START

How START works

START shows how our metals and minerals are produced, so our customers and supply chain partners have greater visibility of how we bring products to market.  

Across 14 environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics – including carbon footprint, water management, safety performance and diversity figures – the START label provides transparent, traceable data about how our materials are made. The metrics are based on primary data from our operations and supplemented by secondary data from industry databases.  

We want to make sure START’s data is robust and objective. So in addition to thorough vetting by our subject matter experts, we work with independent associations like the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) and the Copper Mark Program to obtain third-party assurances.  

Our customers either receive their START labels via email or access them via our START platform.   

START’s product range

Aluminium 

An industry-first, START’s aluminium label and aluminium certificate provide metrics that show how aluminium is produced across all our global aluminium sites. We’re continuing to build assurance through existing relationships with organisations like the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). 

Copper cathode 

Building on international assurances such as ICMM and the Copper Mark, START’s copper label authenticates how our copper is sustainable sourced and produced at our Kennecott operation in the United States. 

High Purity Pig Iron (HPPI)

START’s HPPI label authenticates how we responsibly produce HPPI, known in the market as Sorelmetal™. An industry leader, HPPI is produced at RTIT Quebec Operations (Sorel-Tracy, Canada) and Richards Bay Minerals (Richards Bay, South Africa), and is known for its high purity and consistency. 

Metal powders

Manufactured from high-purity iron produced by Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) in Canada, START’s metal powders label gives customers visibility into RTIT’s supply chain.

Salt

The START salt label covers metrics related to producing high-quality salt responsibly through seawater evaporation at our Dampier and Port Hedland sites in Australia. 

We will continue to add more of our products to START in future to promote transparent supply chains.