Shaping the future of responsible mineral credits — help us build version 1.0
Over the past two years, a consortium of mining, civil society, and technology organisations has developed a draft framework for book-and-claim credit schemes that can be adapted across different minerals and regions. We’re now opening the draft for public consultation before publishing version 1.0 in September.
Your input will help shape how this framework works in practice.
What we’re consulting on
The draft framework sets out how a responsible mineral credits scheme can be designed and run — who should be involved, how credits are created and sold, how the money raised is spent, how claims are made, and how the system is checked. It draws on lessons learned from the Fair Cobalt Alliance’s pilot cobalt credit scheme in the Democratic Republic of Congo and from similar book-and-claim schemes in other sectors such as renewable energy, palm oil, sugar, and carbon.
Alongside the framework, we are also gathering feedback on Oreka, a digital platform being developed to support credit issuance and sales. You can give feedback on the framework, the platform, or both.
The draft is available in English, French, and Spanish. You don’t need to read the whole document to take part — feedback on specific sections is very welcome.
Why your input matters
This is a living framework. Version 1.0 is the starting point, not the final word. The feedback we receive during this consultation will directly shape the published version, and anything we can’t incorporate now will feed future versions.
We’re particularly interested in hearing from:
- Mining organisations, cooperatives, and miner representatives
- Companies that might buy credits
- Civil society and non-governmental organisations
- Standard-setting and assurance bodies
- Regulators and policymakers
- Anyone with experience of book-and-claim schemes in other sectors
How to take part
A one-hour public launch webinar opens the consultation. We will introduce the framework, walk through how the consultation works, and take questions. The session is held with simultaneous interpretation between English, French, and Spanish so that you can take part in your language. If you cannot attend live, the recording and slides will be posted here after the event.
The form takes around 10 to 25 minutes depending on how much you want to share. Every question is optional. You can respond to the whole framework or focus only on the parts that matter to you.
If you’d like to discuss the draft in more depth, one of the consortium partners will be happy to arrange a conversation. Tell us a bit about yourself and which topics you’d like to focus on, and we’ll match you with the right person.
We’re hosting several group consultation calls over the consultation period, in English, Spanish, and French, organised around different audiences. Sign up to be invited to one that suits you.
The consortium will be at the EPRM annual member meeting in June, with a dedicated side session open to anyone who wants to discuss the framework or the platform in person. Details will be posted here closer to the date.
How your feedback will be handled
Feedback is collected under the Chatham House Rule. This means we may use what you tell us, but we will not attribute your views to you or your organisation without your explicit written permission. If you would like to be acknowledged as a contributing organisation in the final publication, you can indicate that in the form.
At the end of the consultation we will publish a short response document alongside version 1.0 explaining what we heard and how it shaped the final framework.
| TIMELINE | |
| 24 June 2026 | Kick-off webinar (one hour, with simultaneous interpretation in EN, FR, ES) |
| 24 June 2026 | Consultation opens |
| 6 August 2026 | Consultation closes |
| August – September 2026 | Feedback consolidation and editorial work |
| September 2026 | Version 1.0 published |
About the consortium
This framework is being developed by a consortium funded by the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM) under project EPRM23S014
- The Impact Facility (TIF) and Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) — project lead; responsible mining improvement work in the DRC
- Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) — Fairmined standard and ASM market access in Latin America and globally
- Fairphone — ethical electronics manufacturer and downstream consortium partner
- CMDS (Coopérative Minière pour le Développement Social) — partner mining cooperative at Kamilombe, DRC
- Datastake — technology partner for the Oreka digital platform
Contact
For any questions the channels above don’t answer, please email [email protected] or contact David Sturmes-Verbeek [[email protected]] for this consultation.