In 2004, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) established the Towards Sustainable Mining® program to ensure that mining companies are able to meet society’s needs for minerals, metals and energy products in the most socially, economically and environmentally responsible way.
More than ever, people want to know that the items they purchase and consume are being produced in the most sustainable ways possible, and TSM aims to do just that. Minerals and metals are used in products vital to our every day lives, and it is important that a system be in place to know that Canada’s mining companies are being held to the highest standards possible, and we are proud to be a global leader in this regard.
Canada was the first country to develop an externally-verified performance system for mining operations. Since then, countries around the world have adopted TSM to draw from Canada’s expertise, and there are now nine countries, including Finland, Brazil, Argentina, Botswana, the Philippines, Spain, Norway and Australia, that have committed to prioritizing sustainable mining practices where they operate. In efforts to encourage responsible mining globally, MAC freely shares TSM with any country interested in promoting sustainable mining practices.
TSM requires mines to publicly report and verify their environmental and social performance. The accountability and transparency that results from TSM provides assurance that mining is being done responsibly. Because it’s not enough to ensure that mining operations in our country are held to the highest standards possible. We want to help in prioritizing responsible mining globally, and with nine countries on six continents already on board, we are only just getting started.
