminimiseduplicativereportingandcompliance

requirementsforgloballyintegratedsupplychains.ICCsupportstheworkoftheUnitedNationsTaskForceonCriticalEnergyTransitionMinerals,launchedinDecember2025tocoordinate

UNactivitiesandadvanceimplementationoftheUNPanel’sprinciplesandactionable

recommendationsacrosscriticalmineralsvaluechains.ICCisparticipatinginboththe

traceabilityandthecircularityandmaterialefficiencytechnicalclusters,contributingprivate

sectorexpertiseandsupportingthedevelopmentofpractical,interoperableandinternationallycoordinatedapproaches.

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4Advancesustainabilitythroughcircularityandmaterialefficiency

ICCconsiderscircularityandmaterialefficiencyasessentialcomponentsofresilientand

responsiblecriticalmineralsupplychains.3Increasedrecyclingandrecoveryofcriticalmineralscanreduceemissionsandenvironmentalimpacts,helpprotectbiodiversityandstrengthenlong-term

resourcesecurity.However,achievingacircularcriticalmineralseconomywillrequiresustainedinvestment,enablingpolicyenvironmentsaswellasclosercooperationacrossgovernments,

industryandfinancialinstitutions.

Whilerecyclingcapacityisexpanding,significantstructuralchallengesremain.Collection

infrastructure,end-of-lifemanagementsystemsandsecondarymaterialmarketsarestill

underdevelopedinmanyjurisdictions.Inaddition,recyclingfeedstockwillonlymaterialise

progressivelyoverthecomingdecadesaslargervolumesofbatteries,renewableenergy

technologiesandothercleanenergyassetsreachendoflife.Atthesametime,givencurrent

andanticipateddemandforcriticalminerals,theywillneedtobecomplementedinthenearandmediumtermbyresponsibleapproachestoprimaryproduction,processingandrefining.Policyframeworksshouldthereforesupportabalancedapproachbetweenboth.

ICCencouragesgovernmentsandinternationalinstitutionsto:

•Prioritiseinvestmentincollectionandrecoveryinfrastructure,recognisingthateffectivecollectionsystemsarefundamentaltoscalingsecondarysupplychainsandimprovingresourceefficiency.

•Developcoherentandpredictableregulatoryframeworksforend-of-lifemanagement,

includingextendedproducerresponsibilityschemes,harmoniseddefinitionsrelatedto“end-of-waste”criteriaandinteroperablerecycledcontentstandardsthatsupportwell-functioningsecondarymaterialsmarkets.Achievingthisrequiresincorporatingtechnicalexpertise

intopolicymakingtoallowforgreatergranularityinregulatorydesign,andbringingallkey

stakeholdersandorganisationstothetable.ICCalsorecognisestheimportantroleofthe

BaselConventioningoverningthetransboundarymovementofhazardousandotherwastes,butnotesthatitsframeworkwasnotdesignedwithcirculareconomyobjectivesinmind.

ICCthereforeencourageseffortstomovetheBaselConventionbeyondlinearity–notablybydistinguishingbetweenwastesshippedfordisposalandthoseshippedforrecoveryorrecycling–sothatimplementationsupportsbothenvironmentalprotectionobjectivesandthedevelopmentofefficient,responsibleandcircularsecondarymaterialsvaluechains.4

•Supportthemobilisationoflong-termcapitalforrecyclingandmaterialrecovery

infrastructurethroughappropriatepublicfinanceinstruments,includingblendedfinancestructures,guaranteesanddemand-sidemechanismswhereappropriate.

•Encouragepublicprocurementapproachesandmarket-basedincentivesthatprovideclearerandmorestabledemandsignalsforresponsiblysourcedsecondarymaterials.

3ICC/EY(2024),Puttingthecirculareconomyintomotion:Frombarrierstoopportunities,

/news-publications/

report/putting-the-circular-economy-into-motion/

4ICC/EY(2024),Puttingthecirculareconomyintomotion:Frombarrierstoopportunities,

/news-publications/

report/putting-the-circular-economy-into-motion/

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•Promoteinternationalcooperationandregulatorycoherencetoavoidfragmentation,

reduceunnecessarytradebarriersaffectingmaterialsdestinedforrecoveryandrecyclingandfacilitatethedevelopmentofefficientcircularvaluechains.Inthisregard,ICCprovidescommonbusiness-to-businessdefinitionsforsixteenofthemostwidelyusedcircular

economyterms,5offeringapracticalbasisforconsistentinterpretationofregulatory

requirementsandclearercommunicationacrossjurisdictionsandsectors,helpingtoalignterminologyandscalecirculareconomymodelsacrossglobalvaluechains.

5ICC(2026),ICCEcoterms®onCircularEconomy,

/news-publications/business-solutions/icc-ecoterms-

on-circular-economy/

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5Enableresponsiblecriticalmineralinvestmentanddevelopment

Meetingthematerialneedsoftheglobalenergytransitionwillrequiresubstantialinvestmentacrossmining,processing,refining,recyclingandrelatedinfrastructure.Atthesametime,investors,

governmentsandcommunitiesincreasinglyexpectprojectstodemonstratestrongenvironmental,socialandgovernanceperformancealongsideeconomicviability.

