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Montreal, Canada - Customers purchasing iron ore pellets and concentrate from Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) can now access detailed information on how their products are sourced and produced through START™, Rio Tinto’s flagship traceability program. The initiative offers independently verified data on specific environmental and social indicators, supporting customers in improving transparency and reporting on their sourcing practices.
IOC’s high-grade iron ore, with low impurity levels, enables more efficient steelmaking. It joins a growing list of Rio Tinto products available through START, including aluminium, copper cathode, salt, metal powders, and high-purity pig iron (HPPI). This expansion reinforces Rio Tinto’s commitment to improving accountability across the materials critical to the global energy transition and infrastructure development.
IOC customers will receive START labels containing up to 14 metrics for each order, including carbon emissions, water use, biodiversity, energy mix, community contributions, workplace safety, and more. This provides enhanced transparency and assurance of how IOC products are made from mine to port.
IOC’s iron ore products are known for their consistent quality, low impurity levels, and dependable performance, making them well-suited feedstock for the evolving steel industry.
Mike McCann, President and CEO of IOC, said: "As industries’ expectations evolve around carbon emissions, steelmakers increasingly demand transparent information about the environmental profile of the raw materials they use. By joining START, we’re helping our customers see exactly how these materials are produced. It’s a meaningful step in helping our customers build more responsible, sustainable supply chains, while showing how the iron ore we mine in Canada contributes to the everyday products people depend on.”
The introduction of START at IOC comes as industries and regulators increasingly expect sustainability data to accompany raw materials. With growing pressure to verify emissions and demonstrate ethical sourcing, START gives customers the tools to stay ahead of evolving standards.
To learn more or sign up to receive a START label, contact: start@riotinto.com
For more information on START, visit: https://www.riotinto.com/en/sustainability/ethics-compliance/value-chain/start
Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com
Category: IOC
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