FCX has started the assessment process for six of its operating sites, and plans to validate them all against the Copper Mark requirements. 

"I am proud to announce our commitment to the Copper Mark. Our focus on responsible production is critical to establish and maintain acceptance from our stakeholders," said Richard C Adkerson, president and chief executive.

"The Copper Mark demonstrates our responsible production practices to downstream markets, helping to meet our customers' responsible sourcing objectives."

Copper producers that want to be granted the mark, which is linked to the industry's contribution to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are assessed independently against a set of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, on a site-by-site basis.

"Copper plays an essential role in the technologies necessary to develop and deliver clean energy and to support the global transition to a low-carbon economy," noted Adkerson.

"This increased copper demand should not come at a cost to sustainability. As one of the world's largest copper producers, we understand we play a critical role in this transition, and we remain dedicated to supplying the global economy with responsibly produced copper."

Although the mark is currently focused on copper producers, it intends to develop criteria for fabricators and component producers in the coming years with the goal of establishing a chain of custody for downstream companies, such as automobile and electronics producers.

The Copper Mark was originally founded and developed by the International Copper Association. In August, Kennecott Utah Copper LLC, Rio Tinto's site in Utah, United States, became the first producer to receive the accreditation.