Responding to market demand, the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (QMEA) sought to implement a standard to assess responsible development in the mineral exploration industry.
The Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) created the standard to promote the application of environmental, social and economic best practices. Once the standard was finalized, UL Solutions integrated it into the UL ECOLOGO® certification program.
The standard is applicable to any company that carries out mineral exploration and wishes to be recognized for their application of sustainable development practices. Compliance with the requirements of a standard promotes strategic planning and risk management. Certified companies are better prepared in the event of legislative changes and benefit from better relations with the various stakeholders, which promotes the social acceptability of projects and helps reduce operational lead times.
The certification program is tailored to the mineral development process, which involves two main stages of work with varying degrees of impact on the environment and communities: mineral exploration and mineral deposit appraisal. However, the requirements of the standard may vary depending on the nature of the work carried out by the company. Full audits occur every three years and involve a desktop review and field verifications. The scope and duration of audits vary depending on the type of company (small/large/service provider) and level of preparedness.
A trusted name in third-party testing and certification for over 100 years in Canada, UL Solutions is responsible for UL ECOLOGO® Certification. It is a science-based testing, inspection and certification company with expertise in standards development and certification. UL Solutions’ third-party certifications demonstrate the integrity of claims and can add value to your brand.