Applicability and validation of the CERA application matrix to analyse the potential impact of copper on sustainability using a simulated case study

Abstract

In recent decades, the interest in the responsible production of mineral resources has been growing due to legislative pressure or increasing media reporting on human rights violations and environmental issues related to mining. Customers are increasingly factoring ethical aspects into their purchasing decisions, which in turn leads to increased interest of manufacturers regarding the sustainability of their suppliers. Consequently, mining companies are increasingly seeking to ensure sustainability to obtain a competitive advantage. The rising demand in sustainability lead to the development of various third-party initiatives and certification schemes within the mining industry. Companies are confronted with the complexity and diversity and the growing costs due to investigations and implementations of various schemes, that technically overlap in many features.

The Certification of Raw Materials (CERA) confronts the diversification within existing schemes and intends to become an all-encompassing standard. For that purpose, CERA developed the Application matrix that resembles a commodity specific database. The present thesis strives to evaluate the concept of the Application matrix for applicability and completeness using copper as an example.

On the basis of a two-folded vulnerability analysis, targeting the structure and the content, the applicability and completeness of the initial matrix was refuted. Supplementary, the shortcomings and deficiencies were eliminated and the applicability, as well as the completeness in the context of copper was demonstrated with the adapted matrix. The compiled results were able to provide an evaluation of the necessity of certification for copper, which was affirmed.