This table shows a list of topics identified as relevant by different stakeholder groups.

They can be considered as stakeholders’ suggestions or requests

for topics to be monitored or disclosed by organizations.
Additional information about the project can be found at https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting/sector-guidance/Topics-
Research/Pages/default.aspx

Mining
91 Common Topics

4 - Mining – Coal
1 Specific Topic

Companies engaged in the exploration and diversified production or extraction of coal mining including metallurgical (coking). Companies
primarily involved in the production and mining of coal. Includes bituminous (thermal) coal-mining companies.

5 - Mining – Iron, Aluminum, Other Metals

19 Specific Topics

Producers of iron ore mining and steel and related products. Producers of aluminum and related products, including companies that mine or
process bauxite and companies that recycle aluminum to produce finished or semi-finished products. Excludes companies that primarily produce
aluminum building materials classified as Building Products. Companies engaged in the diversified production or extraction of materials including
but not limited to nonferrous metals, salt and borate, and phosphate rock. Companies engaged in the diversified production or extraction of
metals and minerals not classified elsewhere.

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6 - Mining – Other (Rare Minerals, Precious Metals and Gems)
11 Specific Topics

Companies engaged in the exploration and production of gold and related products. Companies mining precious metals and minerals like
platinum, silver and other precious metals. Companies engaged in the exploration and production of rare minerals (e.g., uranium).

Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Mining – Common Topics
Economic Payments to Extractive Report countries of operation that are either candidate 210* Civil Society
governments Industries to or compliant with the Extractive Industries Organization
Transparency Transparency Initiative (EITI).
Initiative (EITI)
Taxes, revenue, Disclosure of tax, royalty, fees and bonuses payments on 432, 454 Civil Society
royalties and a country-by-country and project-by-project basis. Organization
bonuses
Many resource-rich countries fall among the lowest in
global rankings of economic growth and have failed to
turn revenues from resource extraction into lasting
benefits. Transparency of resource revenues would
enable citizens in developing countries to hold their
governments to account for the use of this income for
the public good. A growing number of jurisdictions have
introduced, or are introducing, payment disclosure
legislation for extractive industry companies including
the United States and the European Union.

Revenue transparency can help improve the business

climate for companies and investors by fostering stable
operating environments, informing investors’ risk

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
assessments, favouring the best companies and
deterring less scrupulous competitors. It enables
companies to provide clear evidence of how they
contribute to government revenues and communities.
Responsible investors recognise that growing discontent
with the impacts of extractive activities poses a threat to
continued operation in many country contexts and that
revenue transparency will help them better assess and
reduce this risk when making investment decisions.
Achievements in the CSR goals settled in previous 449 Mediating
reporting period. Beside qualitative information Institution
numbers should be given too.
Code of Ethics should be in place
Impact on the environment: biosphere and socially
impact ought to be illustrated.
Labor Conduct Code?
Payroll transparency is seldom given; we need it to
evaluate the relation between the highest and the
lowest pay
Transparency for the taxes. What quantum of it have
been paid to the local community, state/country of
residence, etc.

It reflects the "possible way" for mining companies to

become a sustainable industry.
A good skill for social responsible investments.
It may have an impact on economic strategies especially
in the emerging countries.

More the reporting data of extractive industries is

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
transparent, the greater/larger is the impact on
investments and especially ethical investments.
For ethical analysts this transparency widens the
platform for more objectively assessment procedure.
Most of them excludes the extractive sector by principle,
but this sector exists and needs to be taken in the lively
awareness of the investors.
On the other hand investors may/ought to incite
extractive companies to respect and implement CSR-
Guidelines. Their role to play is somehow more
important than governmental regulations and laws.
Local In significant locations of operation, report proportion of 210* Civil Society
employment the facility’s total workforce from the local community. Organization
* strategies and measures to promote the involvement 408 Financial
of local residents, including the evaluation of the Markets &
approaches taken Information
- information / consultation / participation mechanisms Users
for regular exchange of information with local
stakeholders
- training and employment of local labour
- taking into account social issues for local communities
in mine closure plans

Within a short space of time, mining projects create new

centres of population with transport routes, power
stations, industrial complexes and housing areas. Mining
groups have a responsibility to implement these major
changes in a way that fits in with the way of life and
needs of local population groups and to inform residents
about forthcoming activities and their possible impacts.

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Indirect Local SO1 - Nature, scope, and effectiveness of any programs 210* Financial
economic community and practices that assess and manage the impacts of Markets &
impacts operations on communities, including entering, Information
operating, and exiting Users
MM6 - Number and description of significant disputes
relating to land use, customary rights of local
communities and Indigenous People
EC8 - Development and impact of infrastructure
investments and services provided primarily for public
benefit through commercial, inkind, or pro bono
engagement

S01 - It is important to have a measure that reflects the

approach used by the organization to manage its
impacts, both negative and positive, systematically
across the range of communities in which it operates.

MM6 - Extractive industries are highly dependent on

stable access to land and natural resources. Land and
related customary resources are of fundamental
importance to local communities and Indigenous
Peoples since they constitute the basis of their economic
livelihood and are the source of their spiritual, cultural
and social identity. Access to land and resources
therefore often becomes a point of conflict between
company facilities and local communities if management
processes are not put in place to effectively assess and
mange, if not prevent, the conflict. The number of
recorded incidents relating to land and other related
resources provides information about the

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
implementation of an organization’s policies. This
information will help indicate the state of relations with
local stakeholder communities, particularly in regions
where Indigenous People reside or have interests near
operations of the reporting organization.

EC8 - As well as generating and distributing economic

value, an organization can affect an economy through its
investments in infrastructure. The impacts of
infrastructure investment can extend beyond the scope
of the organization’s own business operations and over a
longer timescale. This might include transport links,
utilities, community social facilities, sports centers,
health and welfare centers, etc. Along with investment
in its own operations, this is one measure of an
organization’s capital contribution to the economy.
Environmental Materials Life Cycle The mining and metals industry is generally 210* Civil Society
stewardship Assessment characterized by long and complex production chains Organization
(LCA) employing a high volume of materials. This presents
opportunities for improving efficiencies and
sustainability throughout procurement, production, use,
and disposal processes. It also implies a high level of
responsibility for materials life cycles. Materials
stewardship schemes are often consistent with the
concepts and approaches of eco-efficiency and industrial
ecology.
Energy efficiency Energy Reporting on GRI indicators EN2-EN7, EN16-EN23, MM3 210* Business
of operations consumption as well as outcomes/results from energy management
and energy initiatives.
reduction

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Energy-intensive industries have environmental impacts
and risks associated with it. Therefore there is a need to
actively manage and improve energy-efficiency.
* climate protection strategy and measures 262, 401 Financial
- GHG emissions data Markets &
- energy and GHG efficiency of metals production Information
- measures to improve energy and GHG efficiency of Users
metals production
- use of secondary raw materials in the production

The metals and mining industry is a significant consumer

of fossil fuels and electrical energy. In view of the
continuing rise in the concentration of CO2 in the
atmosphere and the associated impact on climate,
mining companies therefore have a particular
responsibility to take steps to reduce CO2 emissions. If
nothing else, rising energy prices have prompted
companies to take numerous measures to improve the
energy efficiency of their processes. Large potential
savings can also be generated by using secondary raw
materials (scrap metal), the processing of which requires
many times less energy than the use of primary raw
materials (ores).

