About the Responsible Minerals Initiative

Founded in 2008 by members of the Responsible Business Alliance and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative, the Responsible Minerals Initiative has grown into one of the most utilized and respected resources for companies from a range of industries addressing responsible mineral sourcing issues in their supply chains.

Our flagship Responsible Minerals Assurance Process offers companies and their suppliers an independent, third-party audit that determines which smelters and refiners can be verified as having systems in place to responsibly source minerals in line with current global standards. We also offer our Conflict Minerals Reporting Template, which helps companies disclose and communicate about smelters in their supply chains, and we produce white papers and guidance documents on responsible mineral sourcing and reporting on a regular basis.

More than 380 companies and associations from 10 industries participate in the RMI today, and we regularly collaborate with other complementary programs and initiatives in this area. We also run an annual Responsible Minerals Initiative Conference and Members Meeting, which brings together hundreds of representatives from industry, government and civil society for updates, in-depth discussions and guidance on best practices on responsible mineral sourcing. As more companies work on this issue we hope for a future in which businesses can make greater contributions to the fostering of peace and stability in conflict-affected and high-risk areas globally.

Our Mission

RMI Mission: Provide companies with tools and resources to make sourcing decisions that improve regulatory compliance and support responsible sourcing from conflict-affected and high-risk areas.

RMI Theory of Change





Our Activities

We provide a variety of tools and resources to support companies to make informed decisions about responsibly sourced minerals in their supply chains. These tools and resources are produced by several program areas and the working groups. All RMI members are welcome to participate in our various working groups.

Our program areas include:

Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) : Through the RMAP, we identify smelters and refiners that produce responsibly sourced materials. To confirm this status, we use specially trained third-party auditors to independently verify that these smelters and refiners have systems in place to responsibly source minerals in conformance with the RMAP. A list of smelters and refiners that meet the requirements of the audit standards are published online. The audit standards are developed according to global standards including the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas and the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

: Through the RMAP, we identify smelters and refiners that produce responsibly sourced materials. To confirm this status, we use specially trained third-party auditors to independently verify that these smelters and refiners have systems in place to responsibly source minerals in conformance with the RMAP. A list of smelters and refiners that meet the requirements of the audit standards are published online. The audit standards are developed according to global standards including the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas and the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) : The CMRT is a free, standardized reporting template that facilitates the transfer of information through the supply chain regarding mineral country of origin and smelters and refiners being utilized. The template also facilitates the identification of new smelters and refiners to potentially undergo an audit via the Responsible Minerals Assurance Program.

The CMRT is a free, standardized reporting template that facilitates the transfer of information through the supply chain regarding mineral country of origin and smelters and refiners being utilized. The template also facilitates the identification of new smelters and refiners to potentially undergo an audit via the Responsible Minerals Assurance Program. Due Diligence Guidance : Our due diligence working group focuses on producing white papers and other analyses and guidance for companies about best practices and various standards on addressing responsibly sourced minerals in the supply chain and reporting. These resources are all available on our website.

: Our due diligence working group focuses on producing white papers and other analyses and guidance for companies about best practices and various standards on addressing responsibly sourced minerals in the supply chain and reporting. These resources are all available on our website. Stakeholder engagement: The RMI regularly participates in public forums to provide information about the RMI and RMAP and share tools, best practices, and mechanisms to identify and mitigate risks in the mineral supply chain. The RMI engages a variety of non-governmental organizations, responsible investor groups, governments and multilateral institutions to discuss emerging issues, best practices and work on addressing shared challenges. The RMI also participates in a range of multi-stakeholder groups and hosts an annual workshop to provide a forum for dialogue with stakeholders.

Join Us!

More than 380 companies and associations from 10 industries are part of the RMI today and take advantage of a range of member benefits. These benefits include:

Free access to Reasonable Country of Origin (RCOI) data and Country of Origin information associated with smelters and refiners that are validated through the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process.

and Country of Origin information associated with smelters and refiners that are validated through the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process. Opportunity to shape industry response to responsibly sourced minerals reporting requirements and other expectations from stakeholders.

to responsibly sourced minerals reporting requirements and other expectations from stakeholders. Access to cutting-edge insight, tips and a like-minded community of industry professionals and issue experts developing solutions by companies, for companies .

. Latest information and insight about the developments on regional issues, various sourcing initiatives, regulatory schemes and more.

about the developments on regional issues, various sourcing initiatives, regulatory schemes and more. Discounted attendance fee for two representatives from your organization at the Responsible Minerals Initiative twice-yearly workshops.

fee for two representatives from your organization at the Responsible Minerals Initiative twice-yearly workshops. Facilitated engagement with stakeholder groups , including civil society organizations and socially responsible investor groups, to ensure your company and organization have all the relevant perspectives as you make choices about your supply chain practices.

, including civil society organizations and socially responsible investor groups, to ensure your company and organization have all the relevant perspectives as you make choices about your supply chain practices. Ability to contribute your perspectives to the development of new tools and resources from the RMI, such as white papers on responsibly sourced minerals due diligence and training on responsibly sourced minerals reporting.

Membership eligibility

Membership is open to companies that use or transact in raw materials. Membership is also open to associations of companies that use or transact in raw materials. Members are also required to accept an Agreement on the Exchange of Confidential Information (AECI) upon the approval of their application form. Please click here to see a sample AECI.

Interested in becoming a member? Please visit our membership page. Thank you for your interest!