ACM - Estándar de Minería Sostenible

Summary

The TSM (Towards Sustainable Mining) standard is a performance system developed by the Canadian Mining Association, helping mining companies manage their sustainability strategies. In May 2021, the Colombian Mining Association adopted this standard, positioning Colombia among countries with high sustainability standards in mining. TSM focuses on three main pillars: communities and people, environmental responsibility, and climate change. The system includes nine protocols with indicators for companies to measure and publicly report on their management systems. The process includes self-assessment, external audits, and advisory panels to ensure continuous improvement, reinforcing a commitment to the environment, communities, and the future of Colombia's mining industry.

Takeaways

• 😀 TSM (Towards Sustainable Mining) is a performance system developed by the Canadian Mining Association to help mining companies manage their sustainability strategies.
• 😀 In May 2021, the Colombian Mining Association (ACM) obtained the license to use the TSM standard, making Colombia part of the group of countries with high sustainability standards in the mining industry.
• 😀 The TSM system is built on three core pillars: Communities and People, Environmental Responsibility, and Climate Change.
• 😀 These pillars are developed through nine protocols, each with a set of indicators to help mining companies measure and publicly report on the quality of their management systems.
• 😀 One key feature of TSM is that communities and other stakeholders can actively participate, gaining insight into companies' commitments and progress during implementation.
• 😀 TSM includes four verification layers to ensure transparency: self-assessment, external verification, a stakeholder advisory panel, and continuous improvement.
• 😀 Companies perform annual self-assessments to evaluate their performance on each TSM protocol indicator, with ratings ranging from C to AAA.
• 😀 Every three years, an external auditor critically reviews each company’s self-assessment to verify if there is sufficient evidence to support the reported results.
• 😀 The Stakeholder Advisory Panel is composed of independent members from communities, NGOs, financial, environmental, and labor organizations. They meet to provide guidance and ensure continuous improvement.
• 😀 TSM is a proactive response to growing environmental concerns, reflecting the commitment of mining companies to the communities, workers, and the country, while supporting the development of a greener Colombia.

Q & A

What is the TSM standard, and who developed it?

The TSM (Towards Sustainable Mining) standard is a performance system developed by the Canadian Mining Association. It helps mining companies manage their sustainability strategy.

When did Colombia join the TSM initiative, and how?

Colombia joined the TSM initiative in May 2021 when the Colombian Mining Association (ACM) obtained the license to use the TSM standard, becoming part of the select group of countries with high sustainability standards in the mining industry.

What are the three main pillars of the TSM standard?

The three main pillars of the TSM standard are Communities and People, Environmental Responsibility, and Climate Change.

How many protocols are part of the TSM system, and what is their purpose?

The TSM system includes nine protocols. These protocols consist of a set of indicators that help mining companies measure and report on the quality of their management systems.

What makes the TSM standard different from other sustainability standards?

What sets TSM apart is that it allows communities and other stakeholders to actively participate in the process. This gives them the opportunity to understand the commitments and progress made during the implementation of each participating company's process.

What are the four layers of verification in the TSM process?

The four layers of verification in the TSM process are: self-assessment by each company, external verification every three years, the Stakeholder Advisory Panel, and continuous improvement based on feedback from the advisory panel.

What happens during the self-assessment process in TSM?

During self-assessment, each company evaluates its performance annually based on each indicator in the TSM protocols. Companies are then classified on a scale from C to AAA, reflecting their performance.

What role does the external auditor play in the TSM process?

Every three years, an external auditor critically reviews the self-assessment of each company to ensure that there is sufficient evidence supporting the reported results.

What is the purpose of the Stakeholder Advisory Panel in the TSM framework?

The Stakeholder Advisory Panel is an independent group that meets one or two times a year to provide support and advice, analyze activities and practices, and offer critical perspectives on new topics covered by the TSM standard to ensure continuous improvement.

How does the TSM standard respond to growing environmental concerns?

The TSM standard proactively addresses the increasing concern about the environment by reaffirming its commitment to communities, workers, and the country, ensuring sustainable mining practices that align with Colombia's vision for a greener future.