On cost grounds alone, companies are favourably

disposed toward energy-saving production processes
and the processing of scrap metal. However, they
frequently cite the lack of availability of scrap metal as a
counter-argument to further increasing the proportion
of secondary raw materials in their production. For the

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
industry to develop sustainably, the individual players
need in future to focus more on using renewable energy
sources such as, in particular, the sun, wind and biomass
and to develop measures to promote the extensive
recovery and use of secondary raw materials.
Those included in the current G3 framework and existing 210* Business
Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. See indicators-
EC2-EN7, EN16-EN23, MM3

Relevance sections listed for the indicators above in the

G3 and MMSS.
EC2 210* Financial
EN7 Markets &
EN16, EN17, EN18, EN19, EN20, EN21, EN22, EN23 Information
MM3 Users

It is a material cost to our business and an opportunity

to be able to reduce our consumption as well as our
carbon footprint.
Energy-efficient * climate protection strategy and measures 262, 401 Financial
process design - GHG emissions data Markets &
- energy and GHG efficiency of metals production Information
- measures to improve energy and GHG efficiency of Users
metals production
- use of secondary raw materials in the production

The metals and mining industry is a significant consumer

of fossil fuels and electrical energy. In view of the
continuing rise in the concentration of CO2 in the
atmosphere and the associated impact on climate,

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
mining companies therefore have a particular
responsibility to take steps to reduce CO2 emissions. If
nothing else, rising energy prices have prompted
companies to take numerous measures to improve the
energy efficiency of their processes. Large potential
savings can also be generated by using secondary raw
materials (scrap metal), the processing of which requires
many times less energy than the use of primary raw
materials (ores).

On cost grounds alone, companies are favourably

disposed toward energy-saving production processes
and the processing of scrap metal. However, they
frequently cite the lack of availability of scrap metal as a
counter-argument to further increasing the proportion
of secondary raw materials in their production. For the
industry to develop sustainably, the individual players
need in future to focus more on using renewable energy
sources such as, in particular, the sun, wind and biomass
and to develop measures to promote the extensive
recovery and use of secondary raw materials.
Mineral and Types and amount of energy used to extract metal. 341 Business
metal extraction
industry The resource extraction industry, which includes mining
for minerals and metals, is recognised as a major energy
user and accordingly a significant emitter of greenhouse
gases.
Water Recycled water Percentage of recycled water used in processes; 289, 292 Business
management and fresh water percentage of freshwater used in processes; percentage
use of water discharged and to which locations; quality of

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
water used for productions and recycled.
A case study of Alcoa's Fusina facility's installation of a
closed-loop system for their process water illustrates the
following eco-efficiency benefits: achieved company's
2020 framework target of zero process emissions 13
years ahead of time; direct impact on water
consumption and discharge to local community; long-
term savings in costs; reduction in the amount of sand
used in system, which reduces amount of cleaning and
number of filter changes thus decreasing the cost of
operation.
EN8 Total water withdrawal by source 210* Financial
EN9 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal Markets &
of water Information
EN10 Percentage and total volume of water recycled and Users
reused

EN8 - Reporting the total volume of water withdrawn by

source contributes to an understanding of the overall
scale of potential impacts and risks associated with the
reporting organization’s water use. The total volume
withdrawn provides an indication of the organization’s
relative size and importance as a user of water, and
provides a baseline figure for other calculations relating
to efficiency and use. The systematic effort to monitor
and improve the efficient use of water in the reporting
organization is directly linked to water consumption
costs. Total water use can also indicate the level of risk
posed by disruptions to water supplies or increases in
the cost of water. Clean freshwater is becoming

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
increasingly scarce, and can impact production processes
that rely on large volumes of water. In regions where
water sources are highly restricted, the organization’s
water consumption patterns can also influence relations
with other stakeholders.

EN9- Withdrawals from a water system can affect the

environment by lowering the water table, reducing
volume of water available for use, or otherwise altering
the ability of an ecosystem to perform its functions. Such
changes have wider impacts on the quality of life in the
area, including economic consequences. This Indicator
measures the scale of impacts associated with the
organization’s water use. In terms of relations with other
users of the same water sources, this Indicator also
enables an assessment of specific areas of risk or
improvement, as well as the stability of the
organization’s own water sources.

EN10 - The rate of water reuse and recycling can be a

measure of efficiency and can demonstrate the success
of the organization in reducing total water withdrawals
and discharges. Increased reuse and recycling can result
in a reduction of water consumption, treatment, and
disposal costs. The reduction of water consumption
through reuse and recycling can also contribute to local,
national, or regional goals for managing water supplies.
Water Water EN8-EN10, EN21 210* Business
withdrawal consumption Identification of the total volume of water withdrawn
and impacts on from any water source that was either withdrawn

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
fresh water directly by the reporting organization or through
sources intermediaries such as water utilities.
Water is essential for all aspects of our business and
requires focus on addressing water-related material
risks. Reporting the total volume of water withdrawn by
source contributes to an understanding of the overall
scale of potential impacts and risks associated with
water use.
Those included in the current G3 framework and existing 210* Business
Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. See indicators-
EN8-EN10, EN21

Relevance sections listed for the indicators above in the

G3 and MMSS.
Mining has the potential to affect water resources in a 368 Financial
number of ways: Depletion of sources as water is used in Markets &
the mining process, some mining operations extract ore Information
from below the water table, which entails pumping Users
groundwater to dewater the mine, a process that can
affect aquifers, smelting and refining often rely on
significant amounts of hydroelectryc energy (particularly
in the aluminium sector), which can affect the availability
of withdrawals, among others
EN8 Total water withdrawal by source 210* Financial
EN9 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal Markets &
of water Information
EN10 Percentage and total volume of water recycled and Users
reused

EN8 - Reporting the total volume of water withdrawn by

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
source contributes to an understanding of the overall
scale of potential impacts and risks associated with the
reporting organization’s water use. The total volume
withdrawn provides an indication of the organization’s
relative size and importance as a user of water, and
provides a baseline figure for other calculations relating
to efficiency and use. The systematic effort to monitor
and improve the efficient use of water in the reporting
organization is directly linked to water consumption
costs. Total water use can also indicate the level of risk
posed by disruptions to water supplies or increases in
the cost of water. Clean freshwater is becoming
increasingly scarce, and can impact production processes
that rely on large volumes of water. In regions where
water sources are highly restricted, the organization’s
water consumption patterns can also influence relations
with other stakeholders.

EN9- Withdrawals from a water system can affect the

environment by lowering the water table, reducing
volume of water available for use, or otherwise altering
the ability of an ecosystem to perform its functions. Such
changes have wider impacts on the quality of life in the
area, including economic consequences. This Indicator
measures the scale of impacts associated with the
organization’s water use. In terms of relations with other
users of the same water sources, this Indicator also
enables an assessment of specific areas of risk or
improvement, as well as the stability of the
organization’s own water sources.

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)

EN10 - The rate of water reuse and recycling can be a

measure of efficiency and can demonstrate the success
of the organization in reducing total water withdrawals
and discharges. Increased reuse and recycling can result
in a reduction of water consumption, treatment, and
disposal costs. The reduction of water consumption
through reuse and recycling can also contribute to local,
national, or regional goals for managing water supplies.
KPI 14 Water Abstraction 109 Mediating
Institution
Definition
Water is an essential resource that is required for a
healthy environment and is used in the production and
provision of numerous goods and services, such as
electricity. In the UK approximately a third of drinking
water is abstracted from groundwater, whilst the
remainder comes from surface water.
Abstraction of water can have significant local, or more
widespread, impacts on the environment. The threat of
climate change, resulting in severe droughts, floods and
storms, also constitutes a challenge for water resources
management. Countries around the world are aware of
the need to use water resources more efficiently and
reduce waste in order to ensure availability of the
resource in the long term. To achieve this goal various
market and financial instruments have been put in place,
such as abstraction charges, effluent consents and
pricing mechanisms.
Processes

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Water can be abstracted for public water supply to
produce drinking water following treatment. It can also
be abstracted directly for use by businesses for a wide
variety of uses including irrigation and for industrial
processes (e.g. coolant, carrier or solvent purposes).

