The Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT) is a free, standardized tool developed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) to streamline the exchange of supply chain data for cobalt, mica, copper, natural graphite, lithium, and nickel. It combines the former Cobalt Reporting Template (CRT) and Mica Reporting Template (MRT) and has since been expanded to cover additional minerals. The EMRT aligns with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance to support responsible sourcing practices. Continue reading to learn more and access the latest version.
Expanded Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT)
The RMI released the EMRT 2.0 in April 2025, expanding its scope to include four new minerals: copper, natural graphite, lithium, and nickel. This update aligns with evolving regulatory demands, particularly the EU Battery Regulation. The EMRT 2.0 will include an optional mine-level facility tab, similar to the original Pilot Reporting Template (now the Additional Minerals Reporting Template or AMRT). The aim is to enhance support for supply chain transparency and enable identification of potential new Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) assessment participants.
Download the EMRT 2.0
Updated versions of the EMRT are released periodically by the RMI. The latest version, version 2.0, was released in April of 2025. Updates to the latest version include:
- Addition of four new minerals: copper, graphite (natural), lithium, and nickel
- Added Mine List tab
- Updates to Smelter Reference List and Standard Smelter List
What are extended minerals?
The term extended minerals refers to cobalt, mica, copper, graphite (natural), lithium, and nickel. These minerals are used in manufacturing several everyday products.
Cobalt is an essential element in electronics and is primarily used in lithium-ion batteries. It is also a significant component in superalloy metals, magnetic materials, anticorrosive materials, and cemented carbide.
Mica is a group of 37 minerals characterized by their layered, sheet-like structure, which makes them lightweight, flexible, and soft minerals. They are often used in paints, automobile parts, shingles, electronics, and cosmetic items.
Copper is widely used for its excellent conductivity in products like electrical wiring, motors, and industrial machinery such as heat exchangers. It also plays a role in construction materials like roofing and plumbing. Copper alloys are common in coins and gun metals, while copper compounds, like copper sulfate, serve as agricultural poisons and algicides. Additionally, copper solutions are used in chemical tests for sugar detection.
Graphite (natural) is a critical industrial mineral valued for its heat resistance and electrical conductivity properties. It is widely used in the steel industry as a key material in refractories that line blast furnaces, ladles, and crucibles.
Lithium is widely used in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from consumer electronics to electric vehicles. It is also an important component in ceramics and glass, where it improves durability and thermal resistance. Beyond these uses, lithium is found in lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and certain food products.
Nickel is a versatile metal used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products. It is a key component in stainless steel and various high-performance alloys, contributing to strength, corrosion resistance, and heat tolerance. Nickel is also used in batteries, including those for electric vehicles, as well as in coins and jewelry. In smaller amounts, it can be found in household items, personal care products, and certain foods.
The issues with mining extended minerals
With a growing demand for cobalt, mica, copper, natural graphite, lithium, and nickel comes major concerns regarding where and how they are sourced. Extended minerals mining is problematic due to the natural abundance of these minerals in conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAS).
CAHRAS are vulnerable to exploitation by armed groups and are at high risk of community degradation. People in these areas often fall victim to forced labor and child labor under hazardous working conditions. In extreme cases, entire communities are forced into modern slavery with no way out of poverty except into the mines.
The growing demand for technology in several industries continues to drive demand for extended minerals. This pressure encourages profiteering and perpetuates ethical problems in the supply chain.
A lack of responsible sourcing regulations targeting extended minerals makes ethical sourcing difficult. The EMRT was created to help address this challenge and empower companies to conduct due diligence on behalf of their customers and stakeholders.
What is the purpose of the EMRT?
The EMRT aims to provide downstream companies with a template for gathering and disclosing extended mineral sourcing information from their supply chains to mitigate risk. Per the RMI, downstream companies are considered companies from the end user up to (but not including) the refiner or processor. The EMRT guides downstream companies throughout the due diligence process, which includes:
- Determining the mineral country of origin
- Identifying utilized refiners and processors
- Simplifying downstream suppliers’ surveys
- Identifying and mitigating risk
- Disclosing reporting results to upstream stakeholders
To collect this information, the EMRT provides a questionnaire for downstream companies to send to their supply chain partners. Questions include the following:
- Are extended minerals used in the production process?
- Does the final product contain extended minerals?
- Are refiners or processors sourcing from CAHRAs?
- Are extended minerals sourced from recycled or scrapped items in the product/production process?
Additionally, the EMRT includes a list of identified cobalt refiners and mica processors (and aliases) that organizations can compare against their own.
EMRT vs. CMRT - What is the difference?
The main difference between the EMRT and the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) is the minerals that fall within the scope of each template. The United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU) have compliance requirements for sourcing conflict minerals, otherwise known as 3TG (tungsten, tantalum, tin, and gold). Mica, cobalt, copper, natural graphite, lithium, and nickel, however, are considered extended minerals and are not subject to compliance requirements.
Conflict minerals are subject to compliance under the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act (which applies to 3TG originating from the DRC and adjoining countries) and the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (which applies to EU-based importers of 3TG from CAHRAs). The CMRT is used to collect refiner and processor information to fulfill regulatory 3TG reporting requirements.
Alternatively, the EMRT is a voluntary initiative that allows downstream companies to disclose their extended minerals sourcing due diligence efforts in their annual reports and/or on their website. Rather than a requirement, it currently serves as an aid to due diligence and identifying utilized smelters and refiners of extended minerals.
Source extended minerals responsibly with compliance software
It is critical to conduct due diligence on extended minerals. While there are no governmental regulations currently in place for extended minerals, there are many developments in the works to hold businesses accountable for social responsibility via environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indicators. Traceability is the only avenue to supply chain transparency.
Source Intelligence’s Minerals Reporting and Due Diligence solution covers conflict minerals, extended minerals, and other minerals of concern. We go beyond official compliance programs by offering solutions for responsible sourcing to provide the data you need for supply chain transparency and risk management. We help facilitate collaboration with your suppliers, including engagement, data validation, and reporting.
Mitigate the risk of human rights issues lurking in your supply chain. Explore our Minerals Reporting and Due Diligence solution to discover how Source Intelligence can help.
