The largest application of tin is in solders, included in many of today’s electronic products and components. The world’s most significant tin resources can be found in China and Indonesia, with some production in Central Africa. Tin is covered by regulations related to “conflict minerals” in the United States and the European Union.
What We Do
The RMI provides tools and resources to help companies make sourcing decisions that improve regulatory compliance and support responsible sourcing globally, in accordance with the internationally recognized frameworks of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) provides independent third-party assessments through an OECD-aligned industry mechanism for tin smelters.
The RMI engages the tin industry, smelters and other stakeholders along the tin value chains to promote complementarity of programs and support responsible sourcing initiatives in conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
Since 2017 the RMI hosted the Indonesia Tin Working Group, managing projects on the ground to implement sustainable land reclamation and build capacity of artisanal miners for good occupational, health and safety practices.
What You Can Do
Learn more about the actions you can take to promote responsible tin sourcing:
- Map your tin supply chain using our reporting template.
- Support the industry program for third-party assessments of tin smelters.
- Consult the list of tin smelters that are active or conformant with the RMAP requirements.
- Identify and address risks using the Risk Readiness Assessment and the Country Risk Assessment Tool or consult the resources available to help you identify high-risk areas in mineral supply chains.
- Learn more about the RMI’s programs to support smelters using the Initial Audit Fund and the Upstream Due Diligence Fund.
Engage peers, industry organizations and stakeholders to develop, share and utilize tools and resources for responsible minerals sourcing.
For more information, please contact RMI@responsiblebusiness.org.
Tin Working Group
Indonesia’s Bangka-Belitung region supplies approximately 30 percent of the global tin market and 90 percent of the country’s exported tin. Tin production in Indonesia is associated with significant risk areas including social andeconomic risks, occupational health and safety issues, environmental degradation, and challenging legal andregulatory issues.
The Tin Working Group (TWG) started as the first voluntary, collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to make meaningful change in the Indonesian tin sector. The TWG’s vision is that responsible tin mining practices in line with international best practices are adopted and implemented by the majority of tin producers in Indonesia, resulting in better social and economic conditions for Indonesia tin mining communities.
What We Do
Launched in 2014 and led by the Sustainable Trade Initiative IDH, TWG members in a first Phase (2014-2017) worked on understanding and outreach, and developed a ‘Road to Responsible Mining’ with local industry. This understanding set the stage for Phase II implementation.
In Phase II (2017-2019), the TWG was convened by and integrated into the RMI. The TWG focused on implementation, applying an inclusive approach through pilot projects. The group worked closely with key local industry players and local communities, to identify and act on opportunities to advance land reclamation projects, policy reform, and worker health and safety improvements.
Through funding received from the European Partnership on Responsible Minerals (EPRM), the TWG supported two pilot project activities for sustainable land reclamation as well as occupational health and safety (OHS) capacity building.
What You Can Do
The TWG produced a number of practical tools and templates to guide companies’ efforts on sustainable land reclamation and occupational health and safety-capacity building:
- ASM Occupational Health & Safety Guidance for Risk Management: This guidance identifies key health and safety risks and outlines steps for tin producers to manage those risks.
- Bangka-Belitung Business Plan Overview for Tin Producers: Intended for tin producers that are looking for basic steps and success factors to ensure sustainable land reclamation.
- Bangka-Belitung Business Plan Template for Land Reclamation: A detailed template to help tin producers apply for external funding for sustainable land reclamation, including budget figures.
- Bangka-Belitung Business Plan Pitch for Finance Institutions: A presentation accompanying the business plan that tin producers may use to present a land reclamation project to investors.
- Responsible Tin Production Guide: This guide provides a toolbox, compiling resources, standard operating procedures (SOPs), lessons learned, and references to relevant literature, which are intended for tin producers or other tin mining stakeholders interested in improving OHS practices at the ASM level.
- Roadmap of Responsible Tin Operations in Indonesia: Provides a practical approach to realizing a responsible tin economy in Indonesia.
- Sustainable Land Reclamation Guide: Summary of resources and lessons learned that support communities and stakeholders considering the implementation of sustainable land reclamation practices.
Engage peers, industry organizations and stakeholders to develop, share and utilize tools and resources for responsible minerals sourcing.
For more information, please RMI@responsiblebusiness.org.
