A Year in Better Mining: The 2025 Impact Report

The SLR Better Mining Impact Report 2025 shares insights from our work across 53 monitored mine sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Madagascar. It highlights how on-the-ground engagement, daily monitoring, corrective action management and traceability are helping make risks visible and drive practical improvements for miners, operators and communities.

In 2025, SLR Better Mining expanded significantly, growing from 15 monitored sites to 53, reaching more than 24,000 workers and recording over 3,100 incidents to inform risk management and corrective action. The report examines the evolution of the TRACE system, the expansion of responsible sourcing initiatives, and real-world stories that illustrate the human impact of this work.

From integrating former artisanal miners into formal operations in Rwanda, to strengthening transparency in complex mica supply chains in Madagascar, and supporting safer cobalt and copper production in the DRC, the findings demonstrate that meaningful progress is possible when stakeholders engage with the realities of ASM rather than ignore them.

The report presents a picture of a sector that remains complex, yet one where measurable improvements can be achieved through visibility, accountability and long-term engagement.