The underlying principles are based on existing international agreements, such as the Rio Declaration and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), involving polluter responsibility, equity, participatory decision making and accountability and transparency.
[7] The term "Responsible Mining" is also claimed as having been formulated by Ranil Senanayake of the International Analog Forestry Network and Brian Hill of the Institute for Cultural Ecology.
[8] Additionally, this industry plays a large role in many developing countries – such as Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Philippines, and Angola, yet has historically created a negative relationship between economic dependence and natural resources and GDP.
[8] Companies operating in the mining and minerals industry navigate market demand for essential components and society’s expectations of social and environmental responsibility.
[9] The industry is also expected to avoid ecologically and culturally sensitive sites, and to produce safe products that do not violate environmental and social standards.