C5.7: Support Responsible Extraction of Raw Materials – Above Green

(1-5 points)

INTENT

Protect ecosystems, respect cultural and community values, and improve land use through responsible extraction of raw materials for site design and construction.

REQUIREMENTS*

The requirements apply to all materials purchased for the project excluding products containing recycled content and salvaged, reused, or refurbished materials. Plants are addressed in other credits and are excluded from this credit. If only part of a composite material or assembly meets the requirements, count only that fraction, based on weight.

Option 1: Advocate for sustainable extraction of raw materials (1 point)

Submit a letter to all raw materials suppliers and/or materials manufacturers asking them to track and disclose sustainable extraction practices.

Option 2: Support raw material suppliers and/or manufacturers that disclose data on environmental practices (3 points)

Obtain five percent of the total materials costs (excluding recycled content, salvaged, reused, or refurbished materials) from raw materials suppliers and/or materials manufacturers that:
- Report annual environmental performance via the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), or equivalent, including the Mining and Metals supplement, if applicable
- Provide a publicly available sustainability statement that discloses efforts to achieve sustainable practices

Option 3: Support raw material suppliers and/or manufacturers that meet or exceed standards for raw material extraction (5 points)

Obtain five percent of the total materials costs (excluding recycled content, salvaged, reused, or refurbished materials) from raw materials suppliers and/or manufacturers that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Have third-party verified corporate sustainability reports (CSRs), including statements of environmental impacts of extraction operations and activities associated with the manufacturer’s product and the product’s supply chain
- Meet responsible extraction criteria for the raw material sources listed below

Responsible extraction criteria:

Mined or quarried materials
- Follow the Framework for Responsible Mining’s recommendations for Leading Edge Issues
- Publicly declare a commitment to responsible mining
Bio-based materials (excluding hide products)
- Bio-based products must meet the Sustainable Agriculture Network’s Sustainable Agriculture Standard
- Bio-based raw materials must meet ASTM Test Method D6866 and be harvested legally, as defined by the exporting and receiving country
New wood products
- Be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) (or local equivalent for projects outside the United States)
Other extracted materials
- Meet all applicable laws for exporting and receiving countries, including human rights laws
- Make publicly available a third-party verified corporate sustainability report that includes ALL of the following:
  - A commitment to long-term ecologically responsible land use
  - A commitment to reducing environmental harms from extraction and any manufacturing processes
  - Evidence of economic and social support of adjacent communities
  - A voluntary commitment to meeting applicable standards or programs that address responsible sourcing criteria
  - Labor practices
  - Governance structure

RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES

Establish project goals for the use of responsibly extracted materials, and identify suppliers early in the project process that can help achieve these goals.
Write standards into the project specifications that support the goals of this credit.
During construction administration, ensure that the responsibly extracted materials or products are installed.