Which minerals are included in responsible sourcing and SCIP reporting requirements?

Responsible minerals programs traditionally focused on the “conflict minerals” (3TGs):TantalumTinTungstenGoldToday, regulators and customers also expect due diligence on extended minerals linked to human rights and sustainability risks:CobaltCopperGraphiteLithiumMicaNickelCompanies should expand their responsible minerals sourcing program to cover both conflict and extended minerals.

How can I identify which suppliers are in scope for a responsible minerals sourcing program?

Not every supplier must be contacted. To determine scope:Focus on suppliers providing products that contain conflict or extended minerals.Exclude service providers (e.g., legal, accounting) and non-relevant goods (e.g., janitorial supplies, wood, plastics).Collaborate with procurement and engineering teams to confirm which suppliers are material to consumer-facing goods.A scoped supplier list makes responsible minerals due diligence more efficient and avoids unnecessary outreach.

Which compliance standards and reporting templates apply to responsible minerals sourcing?

Global frameworks and tools that guide compliance include:OECD Due Diligence Guidance (the international standard for responsible sourcing programs)Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) for 3TG reportingExtended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT) for cobalt, lithium, and other extended mineralsAligning your program with these standards ensures consistency with regulatory expectations.

What are the biggest challenges when engaging suppliers on mineral sourcing?

The most common challenges include:Finding the right contact: Procurement lists often contain sales emails, not compliance contacts.Educating suppliers: Some may be unfamiliar with conflict or extended minerals requirements.Managing volume: Large supplier networks make manual follow-up inefficient.Clear outreach — with instructions, deadlines, and links to templates — increases response rates and supplier accuracy.

How can technology support responsible minerals sourcing compliance?

Technology simplifies supplier engagement, tracking, and reporting by:Automating supplier outreach and data collectionCentralizing supplier responses in one platformFlagging risks tied to smelters or specific mineralsReducing manual follow-up and repetitive requestsEnsuring compliance programs adapt to evolving regulationsSolutions such as Assent’s sustainability platform help compliance teams reduce administrative workload while keeping programs aligned with SCIP and conflict minerals reporting requirements.

What is supply chain sustainability?

Supply chain sustainability is the practice of reducing environmental and social risks across every stage of the supply chain. It looks at where materials come from, how they are produced, and how suppliers operate, with the goal of building resilience and long-term business growth.

Why is sustainable supply chain management important?

Sustainable supply chain management helps protect businesses from disruptions, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. It also improves efficiency, strengthens supplier relationships, and supports responsible sourcing to ensure products can be sold in global markets.

What are the key elements of a sustainable supply chain?

A sustainable supply chain addresses:Environmental impacts such as emissions, waste, and resource use.Social responsibility including safe working conditions, fair labor practices, and human rights.Strong governance practices like supplier codes of conduct and ethical business standards.

How does supply chain sustainability software help?

Supply chain sustainability software simplifies the process of collecting supplier data, monitoring risks, and keeping up with changing regulations. It streamlines supplier engagement, reduces reporting fatigue, and gives companies visibility into risks that could otherwise remain hidden.

How can a company begin improving supply chain sustainability?

The first steps are to document goals, identify applicable regulations, and set clear requirements for suppliers through codes of conduct and data requests. Many companies also partner with sustainability solution providers to gain expertise, implement software, and ensure programs scale effectively.

Responsible Minerals Initiative Releases CRT 2.2

The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) released the Cobalt Reporting Template (CRT) 2.2 in October, continuing its commitment to keeping its cobalt reporting standards up to date and fixing bugs as they arise. This will help any company evaluate their smelters to determine the origin of their minerals.

Version 2.2 of the CRT was released on October 28. The template can be implemented immediately to fix a few issues and keep your smelter information up to date, allowing you to mitigate reputational risk more effectively and show ongoing progress in your disclosures.

The latest version includes updates to the Smelter Reference List, including:

Corrections to reported bugs on the “Smelter List” tab.
Updates to the Smelter Look-up List and Standard Smelter List.
Updated ISO codes.

This update comes as companies continue to expand their conflict minerals programs to account for a responsible mindset. This means evaluating all minerals in the supply chain — not just tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and surrounding countries — to ensure they aren’t associated with human rights violations.

This will likely be the last update RMI publishes this year. It had recently made the Mica Reporting Template (MRT) available.

How Assent Helps Companies Source Responsibly

Assent helps companies mitigate conflict minerals risk by deploying industry standard templates, including the CRT and Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT), through our platform technology. We also support companies as they work to report on their due diligence efforts.

Contact our responsible minerals sourcing experts for more information about cobalt due diligence, leveraging the CRT to get supplier information, and how Assent can support your CMRT and CRT programs.

Jared Connors

Director, Regulatory & Sustainability

Jared is focused on helping companies achieve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals through increased understanding and mitigation of risk. His 12 years of leadership in human rights, anti-bribery Read More

Jared Connors | Director, Regulatory & Sustainability

Jared is focused on helping companies achieve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals through increased understanding and mitigation of risk. His 12 years of leadership in human rights, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, and environmental issues help him guide companies into new areas of co...