Sectors
Water is abstracted by various companies including
water and sewerage companies, industrial and chemical
companies, and power companies. Many sectors rely
heavily on supplied water, although this impact should
be reported as a supply chain impact and not a direct
KPI. For more information please refer to Figure 4 and to
the section on supply chains (Section 4.5).

Calculation or measurement procedures

For abstracted water, the majority of charges are levied
according to the licensed volume, but actual volumes
abstracted are reported to the Environment Agency. It is
the actual volumes abstracted that should be measured.

Reporting guidance
The table overleaf illustrates the scope of measures that
should be reported. In most cases reporting will be much
simpler, as most companies focus on a specific type of
abstraction.
The most appropriate way of reporting abstracted water
should be in cubic metres.
If an estimation method has been used this should also
be reported. Compliance with any abstraction consents,

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
such as those provided by the Environment Agency in
the UK, should also be reported. Companies should also
discuss whether water has been re-used or returned to
source (e.g. cooling water). Direct abstraction should be
reported as the volume taken, not the licensed volume.

Water use
It is important to distinguish water abstraction from the
use of supplied water.
The environmental impacts associated with supplied
water use are indirect and more guidance on how these
can be reported can be found in section 4.5 – Supply
Chains.
Water (in m3) used per amount (e.g. in tonnes) of 153 Financial
product manufactured Markets &
Groundwater consumption in m3 Information
Waster effluent water in cubic meters Users
Water EN8 Total water withdrawal by source 210* Financial
consumption EN9 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal Markets &
and of water Information
management in EN10 Percentage and total volume of water recycled and Users
water scarce reused
areas
EN8 - Reporting the total volume of water withdrawn by
source contributes to an understanding of the overall
scale of potential impacts and risks associated with the
reporting organization’s water use. The total volume
withdrawn provides an indication of the organization’s
relative size and importance as a user of water, and
provides a baseline figure for other calculations relating

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
to efficiency and use. The systematic effort to monitor
and improve the efficient use of water in the reporting
organization is directly linked to water consumption
costs. Total water use can also indicate the level of risk
posed by disruptions to water supplies or increases in
the cost of water. Clean freshwater is becoming
increasingly scarce, and can impact production processes
that rely on large volumes of water. In regions where
water sources are highly restricted, the organization’s
water consumption patterns can also influence relations
with other stakeholders.

EN9- Withdrawals from a water system can affect the

environment by lowering the water table, reducing
volume of water available for use, or otherwise altering
the ability of an ecosystem to perform its functions. Such
changes have wider impacts on the quality of life in the
area, including economic consequences. This Indicator
measures the scale of impacts associated with the
organization’s water use. In terms of relations with other
users of the same water sources, this Indicator also
enables an assessment of specific areas of risk or
improvement, as well as the stability of the
organization’s own water sources.

EN10 - The rate of water reuse and recycling can be a

measure of efficiency and can demonstrate the success
of the organization in reducing total water withdrawals
and discharges. Increased reuse and recycling can result
in a reduction of water consumption, treatment, and

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
disposal costs. The reduction of water consumption
through reuse and recycling can also contribute to local,
national, or regional goals for managing water supplies.
Those included in the current G3 framework and existing 210* Business
Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. See indicators-
EN8-EN10, EN21

Relevance sections listed for the indicators above in the

G3 and MMSS.
KPI 14 Water Abstraction 109 Mediating
Institution
Definition
Water is an essential resource that is required for a
healthy environment and is used in the production and
provision of numerous goods and services, such as
electricity. In the UK approximately a third of drinking
water is abstracted from groundwater, whilst the
remainder comes from surface water.
Abstraction of water can have significant local, or more
widespread, impacts on the environment. The threat of
climate change, resulting in severe droughts, floods and
storms, also constitutes a challenge for water resources
management. Countries around the world are aware of
the need to use water resources more efficiently and
reduce waste in order to ensure availability of the
resource in the long term. To achieve this goal various
market and financial instruments have been put in place,
such as abstraction charges, effluent consents and
pricing mechanisms.

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Processes
Water can be abstracted for public water supply to
produce drinking water following treatment. It can also
be abstracted directly for use by businesses for a wide
variety of uses including irrigation and for industrial
processes (e.g. coolant, carrier or solvent purposes).

Sectors
Water is abstracted by various companies including
water and sewerage companies, industrial and chemical
companies, and power companies. Many sectors rely
heavily on supplied water, although this impact should
be reported as a supply chain impact and not a direct
KPI. For more information please refer to Figure 4 and to
the section on supply chains (Section 4.5).

Calculation or measurement procedures

For abstracted water, the majority of charges are levied
according to the licensed volume, but actual volumes
abstracted are reported to the Environment Agency. It is
the actual volumes abstracted that should be measured.

Reporting guidance
The table overleaf illustrates the scope of measures that
should be reported. In most cases reporting will be much
simpler, as most companies focus on a specific type of
abstraction.
The most appropriate way of reporting abstracted water
should be in cubic metres.
If an estimation method has been used this should also

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
be reported. Compliance with any abstraction consents,
such as those provided by the Environment Agency in
the UK, should also be reported. Companies should also
discuss whether water has been re-used or returned to
source (e.g. cooling water). Direct abstraction should be
reported as the volume taken, not the licensed volume.

Water use
It is important to distinguish water abstraction from the
use of supplied water.
The environmental impacts associated with supplied
water use are indirect and more guidance on how these
can be reported can be found in section 4.5 – Supply
Chains.
Water (in m3) used per amount (e.g. in tonnes) of 153 Financial
product manufactured Markets &
Groundwater consumption in m3 Information
Waster effluent water in cubic meters Users
Biodiversity and Biodiversity Biodiversity offsets have been used as part of the overall 210* Civil Society
ecosystem offsets policy and approach to habitat protection and Organization
services (BES) restoration. Report whether and how biodiversity offsets
impact have been used as part of the overall policy and
management approach to habitat protection and restoration
Community 1. Rate and magnitude of influx i.e. annual population 432, 454 Mediating
resettlement growth rate and absolute increase in population Institution
2. Biodiversity Metrics of the area where in-migrants are
settling down e.g. species richness, species abundance,
species evenness (although biodiversity exists at three
different levels - genes, species and ecosystems, species
is the most popular and practical unit of management)

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
3. Amount of land used by in-migrants for housing,
cultivation and grazing i.e. extent of land cover and land
use change
4. Magnitude of biodiversity resources exploited by in-
migrants including bush meat, fish, fruits, medicinal
plants, firewood, small timber etc.
5. Point-specific impacts caused by improper disposal of
solid waste and depletion of water resources
6. Impact of human-wildlife conflict e.g. revenge killings
of mega fauna, road kills caused by traffic
7. Approaches adopted by the organization to minimize
in-migration and to manage its impacts e.g. spatial
planning, administration and resource allocation,
planning access routes, access control, use of buffer
zones etc.
8. Results of the in-migration management strategy

The biodiversity impact of project-induced in-migration

represents an important environmental impact of a
mining company. The biodiversity loss caused by in-
migration can be a potential risk for the organization as
it can adversely affect the resource availability to the
local community - an important stakeholder. The loss of
biodiversity especially the loss of endangered and/or
endemic species can substantively influence the
assessment and decisions of local, national and
international NGOs (watchdogs, advocacy groups,
community groups) working in the domain of
biodiversity - another important stakeholder for the
organization. Loss of biodiversity will also be an

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
important consideration for other stakeholders like the
media and the regulators.

