Minerals
Naturally resourced minerals are some of the most valuable and widely traded commodities.
As demand for responsible sourcing and proof of origin continues to grow, governments and industry stakeholders require greater Mineral supply chain transparency. SICPA helps strengthen mineral governance through trusted Mineral traceability solutions, enabling greater visibility, accountability and trust across the mineral value chain.
Challenges
The journey from mine to market is often fragmented and difficult to follow. While there is a growing consensus among regulators, industry stakeholders and consumers on the need for Mineral Traceability and reliable proof of origin, the practical implementation of these principles remains limited.
In Africa alone, between 321 and 474 tons of gold are being produced without being declared, equating to a value of between $24 billion and $35 billion.
Through illicit mining, governments face:
Limited visibility over production and trade flows makes it difficult for governments to accurately assess and collect royalties and taxes. As a result, significant public revenues may be lost, reducing resources available for national development and public services.
Illicit mineral trade often operates outside legal and regulatory frameworks, creating opportunities for criminal networks to prosper. These activities undermines economic stability, weaken governance and threaten national security.
Unregulated mining practices frequently occur without adequate environmental safeguards or safety standards. This leads to land degradation, water contamination and increased risks for workers and local communities.
As international markets demand greater transparency and responsible sourcing, demonstrating proof of origin is becoming essential. The absence of reliable traceability can weaken trust, expose stakeholders to reputational risks and restrict access to global markets.
Authorities aren’t the only group facing challenges, the impact extends across the entire mineral ecosystem. Miners are exposed to unsafe working conditions and hazardous chemicals, while their limited integration into formal supply chains can restrict access to fair remuneration.
Refiners risk the potential loss of market share to competitors with more transparent practices, and may face penalties for failing to comply with international regulations and standards. In the end, consumers lose trust in brands, as they question the ethical sourcing and integrity of the supply chain.
Solutions
Strengthen compliance, reduce risk, and protect value with a system designed for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s markets.
SICPA’s Mineral Traceability solution is built on two complementary pillars that work together to establish mine-to-market traceability and proof of origin.
Traceability Platform
Physical markers
Défis
La contrefaçon compte parmi les nombreux risques de sécurité complexes et qui évoluent rapidement auxquels les marques et les entreprises sont confrontées. SICPA propose une multitude de solutions adaptées pour protéger vos produits contre les nouveaux défis en matière de sécurité.
Les produits contrefaits (B2B ou B2C) sont de fausses copies de produits originaux qui sont fabriquées et vendues dans le but de tromper les consommateurs et en tirer profit. Ces faux produits peuvent ressembler aux vrais, mais ils sont souvent fabriqués avec des matériaux et des méthodes de moindre qualité qui peuvent nuire à la santé et à la sécurité de leurs utilisateurs.
Le frelatage (ou adultération) consiste à modifier délibérément un produit en remplaçant ou en diluant partiellement son contenu afin de réutiliser l'emballage d'origine à des fins lucratives et de tromper les consommateurs.
La fraude au retour et à la garantie est une pratique illicite qui consiste à acheter, modifier puis retourner des produits en échange d'une compensation, ce qui entraîne des pertes financières considérables et une présence accrue de produits de moins bonne qualité sur le marché.
"Grey, or “parallel”, market diversion occurs when individuals or businesses use illegal or non-compliant sales channels to sell products.
La production non autorisée ou surproduction illégale fait référence à la production et à la vente de produits non déclarés sur le marché noir par des fabricants ou des entités légalement autorisés.
Case Studies
Supporting transparency and trust in natural resources
Case studies illustrate how secure traceability solutions contribute to stronger resource governance, responsible sourcing and greater confidence across global supply chains.
SICPA CommStack has successfully deployed a gold platform for the government of Zimbabwe.
Since implementation of the programme, Zimbabwe has recorded a 46% increase in gold captured for royalty collection (H1 2025 vs H1 2024), helping to create a stable and attractive policy environment through which local and foreign capital can be drawn for sector modernisation and expansion.
This project has also helped implement and enforce stronger environmental and social governance (ESG) standards across mining operations of all scales.
