197 A METHODOLOGICAL TOOL TO EVALUATE THE ALIGNMENT OF VOLUNTARY SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS WITH INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORKS AND STRONG SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES *P. Fernandez1, M. Tost1, M. Eckl1, E. Castillo2 1Chair of Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics, Technical University of Leoben, Austria, (*Presenting author: paulina.fernandez-munoz@unileoben.ac.at) 2Department of Mining Engineering, University of Chile, Chile ABSTRACT Voluntary sustainability standards have become central governance instruments in mineral supply chains, aiming to demonstrate responsible practices and respond to increasing regulatory, investor, and societal expectations. However, existing evaluations of mining-related VSS frequently emphasize operational compliance with recognized governance frameworks, while paying limited attention to whether standards align with science-based ecological limits and explicit social sustainability thresholds. This creates a methodological gap between management-based compliance assessment and substantive sustainability evaluation. This paper develops and applies a dual-lens methodological tool designed to assess mining VSS through two complementary perspectives: (1) operational alignment with internationally recognized governance and due diligence frameworks, and (2) normative alignment grounded in strong sustainability paradigms, including ecological ceilings and minimum social foundations. The tool integrates operational frameworks such as OECD Due Diligence, ISEAL, IFC Performance Standards, GRI, EU principles, and BGR criteria with normative references including Planetary Boundaries, Safe and Just Space, and Decent Standard of Living concepts. The resulting instrument comprises 495 structured checklist questions across environmental, social, and governance dimensions. The framework was pilot-applied to IRMA standards to test usability and structural coherence. The analysis reveals a consistent pattern across dimensions: strong institutionalization of governance processes, risk management systems, and operational safeguards, combined with more selective integration of threshold-based sustainability commitments. Governance demonstrates differentiated internal strength, social provisions emphasize formalized protection mechanisms, and environmental management is robust in mitigation and closure planning but comparatively limited in explicit alignment with systemic ecological boundaries, particularly in climate and energy domains. By distinguishing between operational robustness and normative ambition, the dual-lens approach enables a more differentiated assessment of VSS. The tool supports transparent comparison across standards and offers practical guidance for industry actors seeking to strengthen credibility and long-term sustainability in mineral supply chains.
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