Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) Assessment Services

Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) Assessment Services

Independent IRMA assessments to help mining operations demonstrate responsible performance, enhance transparency, and meet stakeholder expectations. 

Whether you are preparing for your first IRMA assessment, seeking to improve an existing achievement level, or getting ready for the upcoming IRMA Standard v2.0, ERM CVS provides independent third-party assessment services aligned with IRMA requirements.

Talk to an IRMA specialist

 

Why IRMA Matters 

Mining companies face increasing expectations from investors, customers, communities, Indigenous Peoples, regulators, and downstream purchasers to demonstrate responsible mining practices. 

An IRMA assessment provides an independent evaluation of your mine site's performance across environmental, social, governance, and operational criteria, helping build confidence in your responsible mining commitments.

Benefits of an IRMA Assessment 

  • Demonstrate commitment to responsible mining practices 
  • Improve transparency and stakeholder trust 
  • Benchmark performance against the IRMA Standard 
  • Support responsible sourcing requirements
  • Strengthen ESG and sustainability reporting efforts 
  • Identify opportunities for continual improvement 

Stakeholder Resources  

In accordance with IRMA requirements, assessment of information and opportunities for stakeholder participation are publicly available.

IRMA Audit Announcements 

View current and upcoming IRMA assessment announcements for ERM CVS led assessments: https://www.erm.com/ermcvs/services/sector-specific-certification-schemes/irma-audit-announcements/

IRMA Stakeholder Feedback Form 

Provide your feedback and submit information relevant to an ongoing IRMA assessment: https://www.erm.com/ermcvs/services/sector-specific-certification-schemes/irma-stakeholder-feedback-form/

Find out more about IRMA 

Results of IRMA assessments are publicly available on the IRMA website (https://responsiblemining.net/), allowing interested parties to understand how the mine scored against each of the over 400 requirements of the IRMA standard. 

Our IRMA Assessment Services

IRMA Readiness Reviews

Understand your organization's readiness for an IRMA assessment and identify opportunities for improvement before beginning the formal evaluation process. ERM CVS conducts independent readiness reviews to help mining operations assess alignment with IRMA requirements, identify potential gaps, prioritize corrective actions, and prepare teams for assessment activities. A proactive approach can help streamline the assessment process and support stronger performance outcomes.

Independent IRMA Assessments

Demonstrate responsible mining performance through an independent third-party IRMA assessment. ERM CVS evaluates mine-site performance against the IRMA Standard, providing a transparent and credible assessment of environmental, social, governance, and operational practices. Independent assessments help strengthen stakeholder confidence, support responsible sourcing expectations, and enable organizations to communicate verified achievement levels with confidence.

Renewals and Achievement Improvements

Organizations seeking to improve existing IRMA achievement levels can benefit from reassessment activities that evaluate progress and verify performance improvements. ERM CVS supports mining companies through independent reassessments that help demonstrate continual improvement, maintain stakeholder confidence, and track progress against responsible mining objectives. This process provides valuable insight into performance trends and opportunities for further advancement.

Why Choose ERM CVS?

ERM CVS combines independent assurance expertise with deep knowledge of sustainability and the mining sector.

Experienced assessors with mining and ESG expertise

Independent and impartial assessment processes

Global delivery capabilities

Robust stakeholder engagement approaches

Consistent methodologies aligned with IRMA requirements

Support across multiple jurisdictions and mine sites

Prepare for IRMA Standard v2.0 

IRMA Standard v2.0 is the proposed next version of the IRMA Standard and is expected to broaden applicability across different stages of mineral development, from exploration through extraction and processing. 

Organizations that begin preparing now may be better positioned to:

Understand proposed new requirements

Identify potential compliance gaps

Plan future improvement initiatives

Reduce transition challenges

Strengthen long-term responsible mining strategies

Frequently Asked Questions

Does IRMA provide assurance? Hide

IRMA is a voluntary Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance which aims to increase transparency and improve the environmental and social performance of mining operations. IRMA uses an independent third-party assessment system to evaluate performance at the mine-site level. It is not a conventional pass-or-fail certification system. It is therefore more accurate to refer to an IRMA assessment, audit or verified achievement level rather than describing a site as “IRMA certified.” 

What is IRMA Standard v2.0? Hide

IRMA Standard v2.0 is the proposed next version of the IRMA Standard. It is expected to expand the standard’s applicability across different stages of mineral development, from exploration through extraction and processing. While the revision remains underway, ERM CVS can help organizations review proposed requirements, identify potential gaps and prepare future changes. 

What is an IRMA assessment? Hide

An IRMA assessment is an independent evaluation of a mining operation against the IRMA Standard's environmental, social, governance, and operational requirements. 

Who can undergo an IRMA assessment? Hide

Mining operations seeking independent verification of responsible mining performance can participate in the IRMA assessment process. 

How long does an IRMA assessment take? Hide

The timeline depends on factors such as site complexity, operational scope, readiness, and stakeholder engagement requirements. 

Ready to Start Your IRMA Assessment? 

Whether you are exploring IRMA for the first time, preparing for an assessment, or evaluating the implications of IRMA Standard v2.0, our team can help you determine the next steps. 

Contact ERM CVS