A project's impact on biodiversity is compounded by the

impact caused by in-migration. In fact, the impact of in-
migration can be more widespread, diffused and long-
lasting with migrants settling down permanently in the
area. In addition to loss of biodiversity due to direct
exploitation, in-migration impacts biodiversity through
habitat degradation or loss.
Mining operations have the potential to impact 210* Civil Society
biodiversity in various ways and to various degrees Organization
depending on the location of the operation, and the
sensitivity and value of the area. These interactions and
the resultant opportunities and risks need to be assessed
and effectively managed. The number and percentage of
total sites identified as requiring biodiversity
management plans according to stated criteria, and the
number (percentage) of those sites with plans in place.
Environmental and social aspects are inter-linked, and
environmental consequences may be linked to
community resettlement arising from the opening of
mining operations, or arising from mine closure. During
resettlement, the relationship between communities
and local biodiversity may be altered, and new impacts
on biodiversity may be introduced. Reporting the actions
that mining companies take to reduce the negative
impacts on communities, and the communities’ impacts
on biodiversity, will shed light on these issues. Where
possible, include descriptions of the impact (gain or loss)

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
on sustainable land use.
The mining and metals sector has potentially complex 210* Civil Society
relationships with the environment, sometimes Organization
extending over large areas, requiring a careful
assessment of the potential for direct environmental
impact. Indirectly, the relationship between mining
operations and local communities can also result in
changes to the way in which those communities interact
with and impact upon the natural environment. For
those reasons, disclosures on biodiversity strategies are
most informative when they are set within a broad
context which addresses how the operations relate to
biodiversity and the functioning of the local ecosystems,
including the services that they provide to communities
and to mining operations. Disclosures on the approach
to biodiversity management should include
consideration of ecosystems services and associated
values.
Disclosures on the approach to biodiversity management 210* Civil Society
should include consideration of ecosystems services and Organization
associated values / The number and percentage of total
sites identified as requiring biodiversity management
plans according to stated criteria, and the number
(percentage) of those sites with plans in place. Data on
the number of sites requiring BMPs will indicate the
extent to which the company is managing associated
risks and opportunities. The degree of coverage of such
sites with active BMPs will indicate the company’s
progress in protecting and enhancing functioning eco-
systems

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Disturbed and Extraction sites, Mining companies can own or hold licenses over very 210* Civil Society
rehabilitated infrastructure, large areas of land. Often, the extraction sites, Organization
land or other infrastructure, or other production activities may disturb
production a small proportion of that land holding. The impact on
activities habitats and biodiversity is therefore more accurately
assessed against the amount of land disturbed, and by
the amount of land returned to beneficial use.
Measures taken to avoid land disturbance, which might 384 Mediating
be a by-product of cutting new haul roads, mine portal Institution
or surface mine development.

Mine sites can lead to potential degradation of sensitive

areas, such as archeological, cultural, aquatic, terrestrial
sites, or threatened and endangered species.
Emissions to air Fire breakouts Extraction and transport are known to produce 479 Business
carcinogens, fires which break out in disused mines
generate toxic smoke and old mines sometimes leak
highly acidic water.
Emissions to air 109 Mediating
1. Greenhouse Gases Institution
2. Acid Rain, Eutrophication and Smog Precursors
3. Dust and Particles
4. Ozone Depleting Substances
5. Volatile Organic Compounds
6. Metal emissions to air
Total CO2, NOx, SOx, VOC emissions in million tonnes 153 Financial
Markets &
Information
Users
Emissions to air - Mining and Particulate material (PM) and gaseous emissions are 542 Mediating

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Fugitive processing emitted during mining, beneficiation, and mineral Institution
emissions processing (refer to Chapter 2 for details about mining
processes and associated waste). Gaseous emissions are
generated by process operations, primarily those using
heat to treat or convert ores or concentrates (e.g.,
roasting or smelting). Generally, particulate releases are
flue dusts (e.g. from sinter, roaster, smelter, or refinery
stacks) or fugitive dust (e.g. from crushers, tailings
ponds, road use).

Air emissions cause discomfort, disease, or death to

humans, damage other living organisms such as food
crops, or damage the natural environment or built
environment.
The management of fugitive emissions such as dust from 210* Civil Society
mining and processing activities or noise and seismic Organization
impacts from explosives use through, for example,
monitoring activities and compliance with regulatory
limits. (DMA)
Dust and Particles 109 Mediating
Volatile Organic Compounds Institution
Emissions to air - Management Measures taken to reduce carbon dioxide discharge. 297, 476 Business
GHG emissions and reduction
strategies Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and contributes to
climate change. It is therefore important to reduce
overall carbon dioxide emissions to mitigate climate
change.
As per GRI Indicators EN16 - EN20 210* Business

Greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of climate

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Category
(if available)
change. Tracking and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
can improve the overall life cycle performance of
products and services, and serve as part of a
comprehensive design-for-environment program.
Emissions to air - GHG, heavy In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, a reduction of 460 Financial
GHG emissions metals, dioxins airborne emissions of heavy metals, dioxins and furans, Markets &
and other and furans in as well as recycling and reuse of waste, will feature Information
emissions steel production prominently on companies’ future agendas. The Users
consolidation seen in the steel sector over the last few
years is likely to continue into the future.
Those included in the current G3 framework and existing 210* Business
Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. See indicators-
EC2-EN7, EN16-EN23, MM3

Relevance sections listed for the indicators above in the

G3 and MMSS.
Acid drainage Acid rock Measures taken to avoid acid drainage generation. 542 Mediating
drainage (ARD) Institution
or acid mine Acid drainage, commonly referred to as acid rock
drainage (AMD) drainage (ARD) or acid mine drainage (AMD), may be
management generated from mine waste rock or tailings (i.e., ARD) or
mine structures, such as pits and underground workings
(i.e., AMD). Acid is generated at mine sites when metal
sulfide minerals are oxidized and sufficient water is
present to mobilize the sulfur ion. Metal sulfide minerals
are common constituents in the host rock associated
with metal mining activity.
The potential for a mine or its associated waste to
generate acid and release contaminants depends on
many factors and is site-specific. These site-specific

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
factors can be categorized as generation factors, control
factors, and physical factors.

The increased acidity caused by acid mine drainage has a

range of negative effects depending on the severity of
the pH change. Many river systems and former mine
sites are totally inhospitable to aquatic life, with the
exception of "extremophile" bacteria. Additionally,
heightened acidity reduces the ability of streams to
buffer against further chemical changes. As with all acid
mine drainage sites, the rocks will remain capable of
generating sulfuric acid for an unknown number of
years, perhaps throughout the entire future human
habitation of the region.
Mining waste Overburden, * land use planning: geologic risk assessments and 408 Financial
management waste rock, guidelines on biodiversity Markets &
tailings, sludge - - mining and ore processing: methods applied and Information
Risks, storage impact on the environment Users
and disposal - tailings storage and disposal: guidelines, management
systems, monitoring
- mine closure and reclamation: guidelines, management
systems, mine closure plans, monitoring of closed sites
- measures to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD)
- controversies on environmental issues related to the
company's activities

Besides land and water consumption, deforestation and

pollution of the air with greenhouse gases, dust and
sulphur dioxide, the greatest threat posed to the
environment by mining is the disposal of waste rock and

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
tailings, some of which are highly toxic. Riverine or
marine tailings disposal, the practice of disposing of
untreated tailings containing heavy metals, toxins and
acids into rivers or coastal waters, which is still in use in
some places, has disastrous consequences for aquatic
ecosystems, and thus also for local drinking water
supplies and fisheries. In particular, the chemical
treatment of ores, for example the treatment of gold
using cyanide, necessitates careful selection of the
method of disposal and scrupulous monitoring of
deposited residues. However, the waste rock itself also
conceals risks: when layers of rock which from
underground anoxic deposits come into contact with
oxygenrich air and rainwater, they form large amounts
of acid. These lead to acidification of soils and water and
may mobilise toxic heavy metals.

