German automaker BMW has joined the Initiative for responsible mining assurance (The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance IRMA), making it the first automobile company to sign an agreement with the organization whose goal is to promote environmentally and socially responsible supply chains in the mining industry.
the Initiative for responsible mining (IRMA) is an industry Association which aims to bring the performance of mine sites and quarries in accordance with the standards of responsible mining owns and operates mines in compliance with the best practices of the mining industry.
these include the health and safety of workers, human rights, community participation, pollution control, mining minerals in areas affected by conflict, indigenous rights, transparency in revenue payments from companies to governments and land reclamation.
IRMA was founded in 2006 by a group of non-governmental organizations, resource companies, community representatives and trade unions. It includes such companies as Microsoft, Tiffany &Co, trade unions IndustriALL and the United Steelworkers, as well as mining companies Anglo American and ArcelorMittal.
"Sustainable development is an important aspect of our corporate strategy, and we fully recognize our responsibility in the value chain of mineral resources", - said a member of the Board of Directors BMW Andreas Wendt, who is responsible for procurement and supply chain.
"For the BMW Group and its stakeholders it is essential that environmental and social standards are respected throughout the value chain. We believe that the IRMA, with its ambitious certification standard, will promote increase of responsibility in global value chains and improve environmental and social performance".
