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.

Their 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. They also offer their Conflict Minerals Reporting Template, which helps companies disclose and communicate about smelters in their supply chains, and they produce white papers and guidance documents on responsible mineral sourcing and reporting on a regular basis.

More than 400 companies and associations from over 10 industries participate in the RMI today, and they regularly collaborate with other complementary programs and initiatives in this area. They 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 they 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.

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.