ARIZONA, USA, – February 21, 2013 – The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is proud to announce a partnership with the University of Arizona.
In a contract signed earlier this month, the University of Arizona (UA) agreed to assist The Consortium with research related to metals extraction (mining) to create TSC’s first raw material dossier. The dossier, containing information about metals extraction and processing, will be applicable to any product category being covered by TSC’s Sustainability Measurement and Reporting System that contains metals. TSC and UA will also be partnering with Purdue University to research metals processing information for the dossier.
Dr. Mary Poulton, Director of the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources, which includes the Center for Environmentally Sustainable Mining (CESM), will lead the research related to extraction of raw metals. Dr. Poulton is a University Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering (MGE). The Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources is the only research institute in the United States with the depth of expertise to tackle challenges critically important to modern mining – then bring game-changing solutions to market by training industry professionals through onsite courses, field training and distance learning. More than 120 university researchers collaborate across 23 disciplines on pioneering projects to advance sustainable development of mineral resources. This institute partners with industry experts around the globe and has educated professionals in 27 countries to improve management across the entire mining cycle. The Institute’s pipeline of projects includes water, energy, health and safety, sustainability, social issues, fundamental geosciences, and more.
Dr. Poulton’s UA research team will provide TSC with research information about environmental and social hotspots and potential sustainability improvement opportunities associated with metals extraction. “Our work will help provide more information on the sustainability factors related to the extraction and processing of several different minerals that are used to make many popular consumer products,” Dr. Poulton said. “As we try to make more educated choices about the products we buy and use, it is important to understand the materials used in those products and how and where those materials were made.”
“We are very excited to have the University of Arizona as a new research partner. The Consortium’s Arizona State University research team will work closely with UA and Purdue to research more sustainable ways to extract and process metals for use in consumer products,” said Mary Wilkosz, Working Group Director.
About The Sustainability Consortium
The Sustainability Consortium is an independent organization of diverse global participants that work collaboratively to build a scientific foundation that drives innovation to improve consumer product sustainability. TSC develops transparent methodologies, tools, and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social, and economic imperatives. The Sustainability Consortium advocates for a credible, scalable, and transparent process and system. The organization boasts over 90 members from all corners of business employing over 57 million people and whose combined revenues total over $1.5 Trillion. The Sustainability Consortium is jointly administered by Arizona State University and University of Arkansas with additional operations at Wageningen University in The Netherlands and has recently launched an office in China. Learn more at www.sustainabilityconsortium.org.
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Kessler, Marketing Coordinator
The Sustainability Consortium
Arizona State University
Elizabeth.Kessler.1@asu.edu | 480.965.3810