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Canadian miner Teck Resources has committed its Highland Valley copper mine in British Columbia to The Copper Mark.
It is the company's first copper mine to take this step.
Aligning with The Copper Mark means the copper mine will adhere to a sustainable production framework. Highland Valley will now be assessed according to 32 production criteria, which include labor standards, stakeholder engagement, greenhouse gas emissions, and tailings management.
The Copper Mark expects all applicants to receive approval within 24 months.
Teck plans for its Carmen de Andacollo copper operations and QB2 copper operations in Chile to begin the Copper Mark approval process in 2023. QB2 is slated to begin production in the second half of 2022.
Teck is planning for each of its copper production sites to be verified.
The Copper Mark assesses mining operations and companies on how well they meet standards for each of its 32 requirements. After the first assessment, The Copper Mark notifies the company of areas for improvement, and companies must then implement reforms to meet these standards. If a company satisfies these standards, it is then awarded The Copper Mark label.
Sites are then re-assessed every three years to ensure compliance with standards.
"Our participation in the Copper Mark is another way we're enhancing transparency," chief executive Don Lindsay said.