While some companies usually take good precautionary

measures at new projects, there are various old plants
and contaminated sites which pose severe threats to the
environment: companies sometimes buy themselves out
of responsibility for these by selling them or transferring
ownership.
Total amounts of overburden, rock, tailings, and sludges 210* Civil Society
and their associated risks. Processes to assess and Organization
manage risks associated with overburden, waste rock,
tailings, sludges and other residues (for example,
structural stability of storage facilities, metal leaching
potential, and hazardous properties). Approaches taken
to minimize waste and its potential environmental

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
impacts.
Data on waste generation figures over several years can
indicate the level of progress the organization has made
toward waste reduction efforts. It can also indicate
potential improvements in process efficiency and
productivity. From a financial perspective, the reduction
of waste contributes directly to lower costs for materials,
processing, and disposal. / The mining sector deals with
large quantities of material as a result of its extractive
activities. Nonproduct materials (overburden) have to be
removed to give access to product-bearing material
(ores), which are processed, physically or chemically, to
release them from their matrix and convert them into
output products. Waste material can be generated at
any or all of these stages, whether it be overburden,
waste rock or processing tailings, slags, sludges, slimes or
other process residues. These residues may be disposed
of in a variety of different ways: in pits or underground;
on site in engineered facilities; or off site.
Soil pollution Acid drainage * land use planning: geologic risk assessments and 408 Financial
from mine guidelines on biodiversity Markets &
waste rock, - mining and ore processing: methods applied and Information
tailings or mine impact on the environment Users
structures - tailings storage and disposal: guidelines, management
systems, monitoring
- mine closure and reclamation: guidelines, management
systems, mine closure plans, monitoring of closed sites
- measures to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD)
- controversies on environmental issues related to the
company's activities

Sustainability Topics for Sectors: What do stakeholders want to know? May 2013
MINING Page 29 of 95
 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)

Besides land and water consumption, deforestation and

pollution of the air with greenhouse gases, dust and
sulphur dioxide, the greatest threat posed to the
environment by mining is the disposal of waste rock and
tailings, some of which are highly toxic. Riverine or
marine tailings disposal, the practice of disposing of
untreated tailings containing heavy metals, toxins and
acids into rivers or coastal waters, which is still in use in
some places, has disastrous consequences for aquatic
ecosystems, and thus also for local drinking water
supplies and fisheries. In particular, the chemical
treatment of ores, for example the treatment of gold
using cyanide, necessitates careful selection of the
method of disposal and scrupulous monitoring of
deposited residues. However, the waste rock itself also
conceals risks: when layers of rock which from
underground anoxic deposits come into contact with
oxygenrich air and rainwater, they form large amounts
of acid. These lead to acidification of soils and water and
may mobilise toxic heavy metals.

While some companies usually take good precautionary

measures at new projects, there are various old plants
and contaminated sites which pose severe threats to the
environment: companies sometimes buy themselves out
of responsibility for these by selling them or transferring
ownership.
Measures taken to avoid acid drainage generation. 542 Mediating
Institution

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Acid drainage, commonly referred to as acid rock
drainage (ARD) or acid mine drainage (AMD), may be
generated from mine waste rock or tailings (i.e., ARD) or
mine structures, such as pits and underground workings
(i.e., AMD). Acid is generated at mine sites when metal
sulfide minerals are oxidized and sufficient water is
present to mobilize the sulfur ion. Metal sulfide minerals
are common constituents in the host rock associated
with metal mining activity.
The potential for a mine or its associated waste to
generate acid and release contaminants depends on
many factors and is site-specific. These site-specific
factors can be categorized as generation factors, control
factors, and physical factors.

The increased acidity caused by acid mine drainage has a

range of negative effects depending on the severity of
the pH change. Many river systems and former mine
sites are totally inhospitable to aquatic life, with the
exception of "extremophile" bacteria. Additionally,
heightened acidity reduces the ability of streams to
buffer against further chemical changes. As with all acid
mine drainage sites, the rocks will remain capable of
generating sulfuric acid for an unknown number of
years, perhaps throughout the entire future human
habitation of the region.
Spills Spillage of Include spillage of tailings, slimes, or other significant 210* Civil Society
tailings, slime, process materials. Report follow-up to incidents Organization
or other including a description of actions taken to reduce
significant number and seriousness of spills, even at a level before

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
process emergency procedures are required.
materials
Waste Mining and Frequency and level of risks associated with system 356 Business
management mineral failures in the treatment of waste and wastewater.
processing Failures include rupture and collapse of major
infrastructure (dam, retaining wall), leakages, wind and
water erosion, chemical and acidic drainage, and
contaminated releases to groundwater. Involves
compliance with legal design requirements and
engagement in formal inspections and routine site
assessments.

The environmental risks of managing wastes from

mining and mineral processing can have costly
consequences to corporate reputations, business assets,
insurance claims and future policies, and shareholder
value. Threatening human life and the environment,
mine waste failures have repeatedly occurred. As WSP
Environment & Energy argues, these risks can be
reduced and in some cases eliminated if prudent
planning, design, operations and transfer agreements
are put in place. For instance, huge quantities of water
are used to transport the wastes/by-products to
treatment facilities, where the water is recycled,
discharged, and trapped within the waste matrix. If the
system is properly designed, the management of water
poses no significant risk.
Tailings dams Tailing dams are more than 10 times more likely to fail 368 Financial
than conventional hydro or irrigation dams, and Markets &
potentially more dangerous because of the toxic Information

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MINING Page 32 of 95
 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
substances they contain. Users

Every year between two and five of the more than 3.500
tailing dams in the world experience major failures
Water pollution Acid drainage Measures taken to avoid acid drainage generation. 542 Mediating
from mine Institution
waste rock, Acid drainage, commonly referred to as acid rock
tailings or mine drainage (ARD) or acid mine drainage (AMD), may be
structures generated from mine waste rock or tailings (i.e., ARD) or
mine structures, such as pits and underground workings
(i.e., AMD). Acid is generated at mine sites when metal
sulfide minerals are oxidized and sufficient water is
present to mobilize the sulfur ion. Metal sulfide minerals
are common constituents in the host rock associated
with metal mining activity.
The potential for a mine or its associated waste to
generate acid and release contaminants depends on
many factors and is site-specific. These site-specific
factors can be categorized as generation factors, control
factors, and physical factors.

The increased acidity caused by acid mine drainage has a

range of negative effects depending on the severity of
the pH change. Many river systems and former mine
sites are totally inhospitable to aquatic life, with the
exception of "extremophile" bacteria. Additionally,
heightened acidity reduces the ability of streams to
buffer against further chemical changes. As with all acid
mine drainage sites, the rocks will remain capable of
generating sulfuric acid for an unknown number of

Sustainability Topics for Sectors: What do stakeholders want to know? May 2013
MINING Page 33 of 95
 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
years, perhaps throughout the entire future human
habitation of the region.
* land use planning: geologic risk assessments and 408 Financial
guidelines on biodiversity Markets &
- mining and ore processing: methods applied and Information
impact on the environment Users
- tailings storage and disposal: guidelines, management
systems, monitoring
- mine closure and reclamation: guidelines, management
systems, mine closure plans, monitoring of closed sites
- measures to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD)
- controversies on environmental issues related to the
company's activities

Besides land and water consumption, deforestation and

pollution of the air with greenhouse gases, dust and
sulphur dioxide, the greatest threat posed to the
environment by mining is the disposal of waste rock and
tailings, some of which are highly toxic. Riverine or
marine tailings disposal, the practice of disposing of
untreated tailings containing heavy metals, toxins and
acids into rivers or coastal waters, which is still in use in
some places, has disastrous consequences for aquatic
ecosystems, and thus also for local drinking water
supplies and fisheries. In particular, the chemical
treatment of ores, for example the treatment of gold
using cyanide, necessitates careful selection of the
method of disposal and scrupulous monitoring of
deposited residues. However, the waste rock itself also
conceals risks: when layers of rock which from

Sustainability Topics for Sectors: What do stakeholders want to know? May 2013
MINING Page 34 of 95
 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
underground anoxic deposits come into contact with
oxygenrich air and rainwater, they form large amounts
of acid. These lead to acidification of soils and water and
may mobilise toxic heavy metals.

