News

Metals wholesaler MCB signed the IRBC Agreement for the Metals Sector. By acceding to the agreement, the company aims to further professionalise the actions it is already taking to reduce its impact on the environment. MCB is the first metals wholesaler to join the agreement, after metal processors and recyclers already joined. This marks the next step in realizing a responsible metal chain.

The IRBC Agreement for the metals sector commences a collective project to address labour rights violations and health and safety risks in the mining industry in Bolivia and Peru. Project leader CNV Internationaal works on this together with Tata Steel Nederland and Wuppermann Staal Nederland. The project has a duration of two years.

Parties to the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector look back on a challenging year. International developments such as the war in Ukraine and rising energy prices had a major impact on the sector. The urgency to realise responsible metals value chains is felt by the Parties to the Agreement, as is apparent from the annual report 2021-2022.

How do you work together on due diligence in the metals sector? And what challenges and opportunities does this bring? During a working visit to the A&M Group (A&M Recycling and In2Waste Solutions), the parties to the Metals Agreement discussed this with each other.

The 15th OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains will take place on 2-6 May 2022. CNV International and other members of the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector will be organising an official partner session during the Forum. The side event offers the opportunity the learn more about a multi-stakeholder approach to identify and mitigate the hidden risks of the global energy transition in key mining supply chains.

The International RBC Agreement for the Metals sector launches a new online due diligence tool for companies. This allows companies to meet their due diligence obligations, monitor progress and improve their processes in an easy way.

The parties to the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector are investigating the health and safety risks for miners in Peru, Bolivia and Colombia. Among others, silver, copper, zinc, lead and molybdenum are extracted in these mines for Dutch companies.

Gooimeer, trader and supplier of steel sheet piles, has signed the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector. By signing the agreement, the company wants to create more awareness among its own employees and in the industry.

Companies that participate in the international RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector have made progress in the second year despite COVID-19 restrictions. This can be read in the annual report 2020-2021 of the agreement. For example, more companies are making use of the due diligence tools and international RBC is increasingly being incorporated into policy and management systems. The agreement also welcomed five new participants last year.

Prof. dr. Tineke Lambooy is the new chairperson of the International RBC Agreement for the Metals Sector. In the agreement, metal companies, NGOs, trade unions and the government work together to tackle and prevent abuses in the field of human rights and the environment in the metal chains.