Policy & Governance
A publicly available policy, leadership accountability, documented procedures, competent personnel and retained records.
ETA Conflict-Free Minerals Certification
Responsible Minerals Sourcing Builds Stronger Supply Chains.
Demonstrate responsible sourcing through independent audits against the Ethical Trade Alliance (ETA) Conflict-Free Minerals Standard. Blue Wolf Certifications assesses the policies, due diligence and controls that help organizations identify and address risks in their mineral supply chains.
INDEPENDENT AUDITS
Conducted by Blue Wolf Certifications
PRACTICAL STANDARD
Designed for organizations and supply chains
RISK-BASED DUE DILIGENCE
Proportionate to identified sourcing risks
ETA CERTIFICATION
Certificates issued by Ethical Trade Alliance
STAKEHOLDER CONFIDENCE
Demonstrate responsible sourcing controls
Responsible sourcing
Conflict-Free Minerals Certification
The ETA Conflict-Free Minerals Standard sets requirements for preventing, identifying and remediating mineral sourcing that finances or fuels armed conflict, particularly in conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
It provides an auditable framework for responsible mineral sourcing, covering policy commitments, management accountability, supplier due diligence, risk mitigation, grievance channels, corrective action, transparency and internal inspections.
Blue Wolf conducts the independent assessment. ETA is responsible for issuing certification following its applicable certification process.
What the Standard Assesses
Supplier Risk Screening
Risk assessments based on geography, mineral type, supplier practices, sourcing history and known incidents.
Risk-Based Due Diligence
Low-, medium- and high-risk suppliers receive proportionate assessment, evidence review and, where required, audits.
Grievance & Remediation
Accessible reporting channels, incident investigation, corrective action and verification of improvement.
Legal & Reporting Controls
Identification of applicable legal obligations, tracking of outcomes and at least annual public communication.
Internal Inspections
Independent, competent inspections of relevant sites, records, procurement and mineral sourcing controls.
Who Should Consider Certification?
Organizations that mine, process, trade, purchase or use minerals, as well as manufacturers and other buyers with mineral-related supply chain exposure. The required due diligence is shaped by actual risk, not simply organization size.
How the Audit Process Works
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- Define scope: identify relevant operations, mineral inputs and supplier relationships.
- Review readiness: confirm policies, risk registers, due diligence and records are available.
- Independent audit: Blue Wolf evaluates implementation against ETA requirements, including relevant sampling and inspections.
- Address findings: provide corrective action evidence where needed.
- ETA certification: ETA determines and issues certification under its program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues the Conflict-Free Minerals certificate?
The Ethical Trade Alliance issues certificates. Blue Wolf Certifications performs the independent audits against the ETA standard.
Does certification guarantee every mineral is conflict-free?
No. Certification provides independent assessment of the organization’s management controls and due diligence against the standard. It is not an absolute guarantee that risks do not exist.
Do high-risk suppliers need to be audited?
The standard calls for third-party or on-site audits, or recognized equivalent responsible minerals assurance, for entities classified as high risk, alongside appropriate corrective action and monitoring.
Does the standard only apply to mines?
No. It applies to relevant operations and supply chains, including procurement and use of minerals in products.
Is this the same as an OECD or regulatory certification?
No. It is an ETA certification standard aligned with recognized responsible minerals sourcing frameworks, including OECD guidance. It should not be presented as OECD-issued certification or as a guarantee of legal compliance.
Demonstrate Responsible Minerals Sourcing
Talk with Blue Wolf about an independent audit against the ETA Conflict-Free Minerals Standard.