While some companies usually take good precautionary

measures at new projects, there are various old plants
and contaminated sites which pose severe threats to the
environment: companies sometimes buy themselves out
of responsibility for these by selling them or transferring
ownership.
Contaminated Mining activities have long been known to cause 434 Mediating
drainage water significant water quality impacts. Mining and drilling for Institution
fossil fuels bring to the surface materials long buried in
the earth, including water. They also tend to generate
large quantities of waste materials or byproducts
relative to the target resource, creating large-scale waste
disposal challenges. Additionally, surface water may
drain into mine openings, and groundwater frequently
accumulates in mines. Mine drainage waters can be
extremely polluted by salts in the groundwater itself;
metals such as lead, copper, arsenic, and zinc present in
the source rock; sulfur compounds leached from rock;
and mercury or other materials used in extraction and
processing. The pH of these drainage waters can be
dramatically altered. Some mine drainage is extremely
acidic, with a pH of 2-3; other source materials can lead
to very alkaline discharges. These contaminated
drainage waters can devastate local waterways,
eliminating fish and rendering streams unfit for human

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
use
Dissolved Measures taken to avoid contamination of ground and 542 Mediating
pollutants at surface water. Institution
mine site (e.g.
Metals, sulfates, Primary sources of dissolved pollutants from metal
nitrates, and mining operations include underground and surface
radionuclides) mine workings, overburden and waste rock piles, tailings
piles and impoundments, direct discharges from
conventional milling/beneficiation operations, leach
piles and processing facilities, chemical storage areas
(runoff and spills), and reclamation activities. Discharges
of process water, mine water, storm and snowmelt
runoff, and seepage are the primary transport
mechanisms to surface water and ground water.

Dissolved pollutants at a mine site are primarily metals

but may include sulfates, nitrates, and radionuclides;
these contaminants, once dissolved, can migrate from
mining operations to local ground and surface water
(contamination of surface water may also occur as
contaminated soil or waste materials are eroded and
washed into water bodies).

Mining operations can affect ground water quality in

several ways. The most obvious occurs in mining below
the water table, either in underground workings or open
pits. This provides a direct conduit to aquifers. Ground
water quality is also affected when waters (natural or
process waters or wastewaters) infiltrate through
surface materials (including overlying wastes or other

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
material) into ground water. Contamination can also
occur when there is an hydraulic connection between
surface and ground water. Any of these can cause
elevated pollutant levels in ground water. Further,
disturbance in the ground water flow regime may affect
the quantities of water available for other local uses. In
addition, contaminated ground water may discharge to
surface water down gradient of the mine, as
contributions to base flow in a stream channel or
springs.
Mining and Mining activities have long been known to cause 434 Mediating
drilling for fossil significant water quality impacts. Mining and drilling for Institution
fuels fossil fuels bring to the surface materials long buried in
the earth, including water. They also tend to generate
large quantities of waste materials or byproducts
relative to the target resource, creating large-scale waste
disposal challenges. Additionally, surface water may
drain into mine openings, and groundwater frequently
accumulates in mines. Mine drainage waters can be
extremely polluted by salts in the groundwater itself;
metals such as lead, copper, arsenic, and zinc present in
the source rock; sulfur compounds leached from rock;
and mercury or other materials used in extraction and
processing. The pH of these drainage waters can be
dramatically altered. Some mine drainage is extremely
acidic, with a pH of 2-3; other source materials can lead
to very alkaline discharges. These contaminated
drainage waters can devastate local waterways,
eliminating fish and rendering streams unfit for human
use

Sustainability Topics for Sectors: What do stakeholders want to know? May 2013
MINING Page 37 of 95
 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Mining and * land use planning: geologic risk assessments and 408 Financial
processing guidelines on biodiversity Markets &
- mining and ore processing: methods applied and Information
impact on the environment Users
- tailings storage and disposal: guidelines, management
systems, monitoring
- mine closure and reclamation: guidelines, management
systems, mine closure plans, monitoring of closed sites
- measures to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD)
- controversies on environmental issues related to the
company's activities

Besides land and water consumption, deforestation and

pollution of the air with greenhouse gases, dust and
sulphur dioxide, the greatest threat posed to the
environment by mining is the disposal of waste rock and
tailings, some of which are highly toxic. Riverine or
marine tailings disposal, the practice of disposing of
untreated tailings containing heavy metals, toxins and
acids into rivers or coastal waters, which is still in use in
some places, has disastrous consequences for aquatic
ecosystems, and thus also for local drinking water
supplies and fisheries. In particular, the chemical
treatment of ores, for example the treatment of gold
using cyanide, necessitates careful selection of the
method of disposal and scrupulous monitoring of
deposited residues. However, the waste rock itself also
conceals risks: when layers of rock which from
underground anoxic deposits come into contact with
oxygenrich air and rainwater, they form large amounts

Sustainability Topics for Sectors: What do stakeholders want to know? May 2013
MINING Page 38 of 95
 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
of acid. These lead to acidification of soils and water and
may mobilise toxic heavy metals.

While some companies usually take good precautionary

measures at new projects, there are various old plants
and contaminated sites which pose severe threats to the
environment: companies sometimes buy themselves out
of responsibility for these by selling them or transferring
ownership.
Tailings and acid Extraction and transport are known to produce 479 Business
drainage carcinogens, fires which break out in disused mines
generate toxic smoke and old mines sometimes leak
highly acidic water.
Tailings and drainage can impact surface water and 434 Mediating
groundwater Institution
Emissions to water 153 Financial
Components of emissions to water by environmental Markets &
importance (according to TRI; PRTR; and EPER) Information
Users
Chemicals Sourcing, transport, storage, use, production and 75, 291 Business
management management of chemicals and their environmental risks
through their life cycles.

Effective chemicals management remains essential to

the achievement of sustainable development in the
mining and metals industry. Current activities in the
sector have provided structures and expertise to ensure
that risk management processes are shared,
implemented, optimized and made sustainable.
Land use Geological risk * land use planning: geologic risk assessments and 408 Financial

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MINING Page 39 of 95
 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
assessments guidelines on biodiversity Markets &
- mining and ore processing: methods applied and Information
impact on the environment Users
- tailings storage and disposal: guidelines, management
systems, monitoring
- mine closure and reclamation: guidelines, management
systems, mine closure plans, monitoring of closed sites
- measures to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD)
- controversies on environmental issues related to the
company's activities

Besides land and water consumption, deforestation and

pollution of the air with greenhouse gases, dust and
sulphur dioxide, the greatest threat posed to the
environment by mining is the disposal of waste rock and
tailings, some of which are highly toxic. Riverine or
marine tailings disposal, the practice of disposing of
untreated tailings containing heavy metals, toxins and
acids into rivers or coastal waters, which is still in use in
some places, has disastrous consequences for aquatic
ecosystems, and thus also for local drinking water
supplies and fisheries. In particular, the chemical
treatment of ores, for example the treatment of gold
using cyanide, necessitates careful selection of the
method of disposal and scrupulous monitoring of
deposited residues. However, the waste rock itself also
conceals risks: when layers of rock which from
underground anoxic deposits come into contact with
oxygenrich air and rainwater, they form large amounts
of acid. These lead to acidification of soils and water and

Sustainability Topics for Sectors: What do stakeholders want to know? May 2013
MINING Page 40 of 95
 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
may mobilise toxic heavy metals.

