Mining and Metals

Kumi Newsletter – October 2024

As the nights get longer in Berlin, our work supporting the European Commission in developing the Implementation Guidelines for the EU Batteries Regulation is coming to an end. Through this extensive process, including a recent consultation...

Below the surface: female perspectives on responsible business in the mining industry

Fiona: “My first mine site visit was to an artisanal mine in Rwanda, and despite having worked on mining-related issues for some time, I approached it with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Nothing quite compares to experiencing ...

WEBINAR: Due Diligence under the EU Batteries Regulation: Preparing for next year’s compliance requirements (with Circulor)

Register below to watch the latest webinar on-demand around how to navigate and prepare for the EU Batteries Regulation due diligence obligations, to which companies must implement by August 2025. Kumi are specialists in implementing respon...

Mining and heritage: reconciling interests

According to the IFC guidance on Biodiversity (PS6, 2012), mining in heritage areas is only admissible: However, as the first part of this insight series addresses, best practices are not always followed when mining activities overlap with ...

Responsible business and migrant workers series: closing the gap between policies and actions [Part 1/3]

On Sunday 30 July, the United Nations marked World Day against Trafficking in Persons. The annual event aims to raise awareness...

Responsible business and migrant workers series: closing the gap between policies and actions [Part 2/3]

Written by Jean-Baptiste Collovray Part two: are audits and grievance mechanisms meeting downstream policy and compliance commitments? Since I started working on responsible sourcing in global supply chains, social audits have often been pr...

Responsible business and migrant workers series: closing the gap between policies and actions [Part 3/3]

SUMMARY: Multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) and industry coalitions help companies address human rights risks in supply chains by harmonising standards, fostering collaboration, and building supplier capacity. Effective MSIs require clear...

Kumi Newsletter – September 2024

As I write this, I am in central Africa with one of our mining sector clients. We are helping them prepare for accreditation against a well-known responsible mining standard. In the mining and metals sector, it feels like the demands on com...

The value of the certification journey [Part 2]

As more companies are moving towards certification, driven by LME requirements, downstream pressures, or other factors, the choice of certification-whether it’s The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), Copper Mark, LBMA, or...

Everything, everywhere, all at once? Preparing for the EU Batteries Regulation

In Kumi’s work developing the implementation guidelines for the EU Batteries Regulation (EUBR) on behalf of the European Commission, we have found that many businesses have questions about compliance in anticipation of the August 2025 dea...

Beyond the classroom: Why training is not enough to effectively implement the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs)

“We were protesting peacefully when the shooting began. They didn’t even give us a chance…”[1] In August 2012, a labour strike over pay and living conditions at the Marikana platinum mine in South Africa resulted in a tragic esc...

Kumi Newsletter August 2024

No sooner had it begun, then it was over! As summer draws to an end here in Europe, it’s back to school and work after the holiday period. But global supply chains don’t stop! For the team at Kumi, the summer has been a busy period ...