standards setting

In a changing compliance landscape, the task of the standards-setting organisation is particularly challenging. Creating standards that are both fit for purpose and that hold up to industry scrutiny requires a unique set of skills.

TDI works with standards-setting organisations, certifiers, multi-stakeholder groups, and industry associations in a wide range of sectors. We build effective and innovative due diligence, assurance and certification systems that set the environmental, social and governance performance standards for producers and suppliers.

We offer a comprehensive, customised and well-crafted set of services for standard-setting organisations, and we’ll work with you to decide what combination of products is right for your organisation. We can help you with:

Standards development: Creating standard principles, provisions and technical requirements and all associated guidance.

Development of related materials: Development of assurance system elements and associated protocols, claims guidance and logo use, and grievance mechanisms and policies.

Benchmarking and equivalence: Ensuring that your standards harmonize with and don’t unnecessarily duplicate existing sustainability frameworks.

Training: Providing ongoing training on your standard and assurance system to assessors, suppliers and team members.

Data management solutions: Development of online and cloud-based due diligence systems and auditing platforms.

Assheton Carter and the Dragonfly Initiative team have been a significant boost to our company, helping us achieve RJC certification - the first ever mine to have chain of custody certification - enabling our continuing business relationships with luxury brands and jewellers, and building our business through good times and bad. The breadth of knowledge, and quality of deliverables is outstanding, and their willingness to adapt and try new things extraordinarily refreshing. We would not work with anyone else.

-Daniela Colaiacovo, Director & Guiseppe Colaiacovo, CEO-

Goldlake Group

Standards, Supply Chain and Best Practice Initiatives - project examples

For further project examples see our Responsible Sourcing, Sustainable Supply Chains and Partnerships page.

‘Bettergold-for-ASM’, Colombia-Peru-Bolivia and Multiple Brands and Refineries

We are part of the implementing team, led by Projekt Consult, with a four-year mandate from SECO and in partnership with the Swiss Bettergold Gold Association, to significantly scale the volume of gold from responsible gold ASM in the Andes. The project includes extensive field-presence to build a robust pipeline that is fronted by our strategic partners, Projekt Consult, and the building and implementation of a market-ready standard and due diligence system, the principal responsibility of TDI. We are engaging 19 mining operations in the region and ensuring that they meet the standards and expectations of the Swiss gold market, including a smooth route to market.

Fairphone, Mineral Risk Profiles

TDI has worked with Fairphone to conduct a high level analysis of 38 materials typically found within smartphones, in order to help Fairphone to prioritise the materials they should next engage in their endeavor to build fairer supply chains. TDI developed a set of criteria to help Fairphone prioritise which material supply chains they could engage with. Based on these criteria, TDI evaluated 38 different materials used in the production of smartphones. The project report is publicly available and can be downloaded from the Fairphone website.

TDI supports many other businesses in different sectors to bring more clarity into the issues surrounding the various materials used in their products and help companies decide on which to focus in the years ahead by producing a series of Risk & Opportunity Profiles (ROPES.) Each Profile employs a high-level screening methodology that applies selected risk and opportunity criteria to targeted materials critical to the companies in question.

Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)

TDI worked with IRMA to test the draft versions of the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining at underground platinum mines. TDI used its assurance model and standard setting experience to review suggested assurance system, analyse means of verification to be used by assessors and determine whether the IRMA Standard requirements were auditable as well as providing feedback to IRMA on how the draft Standard versions, means of verification and scoring system needed to be refined prior to finalization of the Standard and launch of the IRMA System.

Equitable Origin

With the CEO and President of this innovative social enterprise the TDI team wrote and brought to market the EO100 social and environmental standard for oil and gas development. TDI has now formally partnered with EO on their path to fostering responsible development of energy sources.

The EO100™ Standard for Responsible Energy is a set of rigorous performance standards for energy development projects. The EO100™ Standard is the product of extensive consultation with the energy industry, leading international NGOs focused on energy, and indigenous communities affected by development projects. It establishes metrics and performance targets that address the social and environmental impacts of energy development. The Standard also incorporates a variety of related social and environmental initiatives, standards, conventions and declarations.

Contact Soledad Mills smills@TDIStrategies.com

standards setting

Standards, Supply Chain and Best Practice Initiatives - project examples

The Dragonfly Initiative