While some companies usually take good precautionary

measures at new projects, there are various old plants
and contaminated sites which pose severe threats to the
environment: companies sometimes buy themselves out
of responsibility for these by selling them or transferring
ownership.
Noise and Measures aiming at the reduction of noise and vibration. 384 Mediating
vibration Institution
Noise and vibration can cause a nuisance to neighbors
and fauna.
The management of fugitive emissions such as dust from 210* Civil Society
mining and processing activities or noise and seismic Organization
impacts from explosives use through, for example,
monitoring activities and compliance with regulatory
limits. (DMA)
Remediation, Local * strategies and measures to promote the involvement 408 Financial
reclamation and community of local residents, including the evaluation of the Markets &
decommissioning involvement approaches taken Information
- information / consultation / participation mechanisms Users
for regular exchange of information with local
stakeholders
- training and employment of local labour
- taking into account social issues for local communities
in mine closure plans

Within a short space of time, mining projects create new

centres of population with transport routes, power
stations, industrial complexes and housing areas. Mining

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 Topic
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Category
(if available)
groups have a responsibility to implement these major
changes in a way that fits in with the way of life and
needs of local population groups and to inform residents
about forthcoming activities and their possible impacts.
Measures taken to involve the community into decision- 542 Mediating
making processes concerning the planning and Institution
implementation of mine site cleanups.

It is important for a mine site operator to demonstrate

willingness to share control with local groups and to be
responsive to recommendations from these groups. This
is the heart of community-based environmental
decision-making. Staff should meet regularly with
stakeholder groups that include representatives from
the community, state, and other stakeholders to discuss
site plans and reach informal consensus on them.

It is important for the site team to learn about the

communities that will be affected by the site cleanup
since the values and unique culture of each community
impact how area residents react to cleanup efforts.
Residents in many communities located near mine waste
sites either are currently mining as an occupation or
have ties to mining. They are proud of their mining
heritage. They may view mine wastes not as eyesores or
sources of risk, but as signs of economic vitality - a
reminder of the “good old days”. Relics of mining -
tailings piles and ponds, waste rock piles, cribbing,
drainage tunnels - are considered valuable historical
features.

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Process Issues such as land rights, population relocations, use of 460 Financial
management private security forces to protect mining assets, and Markets &
mine closures also remain controversial Information
Users
Process Number and percentage of operations with closure 210* Civil Society
management plans. Report the scope of closure planning; its Organization
and financial associated financial provision, and its coverage of health,
provisions safety, social, environmental, legal, governance and
human resource aspects. / The withdrawal or closure of
mining operations will have considerable potential
impacts on the workforce, the wider community, the
local economy and the environment. ‘Closure’ may take
many forms; it may be sudden or progressive; it may
leave behind residual operations or it may represent a
complete withdrawal. Whilst an operation may have a
closure plan, the nature and content of the plan may
vary with the different stages of a mining operation’s life
cycle; from conceptual at the outset to more detailed
and practical as the planned closure stage approaches.
This indicator seeks disclosure of the extent to which
operational sites have associated closure plans; the
impacts of actual closure upon the environment and
upon communities may be recorded under Indicators
EN12 and SO1 respectively.
Process * land use planning: geologic risk assessments and 408 Financial
management, guidelines on biodiversity Markets &
disposal of - mining and ore processing: methods applied and Information
waste rock and impact on the environment Users
tailings - tailings storage and disposal: guidelines, management
systems, monitoring

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
- mine closure and reclamation: guidelines, management
systems, mine closure plans, monitoring of closed sites
- measures to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD)
- controversies on environmental issues related to the
company's activities

Besides land and water consumption, deforestation and

pollution of the air with greenhouse gases, dust and
sulphur dioxide, the greatest threat posed to the
environment by mining is the disposal of waste rock and
tailings, some of which are highly toxic. Riverine or
marine tailings disposal, the practice of disposing of
untreated tailings containing heavy metals, toxins and
acids into rivers or coastal waters, which is still in use in
some places, has disastrous consequences for aquatic
ecosystems, and thus also for local drinking water
supplies and fisheries. In particular, the chemical
treatment of ores, for example the treatment of gold
using cyanide, necessitates careful selection of the
method of disposal and scrupulous monitoring of
deposited residues. However, the waste rock itself also
conceals risks: when layers of rock which from
underground anoxic deposits come into contact with
oxygenrich air and rainwater, they form large amounts
of acid. These lead to acidification of soils and water and
may mobilise toxic heavy metals.

While some companies usually take good precautionary

measures at new projects, there are various old plants
and contaminated sites which pose severe threats to the

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
environment: companies sometimes buy themselves out
of responsibility for these by selling them or transferring
ownership.
Social Labor conditions Freedom of Report how the organization’s freedom of association 210* Civil Society
association policy is implemented in practice. Organization
Contractors Report how all policies, standards and practices are 210* Civil Society
applied to contractors. Organization
Social issues mainly center on occupational health & 460 Financial
safety as well as general labor conditions. Markets &
Information
Users
Those included in the current G3 framework and existing 210* Business
Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. See indicators-
EC1, EC5, EC7, LA1-LA14, HR2, HR3, HR5
SO3

Relevance sections listed for the indicators above in the

G3 and MMSS.
Labor Employee Reporting on the representation and engagement with 210* Civil Society
management relations employees, other workers and their trade unions in Organization
relations stakeholder consultation processes is of high importance
given their direct involvement and significance in mining
operations.
Strikes and/or Number of strikes and lock-outs exceeding one week’s 210* Civil Society
lock-outs duration, by country. Strikes and lockouts are indicative Organization
of a serious breakdown in labor/management relations,
and a suspension of consultative processes. Data on the
occurrence of such industrial incidents can convey a
useful measure of the state of labor/management
relations, and the direction of its progression over time.

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
It will need to be set against the context of any
limitations set by local legislation, and be benchmarked
against norms for inter-country, inter-industry, and
intersectoral comparisons
Although standards have been improving, companies 368 Financial
still incur significant costs from poor labor relations Markets &
performance Information
Users
Poor performance in this can lead to costly fines, legal
settlements and work stoppages.
Migrant workers Human Trafficking in persons, or human trafficking, involves the 249 Mediating
trafficking risks recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or Institution
receipt of a person (a woman, man or a child), often over
international borders but also frequently within the
boundaries of a single country, for the purpose of
exploitation. It is a widespread abuse, affecting
developing countries, countries in transition and
industrialized market economies alike. The majority of
victims of human trafficking are between the ages of 18
and 24, with most having received a job offer prior to
their departure
Recruitment Number of migrant workers employed 253 Mediating
and Countries of origin Institution
employment Gender of workers
Positions within company
Length of contracts
Recruitment channels
Any fees for recruitment
Passport retention

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Migrant workers both internal and external are a
significant and growing feature of all company activities.
There are over 200 million migrants in the world. They
are found within nearly all business sectors and across all
regions. Many migrant workers, particularly those
working in unskilled jobs are subject to discrimination
and are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

For many migrants exploitation begins during

recruitment. Exorbitant fees and other charges, often at
usurious rates of interest can leave many migrant
workers effectively bonded labour whatever the
subsequent conditions of employment.
Company due diligence and reporting should therefore
extend into the supply chain for labour.
Occupational Education and LA7 - Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, 210* Financial
health and safety training on and absenteeism, and total number of work-related Markets &
management health and fatalities by region Information
safety issues Provide a description of each accident resulting in a Users
fatality, and actions taken following the accident.
LA8 - Education, training, counseling, prevention, and
risk-control programs in place to assist workforce
members, their families, or community members
regarding serious diseases

LA7 - Health and safety performance is a key measure of

an organization’s duty of care. Low injury and absentee
rates are generally linked to positive trends in staff
morale and productivity. This Indicator will show
whether health and safety management practices are

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
resulting in fewer occupational health and safety
incidents.

