Summary
This report is a starting point of an applied research project exploring the effectiveness of certification schemes in the mineral industry and the role of sustainability schemes in improving standards for responsible mining. Different schemes catering to different domains must be effective, transparent and accountable to their goals and aims in order to succeed. The literature recommends the development of more empirical studies on the effectiveness of sustainability certification. There are several differences in the 15 schemes examined in this paper in the mineral industry. The differences reflect the history of the scheme, the unique geographic, industry, technology and demographic characteristics of the entities under certification, the level of transparency and accountability, and the stage of maturity or time since establishment of the initiative.