JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – London- and Johannesburg-listed diversified mining company Anglo American has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation to collaborate on the creation of a copper product offering that responds to growing demand for metals with demonstrably strong provenance credentials.

Mitsubishi Materials is a global manufacturer of copper and other non-ferrous metal materials, cemented carbide tools, and electronic components.

The collaboration will focus on driving traceability across copper’s fragmented value chain, with the aim of identifying and measuring sustainability indicators that industry stakeholders and end customers deem most relevant and valuable.

By using technology-driven traceability solutions, the two companies will work together to provide such stakeholders with secure access to relevant product provenance information.

Anglo and Mitsubishi will also explore decarbonisation opportunities to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the metal provided to customers.

Anglo base metals marketing executive head Paul Ward highlighted his company’s forging of long-term collaborations with customers across key geographies.

These build on well-established commercial relationships to extend the impact of the London- and Johannesburg-listed company’s commitment to create ethical value chains for its products beyond its own mining operations.

“Consumers around the world are increasingly asking that their purchases come with greater assurance of sustainable production,” Ward stated in a release to Mining Weekly.

Anglo’s work with Mitsubishi aims to accelerate efforts to increase provenance visibility for materials used in some of the key technologies for modern life and to improve living standards for a growing global population through sustainable socio-economic development.  

Mitsubishi managing executive officer responsible for sustainable development Nobuhiro Takayanagi outlined his company’s commitment to people, society and the earth, and the circulation of resources for a sustainable future.

“We will build a connected system of metal resources based on our strengths and realise growth throughout the value chain by expanding the scope, regions, and scale of our operations,” Takayanagi stated.

Through cooperation with Anglo, Mitsubishi will promote efforts to ensure transparency of product information.