The Copper Mark, the assurance framework to promote responsible practices and help the copper industry's contribution to UN sustainability goals, has awarded the Copper Mark to three new sites while welcoming Siemens Energy and Oddo BHF Metals as partners.

The new sites include Olympic Dam in Australia and Minera Escondida and Minera Spence, both in Chile. The addition of Minera Escondida means the Copper Mark has been awarded to the largest copper mine in the world.

The body said the six further sites have also begun the assessment process.

These include Los Bronces, El Soldado, Chagres, Minera Los Peambres, Minera Antucoya - all in Chile - and Highland Valley Copper in Canada.

The announcement means the Copper Mark now has 16 industry partners and 31 participating sites.

Michele Brulhart, executive director of the Copper Mark said the partnerships with Siemens Energy and Oddo BHF Metals will help to "further promote and raise awareness for responsible production practices throughout the global copper supply chain."

Additionally, Brulhart said the awarding of the Copper Mark to three new sites and inclusion of six new participating sites means the body is "promoting responsible production practices across the global copper industry."

"The Copper Mark is on a strong growth trajectory, and we expect our number of participants to increase further in 2022 as more producers and copper users focus on the sustainability of their supply chains," Brulhart said.