The mining industry is important in contemporary societies, supplying the continuous demand for minerals in various branches of the market and promoting economic development. 

However, this continuous increase in demand for natural resources, coupled with population growth and consumerism of today’s society, go against the concept of sustainability. 

For this reason, the theme of sustainable practices in the mining industry is increasingly highlighted, regarding the importance of developing solutions that can be adopted by the industry, generating less environmental and social impact and ensuring the availability of resources for future generations. 

Read this text to the end to learn more about this topic!

UNO Sustainable Development Goals

In the fall of 2015, the world’s heads of state adopted the UN Agenda 2030 with the 17 sustainable development goals. The overall goals of the Agenda are as follows:

• Eradicate poverty and hunger
• Ensure human rights for all, achieve social and gender equality
• Ensure the protection of the planet and its natural resources

The sustainable development goals balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental. 

The 2030 Agenda is a positive step towards a global cooperation and can contribute to a greater realization that require the balance of different social goals – economic sustainability is a prerequisite for social and environmental sustainability and vice versa.

One of the most prominent sectors that require the adoption of sustainable practices is the mining industry.

Mining and sustainability

The footprint of mining operations is often visible from outer space, with large excavation areas standing out in a sea of green forest. View of Brazil’s Carajás Mines from space. (Photo: NASA) (https://www.iisd.org/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg_desktop/public/2021-10/carajas-brazil-mine.jpg?itok=Dg521UlB

A sustainable view of the mining industry means taking into account the people, the environment, and the economy. 

The human aspects include health, social and cultural elements. It is necessary to take into account the environmental matters such as emissions, waste management, post-extraction remediation, nature conservation, energy use, and climate. Economic aspects include social development, prosperity, competitiveness, resource management, and the circular economy. 

The mining industries affect all three dimensions of sustainability, but the use of mineral resources is indispensable for our society, including to provide raw materials for a more environmentally friendly technological and energy transformation.  

The regulation of mining activities depends mainly on national frameworks and policies, but the implementation of good practices remains problematic. 

In order to effectively shift to “sustainable mining,” governments and companies must recognize the environmental and social impacts of mining and enact laws and regulations that require community consultation throughout the mining life cycle.

How can mining become more environmentally sustainable?

• Proper disposal and treatment of waste and tailings
• Reducing water use and waste production
• Alternative energy sources, such as solar or wind power
• Battery-powered equipment
• Use of equipment from recyclable sources 
• Improvements in the extraction process
• Appropriate mine closure measures
• Environmental restoration
• Recycling

Regarding to energy, a mining company can seek alternative energy sources, such as solar or wind power, as well as use electric-powered equipment and vehicles, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

Waste management plans are required to avoid soil, air and water pollution. Such plans are also in place to properly store the large volumes of waste produced in the mines.

The use of cleaner production techniques, environmental control technologies, using waste as a raw material, and process re-engineering are other ways to reduce waste production from mines.

Proper waste disposal is crucial to reducing the environmental impact of mines. Companies can invest in equipment that helps transform waste into reusable materials.

Importance of sustainable vision for mining

In addition to the importance of reducing the environmental and social impacts of mining, the industry itself can also benefit from adopting a sustainable vision for the industry.

Mining companies can find the unexpected benefit of financial gains from improved sustainability. 

While green policies may seem expensive, they actually can provide a competitive advantage to the company. Also, the ability to recycle and reduce waste may lead to an improved bottom line.

Ultimately, for mining companies to thrive in today’s political, social, economic, and environmental scenario, sustainable practices must be at the heart of operations. 

Many companies are starting to understand that their economic feasibility relies on the adoption of an environmentally and socially responsible approach at all operation levels.

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Preservation is our Core business

CORE CASE is a Brazilian-Canadian company with 11 years of activities that consolidated its position in the mining market and is present in the most important companies in this industry.

Cases and accessories supplied by Core Case are produced using 100% recycled and recyclable plastic (Polypropylene – PP), have an ergonomic shape, are resistant, light, and easy to transport, besides being more durable than boxes made of wood and other materials.
If you want to know more about our services, contact us! https://corecase.com/br/contato/

Referências

https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_emp/—emp_ent/—multi/documents/publication/wcms_592317.pdf

https://www.sei.org/projects-and-tools/projects/the-mining-industry-in-a-sustainable-future/

https://www.sa-green-info.co.za/portal/article/1633/how-can-mining-become-more-environmentally-sustainable

https://www.iisd.org/articles/how-advance-sustainable-mining

https://www.mining-technology.com/sponsored/the-importance-of-sustainability-in-mining-operations/

ESG is a term that you probably heard not long ago, right? 

Even though it is used frequently at present, it is not such a new term. It was used for the first time in 2004, in an issue called ‘Who Cares Wins’. 

ESG topics have become stronger along the years and have been referred to more often in Brazil, in specific way, in the last 5 years. The mineral sector is one of the fields that tries to fit and be part of such culture.  

ESG acronyms are closely connected to topics and actions related to the environment, corporate governance and social welfare. 

Companies that do not comply with such principles can be seriously compromised in the future. They cannot be supported by investors, they cannot be appreciated by employees, they cannot be supported by the community they work, among other consequences.  

ESG concept enforcement in your company is essential for a correct, sustainable and lasting future. 

Shall we learn more about the topic?

What is ESG?

The term Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) has been widely used nowadays and has become a way of rating actions that companies take concerning the environment, community they are related, employees and even with its customers and work partners.

