Better Health for All

NioCorp's principal goods are raw minerals, and while their end-use applications in electric vehicles and steel alloys may offer indirect benefits such as reduced emissions and lower fire/explosion risks in batteries, the articles provide no direct health impact data for these applications, resulting in a neutral score for health impact.

The company has completed comprehensive risk assessments and developed management plans for high-risk areas, along with environmental and social impact assessments, and is committed to transparency through an Environmental and Social Management System and the Equator Principles. However, its products do not carry direct health risks or benefits that require specific health-related disclosures, leading to a neutral score for risk transparency. The use of niobium in steel and batteries contributes to reduced air emissions from construction and vehicle use, which represents a positive health externality, leading to a score of 10.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

No specific, concrete data points were found in the provided articles for any of the KPIs related to Fair Pay & Worker Respect. The articles explicitly state a lack of data for living wage coverage, CEO-to-median-employee pay ratio (due to missing median employee compensation), collective bargaining share, safety incident rate, pay equity ratio, worker engagement score, turnover rate, labor violation incidents, insecure contract share, and health insurance coverage.

Therefore, all KPIs are omitted.

Kind to Animals

The provided articles focus on NioCorp Developments Ltd.'s general ESG commitments, compliance with the Equator Principles, and environmental impacts related to its mineral resource project, such as reducing air emissions, managing waste, and minimizing operational footprint.

However, none of the articles contain specific, quantifiable data or explicit statements regarding animal welfare, cruelty-free certifications, animal testing policies or volumes, humane certifications for animal operations, wildlife conservation impact metrics, ethical sourcing of animal-derived ingredients, or investment in animal-free alternatives. Therefore, there is no evidence to score any of the KPIs under the 'Kind to Animals' value.

No War, No Weapons

NioCorp spent $50,000 lobbying for FY2026 defense legislation, including the National Defense Authorization Act and FY2026 Defense Appropriations legislation.

The company also lobbied for critical minerals mining, processing, and supply chain security. NioCorp has entered an agreement with Lockheed Martin to develop a scandium-based defense technology, funded by the U.S. Department of War, with $10 million from the Pentagon. This scandium-based alloy is described as having potential applications in both defense (fighter aircraft) and commercial sectors. The company's core business is the development of niobium, scandium, and titanium, which are critical minerals for defense. While no revenue percentage from arms contracts is specified, the company is actively engaged in defense-related development and lobbying.

Planet-Friendly Business

NioCorp has obtained all necessary local, state, and federal permits for its Elk Creek Project, and the project does not require a federal permit under NEPA due to avoiding impacts to federally jurisdictional waters.

The company has implemented an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) that conforms to the Equator Principles (EP4). An independent Environmental and Community Assessment was commissioned in 2022 for the Elk Creek Project. No environmental compliance violations are mentioned. The company has not provided any specific details on its alignment with TCFD climate-risk disclosure recommendations.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

NioCorp commissioned an independent Environmental and Community Assessment from Olsson & Associates in 2022, which included studies on Cultural and Archeological Resources.

The company's ESG program was designed to be in compliance with the Equator Principles (EP4). Archeological resources investigations were conducted, and the company states no significant archeological resources will be impacted. FPIC processes are not applicable to the company's operations as the project is not directly impacting Indigenous Peoples in a way that requires it. NioCorp is committed to ensuring a proper Social License is garnered from the community and stakeholders, and has held public town hall events and individual meetings with local landowners.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

NioCorp's Elk Creek Project is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating circular design principles such as operating as a zero process water discharge facility, employing several recycling loops for chemicals used in mineral processing, and utilizing tailings as underground mine backfill.

The company has implemented waste reduction initiatives including using water leach residue tailings as underground backfill and recycling hydrochloric and sulfuric acid. NioCorp plans to examine the technical and commercial feasibility of recycling post-consumer neodymium-iron-boron magnets. Waste materials are classified as non-hazardous based on regulatory testing, but NioCorp takes a conservative approach by placing them in a double-lined containment facility due to low levels of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs). The company has had no waste disposal violations in the past three years. NioCorp is committed to periodic audits to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of its Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS).