Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)

Founded in 2006 by a coalition of non-government organizations, businesses purchasing minerals and metals for resale in other products, affected communities, mining companies, and trade unions, the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) envisions a world where the mining industry is: respectful of the human rights and aspirations of affected communities; provide safe, healthy and respectful workplaces; avoids or minimizes harm to the environment, and leaves positive legacies. IRMA joins others in a growing sustainability standards movement, such as the Forest Stewardship Council and the Marine Stewardship Council, that are using market-based approaches to shape the environmental and social performance of the industry.

IRMA is seeking to improve the environmental and social performance of mining operations through the multi-stakeholder development of a set of best practice standards, as well as a system to independently verify the implementation of those standards. IRMA is the only multi-commodity assurance program for responsible mining that fully embraces a multi-stakeholder approach for developing credible standards as well as a commitment to independent verification.