BETTERCOAL LAUNCHES 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Published on October 4, 2024

We are pleased to announce the launch of our 2023 Annual Report, a year marked by significant organisational transformation and progress.

In 2023, Bettercoal took an important step forward, transitioning into the Responsible Commodities Sourcing Initiative (RECOSI), with the Bettercoal Programme now operating under the RECOSI umbrella. This transition reflects our expanding focus beyond coal. The foundations for this evolution were built on Bettercoal’s decade-long experience managing a rigorous international standard for coal supply chains, with RECOSI guided by the 12 principles of the Bettercoal Code, covering environmental, social and governance issues.

The year also saw the continued progress of the Bettercoal Programme. More assessments took place, for example in South Africa, and for the first time we published a full report on a Continuous Improvement Plan site verification. The Bettercoal Programme has also made significant advances in our assurance processes. With input from our multi-stakeholder Technical and Advisory Committee, we completed a review of our assessment manual, ensuring greater alignment with our standards and international best practices. This was accompanied by the development of updated assessor training modules and the initial steps towards a methodology for recognising other programmes.

Our team also participated in several key events, including the Colombian Minnig Congress, where we joined discussions in the importance of standards and third-party verification in mining. These in-person interactions have proven invaluable in shaping how we address issues and ensure continued improvement.

The progress made throughout the year would not have been possible without the dedication of our Members, the producers committed to continuous improvement, the expertise of our Lead Assessors, and the open dialogue with stakeholders across the supply chain. We look forward to continuing this work together.