Major Changes Are Imminent for the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template

Many companies are familiar with the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) and its role in helping them meet legal obligations for sourcing tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold (3TG). This standardized tool, developed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), aids companies in gathering and disclosing information on their supply chain’s sourcing of these minerals. The CMRT supports due diligence efforts, ensuring alignment with regulations such as the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act, which mandates that publicly traded companies report on conflict mineral sourcing, and the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation. By creating the CMRT, the RMI has streamlined the data collection process, providing a uniform survey format that simplifies reporting across industries.

Building on the CMRT, the RMI also introduced the Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT). This tool includes cobalt and mica—two additional minerals linked to ethical and environmental concerns. Recently, the RMI announced that it will launch EMRT 2.0 in April 2025, expanding the template to include four new minerals: copper, graphite, lithium, and nickel. EMRT 2.0 will also feature an optional tab for mine-level facility details, a response to updates in the EU Battery Regulation, which now requires companies to conduct due diligence on battery suppliers sourcing these minerals.

Some companies will need to go beyond the scope of the CMRT and EMRT, whether to proactively address all potential conflicts or to comply with specific requests. To meet this need, the RMI launched the Pilot Reporting Template (PRT) in 2022. This customizable, blank version of the CMRT allows companies to define reporting fields for any minerals of interest, enhancing supplier engagement and transparency with a familiar, adaptable format.

Following the success of the pilot template, the RMI officially adopted and renamed the PRT the Additional Minerals Reporting Template (AMRT). Released on October 4, 2024, the AMRT is now an established tool and includes German language support, broadening accessibility.

Because of the ethical, environmental, and regulatory implications involved in mining and sourcing practices, reporting on mineral usage is critical. Minerals are foundational to a wide range of industries, from electronics and automotive to aerospace, healthcare, and energy. However, their extraction often comes with significant challenges. In many regions, mining activities are linked to human rights abuses, including child labor, forced labor, and hazardous working conditions. By requiring transparency through mineral reporting, companies can take proactive steps to ensure they are not inadvertently supporting these unethical practices.

Beyond meeting regulatory standards, companies that prioritize responsible mineral sourcing enhance their brand reputation, build consumer trust, and attract socially conscious investors. As the demand for transparency and corporate social responsibility (CSR) grows, mineral reporting helps companies demonstrate their commitment to ethical business practices. Ultimately, by holding suppliers to higher standards and regularly assessing their own sourcing policies, companies contribute to a more sustainable and socially responsible global economy.