About us
The International Platinum Group Metals Association (IPA) is a non-profit association that represents the worldwide leading mining, production and fabrication companies in the global platinum group metals (PGMs) industry, comprising platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium.
The organisation, founded in 1987, is based in Munich and holds membership meetings twice a year. Its working committees and groups meet regularly throughout the year. The association actively engages and collaborates in a strong network of partner organisations.
The major aim of the organisation is to act as a platform for discussion and information exchange between its members and with the outside world. Furthermore, the IPA serves as an early warning system for the PGM industry by monitoring legislation (emissions control, recycling, EHS, ESG requirements etc.) and industry related topics such as trade, health & safety, and sustainable development.
Mission
The IPA is a non-profit organisation representing the interests of the leading mining, production and fabrication companies of the global platinum group metals (PGMs) industry. We provide a platform to address issues of common concern and to jointly engage with stakeholders at the international level. Our Association represents over 80% of the global PGM industry.
Objectives:
- to generate and promote factual information on PGMs;
- to represent the common interests of PGM mining, production and fabrication companies worldwide;
- to encourage and assist continuous progress in the healthy, safe and environmentally sound production and processing of PGMs;
- to define and communicate industry's views on issues related to PGM production, use, and recycling;
- to liaise with other institutions of interest to the Association and its members; and
- to monitor trends and developments, identify opportunities and risks.
Members
Exploration, mining & production
Fabrication
Partners
Eurométaux – European Association of Metals
Eurométaux is the Brussels-based association servicing and representing the European non-ferrous metals industry. The IPA is a member of Eurométaux and benefits from its excellent contacts to European policy makers.
EPMF – European Precious Metals Federation
The EPMF was established in 2006 as a reinforced working structure aimed at increasing the commitment, efficiency, credibility and legitimacy of the European precious metals industry in all its advocacy activities at European level. The EPMF operates within and under the umbrella of Eurométaux, which constitutes the interface between the European non-ferrous metals industry and the European authorities and international or intergovernmental bodies.
EPMF and IPA work together on issues of sustainability, science, and critical raw materials. Through information exchange, the IPA keeps its membership informed about activities of the Precious Metals and Rhenium Consortium (REACH Consortium) that manages the registration of PGMs and PGM substances, gold, and silver under REACH, and works under the auspices of EPMF.
AECC – Association for Emissions Control by Catalysts
AECC (the Association for Emissions Control by Catalyst) is the international, Brussels-based association of European companies making technologies for engine exhaust emissions control and was first set up in 1978. AECC is a non-profit organisation with a scientific purpose.
The IPA cooperates with AECC on such topics as autocatalysts for clean air and demonstrator projects. Our recent joint project focuses on assessing the life cycle impact of the use of efuels/CO2 neutral fuels in a Euro 6d/7 passenger car as well as a truck, compared to vehicles using other fuels and powertrains.
Fachvereinigung Edelmetalle/ German Federation for Precious Metals
The German Fachvereinigung Edelmetalle is an industry association working on the national level. The FV EM represents the economic and political interests of the producers and fabricators of precious metals including gold, silver, platinum, and other platinum group metals (PGMs). The IPA is a member of the Fachvereinigung Edelmetalle and participates in the Sustainability Committee of the FV.
The International Council on Mining and Metals
The International Council on Mining and Metals is an international organisation dedicated to a safe, fair and sustainable mining and metals industry. Bringing together 27 mining and metals company members and over 35 national, regional and commodities association members, ICMM strengthens environmental and social performance and serves as a catalyst for change, enhancing mining’s contribution to society. As a membership commitment, every ICMM company member adheres to common Mining Principles, which incorporate comprehensive environmental, social and governance requirements, robust site-level validation of performance expectations and credible assurance of corporate sustainability reports with annual disclosure. Applicant companies undergo a rigorous admission process, with scrutiny by an independent expert review panel.