Inpractice,delaysinpermitting,regulatoryuncertaintyandfragmentedstandardsremainkeybarrierstocapitaldeployment.Addressingtheseconstraintsisasimportantasmobilisingnewfinancinginstruments.

ICCbelievesthatmobilisingsufficientprivatecapitalwillrequirestableinvestmentenvironments,predictableregulatoryframeworksandcredibleapproachestosustainability,transparencyandcommunityengagement.

ICCthereforecallsfor:

•Clearandpredictablelong-termpolicysignalsthatsupportinvestmentinresponsiblecriticalmineralsupplychains,includingthroughpublicprocurementpolicies,strategicpartnershipsandpublic-privatecooperationmechanisms.

•Financingframeworksthatrecogniseandrewardprojectsdemonstratingstrong

environmentalperformance,responsiblesourcingpractices,adherencetorobuststandardsandmeaningfulengagementwithlocalcommunities.

•Efficient,transparentandpredictablepermittingframeworksthatsupporttimelyinvestmentdecisionswhilemaintainingrobustenvironmentalandsocialsafeguardsandappropriate

stakeholderconsultation.

•Expandeduseofblendedfinanceinstruments,politicalriskinsurance,technicalassistanceandothercatalyticfinancingmechanismsbymultilateraldevelopmentbanksand

developmentfinanceinstitutions,particularlyinemerginganddevelopingeconomies,whileensuringalignmentwithresponsibleinvestmentprinciples.

•Greaterinternationalcooperationtostrengtheninvestmentconditions,improve

interoperabilityacrosspolicyframeworksandsupportresilientanddiversifiedsupplychains.

ICCwelcomesongoingpublic-privateinitiativesaimedatstrengtheningresponsibleandresilient

mineralsupplychainsandencouragescontinuedfocusonpracticalimplementation,investment

mobilisationandmeaningfulparticipationfromproducingcountriesandindustryactorsacrossthevaluechain.

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6

Closethepolicygapbetweencritical

mineralsandtheglobalclimateagenda

Criticalmineralsareindispensabletothedeploymentofcleanenergytechnologies,including

batteries,renewableenergysystems,electricitygridsandenergystorageinfrastructure.As

countriesmovetowardsimplementingtheParisAgreementanddeliveringontheirupdated

NationallyDeterminedContributions(NDCs)–includingthrougheffortstoacceleraterenewableenergydeployment,energystorage,electricitygridsandindustrialdecarbonisation–critical

mineralsandtheirsupplychainswillbecomeincreasinglyimportant.

Inthiscontext,climate,industrial,tradeandresourcepoliciesmustbeoperationallyaligned,

includingthroughcoordinatedplanningofsupply,processingcapacityandfinancing

mechanismstoensurethatclimateambitionsarematchedbysecure,responsibleandresilientmaterialsupplychains.

ICCencouragesgovernmentsandinternationalorganisationsto:

•Integratecriticalmineralsandmaterialsupplychainconsiderationsmoresystematicallyintointernationalanddomesticclimate,environmental,energy,tradeanddevelopment

discussions,includingwithinclimatefinanceframeworksandnationaltransitionplanningprocesses,whileavoidingduplicationwithotherprocesses,respectingexistingmandatesandensuringhighenvironmental,socialandgovernancestandards.

•Recogniseresponsiblyproducedmineralsandmetalsasimportantenablersof

decarbonisation,energyaccess,digitalisationandresponsibleindustrialdevelopment,whilealsosupportingbroaderjusttransitionobjectives,includingeconomicdiversification,skills

developmentandlocalvaluecreationinresource-producingeconomies.

•Supportbalancedpolicyapproachesthataddressenvironmentalandsocialrisksassociatedwithcriticalmineralsupplychains,whilealsoenablingresponsibleinvestment,innovation

andlong-termeconomicdevelopmentinresource-producingcountries.

•Scaleupclimatefinanceandinvestmentforemissionsreductionsacrossmineralsupply

chains,particularlyindevelopingeconomieswhereaccesstocapitalremainsconstrained,includingthroughstrongertechnologypartnerships,expandedblendedfinancesolutionsandenhancedmobilisationofpublicandprivatefinance.

ICCalsounderscorestheimportanceofensuringthatsustainability-relatedrequirementsandtraceabilityframeworksremaininteroperable,practicalandsupportiveofopenandinclusiveglobaltrade.

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7Protectbiodiversityandecosystemintegrity

Mineralexploration,extractionandprocessingactivitiescanaffectbiodiversityandecosystem

services,particularlyinareasofhighecologicalvalue.Asdemandforcriticalmineralsgrows,

safeguardingbiodiversityisbecominganincreasinglyimportantdimensionofresponsiblesupplychainmanagement,alongsideclimate,communityengagementandgovernanceconsiderations.

Businessesacrossthevaluechainareincreasinglymainstreamingbiodiversityconsiderations

acrosscoredecision-makingp