The Finnish Network for Sustainable Mining is a cooperation forum for mining and exploration companies as well as interest groups of the sector. The network aims to share information and experiences and develop more responsible mining and exploration practices in Finland.

The companies that have committed to the Finnish Standard for Sustainable Exploration prepared in 2016 and updated between 2018 and 2021 adhere to operating principles that are sustainable in terms of environmental, social and economic performance. Sustainable exploration covers the entire lifecycle of exploration from the planning to after-care. The standard for sustainable exploration provides companies with concrete instructions for sustainable operations at each stage of exploration. The Standard is also used to assess performance and verify member companies’ commitment to the common ground rules.The Finnish Standard for Sustainable Exploration consists of common operating principles and three assessment tools which cover the entire lifecycle of exploration stage-by-stage.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The Finnish Standard for Sustainable Exploration includes guiding principles that the companies committed to the standard for sustainable exploration follow at all stages of exploration. The guiding principles of The Finnish Standard for Sustainable Exploration are listed below.

1. The operations of the companies are transparent.
2. The companies will adhere to best practices in exploration and commit to the continuous improvement of their operations.
3. The companies will minimise any negative impacts of their operations on local communities, the environment and biodiversity.
4. The companies will respect the surrounding community and its culture and ways of life.
5. The companies will engage in active dialogue with their communities of interest and involve these in the development of the principles for sustainable exploration.
6. The companies will not jeopardise the health and safety of their employees or local communities.
7. The companies will complete any after-care measures of their exploration activities responsibly.

ASSESSMENT TOOLS

Exploration companies can assess, monitor and improve their performance by using three assessment tools. The assessment tools include:

1. Community relationships
2. Environment
3. Safety

SELF-ASSESSMENT

The sustainability of exploration is assessed with the help of self-assessment of The Standard for Sustainable Exploration. The companies committed to the Standard for Sustainable Exploration carry out the self-assessment annually. The purpose of self-assessment is to direct companies in the planning and implementation of entities related to sustainable exploration.

Self-assessment of The Standard for Sustainable Exploration acts as a good tool for exploration companies operating in Finland, in developing sustainability, but also as a guide in the operations of companies starting in Finland. The result of self-assessment gives a concrete evaluation of the sustainability of operations and instructs towards development of operations in the various subareas of exploration sustainability.

The self-assessment is performed by answering the questions posed in the assessment tools.

VERIFYING THE RESULTS

The results of the self-assessment of The Standard for Sustainable Exploration are verified every three years. Only those who have been approved by the Network can act as verifiers. The verification process has been created to ensure consistent, accurate and transparent self-assessment reporting by the companies committed to The Standard for Sustainable Exploration.

Read more about Sustainable Exploration and the Guiding Principles→