Switzerland
Important principles: Life cycle approach, recycling/reusing of natural
resources and market transparency
Mining provides us with necessary natural resources for many of the products we
consume.
Consumption is only at the end of the supply chain and Switzerland therefore
supports business lead initiatives which address human rights and conflict related
issues in the whole supply chain of minerals. Among other theses initiatives include
the recent membership of Switzerland in the Voluntary Principles on Security and
Human Rights, an initiative of extractive industries to address human rights issues in
their security arrangements.
Though a Swiss mining industry is almost non existent, due to a lack of mineral
resources, which could be mined in a cost-effective way, Switzerland supports efforts
to address responsible finance and trading of minerals. In this regard Switzerland
partnered with the United Nations Principles on Responsible Investment (an investor
initiative in partnership with UNEP Finance Initiative and the UN Global Compact)1 in
Being a net importer of natural resources, mainly in the form of manufactured goods,
Switzerland is concerned about environmental and social problems caused over the
life cycle of such products. Environmental considerations and corporate social
responsibility principles, including the responsibility to respect human rights, should
to be introduced at each step of the life cycle of a product. In this regard Switzerland
supports efforts within the United Nations and the OECD to develop standards of
business due diligence for environmental, social and human rights standards.
Comprehensible, transparent and verifiable product-related information to evaluate
environmental impacts are necessary for consumers to base their decision on and
allow selecting the product, which is less harmful for the environment and society. In
other words: when there is more market transparency, consumers have a chance to
reward environmental and social considerations along the life cycle of a product,
including its extraction through mining.
Switzerland sees the growing trend of many countries to try to reach national selfsufficiency
in minerals with concern. This puts pressure on the other countries to do
the same, which further accelerates the process and leads to an even stronger
scarcity of natural resources.
Many natural resources are increasingly depleted, but the demand is growing. A
large share of the mineral resources, which will be needed in future are now stored in
infrastructures, factories, machines, cars, and other goods. Many of these resources
can be reused or recycled. To do so, it is necessary to have an inventory of the
amount of goods processed, to be able to identify the right operations and have
material preparation plants to recover those resources.
Through its bilateral development cooperation, Switzerland supports Sustainable
Artisanal Mining projects in development countries. The main goal of these initiatives
is to contribute to the development of responsible mining to ensure that artisanal
miners are recognized as responsible members of a key economic sub-sector
contributing to sustainable rural development. This can be done by correcting the
current mining practices, which cause severe environmental damage, social
problems and unacceptable livelihood conditions for the artisanal miners and their
families.
Together with the International Conference of the Great Lake Region, Switzerland
supports projects, aiming to de-link artisanal mining and the recourse curse of
conflict finance.
Finally, in the framework of the Kimberley Process (a joint governments, industry and
civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds)2, Switzerland supports the
Kimberley Trust Fund and partnered with the Canadian NGO ?Partnership Africa
Canada? in order to include human rights and labor issues in artisanal mining into
regional review processes.
resources and market transparency
Mining provides us with necessary natural resources for many of the products we
consume.
Consumption is only at the end of the supply chain and Switzerland therefore
supports business lead initiatives which address human rights and conflict related
issues in the whole supply chain of minerals. Among other theses initiatives include
the recent membership of Switzerland in the Voluntary Principles on Security and
Human Rights, an initiative of extractive industries to address human rights issues in
their security arrangements.
Though a Swiss mining industry is almost non existent, due to a lack of mineral
resources, which could be mined in a cost-effective way, Switzerland supports efforts
to address responsible finance and trading of minerals. In this regard Switzerland
partnered with the United Nations Principles on Responsible Investment (an investor
initiative in partnership with UNEP Finance Initiative and the UN Global Compact)1 in
Being a net importer of natural resources, mainly in the form of manufactured goods,
Switzerland is concerned about environmental and social problems caused over the
life cycle of such products. Environmental considerations and corporate social
responsibility principles, including the responsibility to respect human rights, should
to be introduced at each step of the life cycle of a product. In this regard Switzerland
supports efforts within the United Nations and the OECD to develop standards of
business due diligence for environmental, social and human rights standards.
Comprehensible, transparent and verifiable product-related information to evaluate
environmental impacts are necessary for consumers to base their decision on and
allow selecting the product, which is less harmful for the environment and society. In
other words: when there is more market transparency, consumers have a chance to
reward environmental and social considerations along the life cycle of a product,
including its extraction through mining.
Switzerland sees the growing trend of many countries to try to reach national selfsufficiency
in minerals with concern. This puts pressure on the other countries to do
the same, which further accelerates the process and leads to an even stronger
scarcity of natural resources.
Many natural resources are increasingly depleted, but the demand is growing. A
large share of the mineral resources, which will be needed in future are now stored in
infrastructures, factories, machines, cars, and other goods. Many of these resources
can be reused or recycled. To do so, it is necessary to have an inventory of the
amount of goods processed, to be able to identify the right operations and have
material preparation plants to recover those resources.
Through its bilateral development cooperation, Switzerland supports Sustainable
Artisanal Mining projects in development countries. The main goal of these initiatives
is to contribute to the development of responsible mining to ensure that artisanal
miners are recognized as responsible members of a key economic sub-sector
contributing to sustainable rural development. This can be done by correcting the
current mining practices, which cause severe environmental damage, social
problems and unacceptable livelihood conditions for the artisanal miners and their
families.
Together with the International Conference of the Great Lake Region, Switzerland
supports projects, aiming to de-link artisanal mining and the recourse curse of
conflict finance.
Finally, in the framework of the Kimberley Process (a joint governments, industry and
civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds)2, Switzerland supports the
Kimberley Trust Fund and partnered with the Canadian NGO ?Partnership Africa
Canada? in order to include human rights and labor issues in artisanal mining into
regional review processes.
Stakeholders