Each one of the elements – environmental, social and governance – includes a series of criteria that can be considered, whether by investors, at the time of assessing a business, or by companies, that wish to adopt a more friendly, sustainable and responsible posture before society.

Three ESG acronym milestones include:

Environmental

Environmental criteria include using renewable energy sources by the company, deploying a waste management program, deforestation issues (if applicable) and its attitude and actions related to climate change issues. Other possible environmental issues include raw material supply and use, for instance.

Social

Social aspects are based on the way the company is related to its employees, partners and investors. Other relevant points include respect to human rights and labor laws, team diversity and labor safety.

Governance

Governance in ESG context is related to how a company is managed by its managers and officers. Governance pillar shall consider interests of every stakeholder, including officers, investors, suppliers or customers.

Why comply with ESG

According to XP Investimentos, in the last years, increasingly more investors are considering the concept of ‘responsible investors’ as a decisive factor to allocate assets and the trend is that this movement becomes standard practice in the next years. 

In investor perspective, companies that are well assessed in ESG become increasingly relevant to investment destination.

Also according to XP, responsible investments have also become gradually strong worldwide in the last two years – globally, more than US$35.3 trillion in investments are managed by institutional funds that set sustainable strategies, standing for ~36% of total assets managed worldwide.

When it comes to Brazil, there is a lot to be done, however, since July 2020, it was possible to realize a change (Figure 1), a significant acceleration in the search for ESG investments.

Figure 1: Search for the term ESG on Google Brazil (Jan/2020 – Feb/2022). Source: Google Trends.

ESG in Mining

In 2019, Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM) and mineral sector representatives met to enable mining industry change, and discuss topics related to sustainability and the environment.

After wide debate, Brazil Mining ESG agenda was created, and the document sets forth action pillars to be adopted by mining companies, to improve their indicators.

Mining ESG agenda foresees improving indicators in 12 areas, as follows:

1. Operating safety;
2. Dams and tailing disposal structures; 
3. Labor health and safety; 
4. Environmental impact mitigation;
5. Territory local and future development; 
6. Relationship with communities; 
7. Communication and reputation; 
8. Diversity and inclusion;
9. Innovation;
10. Water;
11. Power;
12. Waste management;

According to IBRAM, Mining is the first sector that releases a wide ESG agenda, and it is a very solid evidence of the commitments the sector has with new postures the world is demanding.

Actions and results achieved so far by mining ESG agenda shall be presented by Exposibram 2022.

Mineral sector ESG initiatives

Amid the need for changes, mineral sector companies have developed projects that comply with ESG pillars.

Know some mineral sector ESG initiatives:

• Ferbasa: since 1975, it relies on José Carvalho Foundation to care for people. Leader in ferro-alloy production, the company has six schools in four municipalities, benefiting more than 3,500 students;
• Mineração Caraíba: it develops programs designed to small farmer productivity, fostering education and professional qualification, and access to drinkable water;
• Yamana Gold: it sponsors Yamana Social and Environmental Development Institute, developed a composting plant in partnership with Recicla Jacobina cooperative;
• Atlantic Nickel: it preservers 750 hectares of Mata Atlântica and keeps a plant nursery that has produced more than 56 thousand replanting seed stocks;
• Vanádio de Maracás: it provides equipment and inputs to Active Women project, benefiting 110 women with homemade soap workshops, and free dressmaking course;

Core Case – a company that supports and complies with ESG pillars

Since its establishment, Core Case carries with it ESG pillars. The company was established with the goal of producing cases to store boring cores in 100% recycled plastic. This target has been achieve, and within 10 years, Core Case has become a reference in Brazil. Check a few figures:

Apart from sustainable cases for boring cores, Core Case performs actions that enable developing projects linked to corporate governance, environmental and social sustainability. See some company projects and initiatives:

ENVIRONMENT

– Products manufactured with 100% recycled and recyclable raw material;

– Zero deforestation;

– We Nature (Clean Beach) Project;

– Eco Bus Store;

– Core Case Collection products with production low environmental impact;

– Zero Garbage Certification.

SOCIAL

– Campaigns with always present social engagement of other local institutions, for better action usage;

– Good Coats. Incentive to exchange used product for a new one with discount;

– Clean Beach Project; Introduction to local community of each region to collect garbage and environmental education.

GOVERNANCE

– Commitment with every stakeholder (suppliers, customers, community, etc.);

– Product use manuals for better user ergonomics;

– Production (ISO 9001) and operating procedure standardization;

– Transparency, legality and fiscal responsibility in every business field.

Support to projects, companies and initiatives which essence is ESG pillars.

If you want to learn more on Core Case action, contact us.

Brazilian Mining leadership in ESG practice implementation can enable significantly visibility increase and sector acceptance that, despite being relevant, it is still widely criticized by society.

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References:

XP Expert. https://conteudos.xpi.com.br/esg/esg-de-a-a-z-tudo-o-que-voce-precisa-saber-sobre-o-tema/#:~:text=Tr%C3%AAs%20principais%20raz%C3%B5es%20do%20porqu%C3%AA,sido%20um%20sinal%20particularmente%20eficaz 

Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/esg-investing/

IBRAM. https://portaldamineracao.com.br/o-que-e-esg-da-mineracao/

IBRAM. https://ibram.org.br/noticia/esg-pavimentar-mineracao-do-futuro/

Correio 24 Horas. https://www.correio24horas.com.br/noticia/nid/iniciativas-inspiradoras/ 

Core Case. https://corecase.com/br/