The London Bullion Market Association
The LBMA is an international trade association, representing the London market for gold and silver bullion which has a global client base. This includes the majority of the gold-holding central banks, private sector investors, mining companies, producers, refiners and fabricators.
Platinum Guild International (Jewellery)
Platinum Guild International is a worldwide marketing organization dedicated to creating, expanding and strengthening consumer and trade markets for platinum jewellery. The PGI is funded by leading South African platinum producers and refiners. Founded in 1975, PGI has been providing information, sales support and training to all levels of the jewellery trade for almost 40 years. The PGI is headquartered in Hong Kong and has regional offices in China, India, Japan and the US.
The PGI regularly reports about current activities in the various platinum jewellery markets at IPA Members Meetings. IPA and PGI exchange information relevant to both organisations such as sustainability and responsible supply chain related issues.
Activities
IPA works in standing committees and ad-hoc working groups to tackle issues of common concern and generate information relevant to the industry and stakeholders.
Sustainability Committee
The Sustainability Committee (SusCom, with sub-groups on Performance Assurance / responsible mining and sourcing, LCA and Scope 3 calculations) serves as a common platform for exchange on sustainability and best practices in the fields of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.
It supports the IPA member companies in acting as responsible players through encouraging sustainability thinking and communicating their activities and ESG performance to stakeholders. Within the SusCom, Members openly dicuss their approach towards sustainability auditing in the supply chain and jointly generate life cycle assessment data on the environmental footprint of PGM production that is made available to stakeholders.
The LCA 2017 data set is available in the GaBi database and can also be requested by professional users and researchers through our LCA data questionnaire.
Data is currently being updated on 2022 production year and will be made available in Q3/2024.
Security Committee
The Security Committee (SecCom, with sub-groups for mining companies and fabricators) unites experts from the membership and discusses topics such as the identification of materials by fingerprinting procedures, safety provisions at their plants and operations as well as the management of thefts.
The SecCom provides a platform for interaction with law enforcement bodies on crime trends and modus operandi, pertaining to illegal trafficking of PGM bearing material. Whenever possible, the Security Committee invites law enforcement bodies to participate at its meetings in order to strengthen public-private-partnerships.
Health and Environment Science Committee
The Health and Environment Science Committee (HESCom) works to advance knowledge and understanding of the potential risks of PGM to human health and the environment to support the risk assessment and safe use of PGM based on sound science. HESCom comprises scientific experts from IPA member companies in disciplines including PGM chemistry, Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, and Toxicology. HESCom regularly supplements its expertise with that of external global experts in specific fields of relevance to its activities.
HESCom has delivered a number of Environment- and Health-related projects. In particular, in relation to improving understanding of the risks of respiratory allergy in workers exposed to complex halogenated platinum salts (CHPS), and improving the ability to measure and control levels of these chemicals in the workplace. Considerable effort has also been expended on advancing knowledge of the chemical speciation of platinum in the environment, through the development and application of state-of-the-art analytical chemistry techniques, which have demonstrated that levels of CHPS in the environment are extremely low.
The work of the Health and Environment Science Committee is led by different Technical Teams:
- Chemistry & Analytical
- Epidemiology and Health Surveillance
- Toxicology
- Workplace Exposure Characterisation and Control
- Communications
Advocacy Committee
IPA, together with the Advocacy Committee, constantly monitors regulatory developments to identify relevant topics for the PGM industry.
To educate stakeholders on the PGM supply chain and on PGMs' role in the energy transition, the IPA Advocacy Committee engages with the EU as well as other national political institutions as a source of expertise on the PGM industry. The objectives of the Committee are to define joint positions for the PGM industry, inform about its applications, and how they can serve the global energy transition, as well as to promote a supportive business environment for the IPA members to thrive in.
The Committee aims to influence the development of new and existing legislation at political level by providing comprehensive information and promote the economic, social and environmental contribution of the PGM industry.
IPA contributes constructively and proactively to policies and regulations across the following main areas:
- Supply and demand of raw materials
- Sustainability
- Automotive
- Energy and climate Change
- Chemicals management