Bettercoal launches revised Assurance System for responsible Coal Mining
Bettercoal launched today its fully revised Assurance System which supports the delivery of the Bettercoal Standard. This is based on the Bettercoal Code which assesses the performance of coal mining companies and is designed to foster a global responsible coal supply chain.
This new, robust and transparent process is the result of a comprehensive two-year review period led by Bettercoal Members and the multi-stakeholder Technical & Advisory Committee.
The new Assessment Process consists of five steps and includes an obligation to undergo a Site-Assessment as well as regular reporting on continuous improvement. This new system aims to reflect:
- A strong commitment made by coal producers from the outset, including clear deadlines;
- Mandatory Site-Assessment and reporting on Continuous Improvement;
- Clear guidelines for Bettercoal Members’ involvement in the process to avoid duplication of effort;
- Clear claims for coal producers joining the Bettercoal Assessment Process and use in marketing materials;
- New Policy of Association and clear guidelines for disassociation.
One of the most significant changes in the Assessment Process is the publication of summary results of the assessments which will be available on the Bettercoal website.
Bettercoal Executive Director Anne-Claire Howard said:
“Bettercoal was founded over five years ago and it was important for the initiative to take on board the feedback received during those five years. Reviewing, modernising and improving the rigour and quality of our Assessment Process was crucial to the credibility of our organisation.
Bettercoal and its Members recognise the role coal still plays in our economy through its multiple uses as a source of energy for electricity generation, steel and cement manufacturing and other processes. It was essential for buyers and producers of coal to have a credible, internationally recognised standard they could rely on to manage the risks in their supply chain.
We are proud to have worked with our multi-stakeholder advisory group to further enhance the credibility of our standard and ensure that we can contribute to a responsible global coal supply chain.”
The new documents that support the revised Assurance System and that are available in English on the Bettercoal website as of today, are:
- Assessment Manual (versions in Russian and Spanish are soon to be published)
- Bettercoal Code (including a new Preface)
- Bettercoal Code Review Procedure
- Claims & Logo Use Guide
- Country Prioritisation 2018
- Lead Assessor Application Form
- Lead Assessor Allocation Procedures
- Lead Assessor Approval Process & Criteria
- Policy of Association