LA8 - As part of a preventative strategy for managing the

health and safety of its workforce, this Indicator is
relevant for any organization. It also has specific
relevance for organizations working in countries with a
high risk or incidence of communicable diseases, and
those in professions that have a high incidence of
specific diseases. The Indicator helps demonstrate the
extent to which such issues have been addressed in
organizational programs and the degree to which best
practices are applied. Preventing serious diseases
contributes to the health, satisfaction, and stability of
the workforce, and helps maintain the organization’s
social license to operate in a community or region.
Maintenance Mining is considered among the riskiest industries from 479 Business
and safety of a health and safety perspective. Ageing mine
production sites infrastructure combined with inadequate safety
and plants management systems and implementation can lead to
devastating events. Fatalities continue in the sector
although the majority of companies report positive
trends on the frequency and/or severity of accidents in
their operations.
Description of each accident resulting in a fatality, and 210* Civil Society
actions taken following the accident. Provide a Organization
description of each accident resulting in a fatality, and
actions taken following the accident. These may be
aggregated where the causes of accidents or the actions
taken are similar.// Report a summary of judgments

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
made against the organization in the areas related to
health and safety and labor laws
Risks of - health and safety management 293, 401 Financial
accidents - '- health and safety performance, including fatal Markets &
Employees, accidents and accident rates Information
contractors and '- reporting on both own employees and contractors Users
subcontractors
Safety at work is the key issue as regards standards for
employees in the metals and mining industry. Due to the
processes and/or locations involved, there are numerous
jobs which have a high accident risk associated with
them. While many companies have already put
comprehensive prevention measures in place, the
success of which is documented by declining accident
rates in almost all the companies assessed, accidents at
work, particularly those resulting in fatalities, are still a
major problem and a sad reality in the industry.
LA7 - Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, 210* Financial
and absenteeism, and total number of work-related Markets &
fatalities by region Information
Provide a description of each accident resulting in a Users
fatality, and actions taken following the accident.
LA8 - Education, training, counseling, prevention, and
risk-control programs in place to assist workforce
members, their families, or community members
regarding serious diseases

LA7 - Health and safety performance is a key measure of

an organization’s duty of care. Low injury and absentee
rates are generally linked to positive trends in staff

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
morale and productivity. This Indicator will show
whether health and safety management practices are
resulting in fewer occupational health and safety
incidents.

LA8 - As part of a preventative strategy for managing the

health and safety of its workforce, this Indicator is
relevant for any organization. It also has specific
relevance for organizations working in countries with a
high risk or incidence of communicable diseases, and
those in professions that have a high incidence of
specific diseases. The Indicator helps demonstrate the
extent to which such issues have been addressed in
organizational programs and the degree to which best
practices are applied. Preventing serious diseases
contributes to the health, satisfaction, and stability of
the workforce, and helps maintain the organization’s
social license to operate in a community or region.
Those included in the current G3 framework and existing 210* Business
Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. See indicators-
LA7, LA8, PR1

Relevance sections listed for the indicators above in the

G3 and MMSS.
Safety and a company's safety record are key factors in 368 Financial
attracting employees. Markets &
Information
Although standards have been improving, companies Users
still incur significant costs from poor health and safety
performance

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Social issues mainly center on occupational health & 460 Financial
safety as well as general labor conditions. Markets &
Information
Users
Occupational Accidents Description of each accident resulting in a fatality, and 210* Civil Society
health and safety actions taken following the accident. Provide a Organization
risks description of each accident resulting in a fatality, and
actions taken following the accident. These may be
aggregated where the causes of accidents or the actions
taken are similar.// Report a summary of judgments
made against the organization in the areas related to
health and safety and labor laws
Dust, noise, This industry is associated with a high number of 479 Business
cold, limited occupational illnesses due to dust, noise, cold and
lighting and limited lighting. HIV/AIDS is also a health threat for firms
HIV/AIDS operating in Africa and other
regions, which may affect corporate profitability.
Exposure to In the occupational setting, exposure via air and 305 Business
toxic chemicals ingestion constitute the primary routes of exposure.
Dermal absorption of inorganic lead through unabraded
human skin is considered to be minimal. The relationship
between air lead and blood lead in the occupational
setting has been the subject of much study. In general,
blood lead/air lead relationships are found to be
curvilinear in nature. This is to say, the impact of a given
air lead level upon blood lead will vary as a function of
the intensity of exposure being experienced by the
individual. In general, a given unit of lead in air will
produce a greater increase of blood lead in an individual
with a low blood lead level as opposed to one with a

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 Topic
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Category
(if available)
high blood lead level.

Thus, estimates of the relationship between air lead and

blood lead in the occupational setting suggest that there
is an increase between 0.02 and 0.08 μg/dL (microgram
per
deciliter) of lead in blood for each μg/m3 (cubic meter)
of lead in air.

Long-term high level exposure to lead can be associated

with adverse impacts upon a variety of organ systems
and body functions. For example:

- Impaired central nervous function and symptoms of

colic can be observed in lead-exposed adults with a
history of several years of exposure to lead of
approximately 70 μg/dL
- Prolonged high level exposure to lead can produce
clinically significant reductions in kidney function
- Production of cancerous tumors of the kidney
- Lead is capable of interfering with multiple enzymes
involved in the production of haemoglobin incorporated
into the red blood cell. Exposure levels which produce
significant decreases in haemoglobin production are
generally on the order of 50 μg/dL
- High level exposure to lead can have adverse effects
upon pregnancy outcome in women
Workers in industries using chemicals are especially 529 Mediating
vulnerable through exposure to toxic chemicals and Institution
related health effects: asbestosis among workers

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
employed, in asbestos mining and milling
Fatalities, LA7 - Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, 210* Financial
injuries and and absenteeism, and total number of work-related Markets &
illnesses fatalities by region Information
Provide a description of each accident resulting in a Users
fatality, and actions taken following the accident.
LA8 - Education, training, counseling, prevention, and
risk-control programs in place to assist workforce
members, their families, or community members
regarding serious diseases

LA7 - Health and safety performance is a key measure of

an organization’s duty of care. Low injury and absentee
rates are generally linked to positive trends in staff
morale and productivity. This Indicator will show
whether health and safety management practices are
resulting in fewer occupational health and safety
incidents.

LA8 - As part of a preventative strategy for managing the

health and safety of its workforce, this Indicator is
relevant for any organization. It also has specific
relevance for organizations working in countries with a
high risk or incidence of communicable diseases, and
those in professions that have a high incidence of
specific diseases. The Indicator helps demonstrate the
extent to which such issues have been addressed in
organizational programs and the degree to which best
practices are applied. Preventing serious diseases
contributes to the health, satisfaction, and stability of

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
the workforce, and helps maintain the organization’s
social
license to operate in a community or region.
HIV/AIDS, Access to labor can be particularly challenging in area 368 Financial
malaria and that are affected by the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, malaria Markets &
tuberculosis and tuberculosis Information
Users
Although standards have been improving, companies
still incur significant costs from poor health and safety
performance
Transport and Extraction and transport are known to produce 479 Business
extraction carcinogens, fires which break out in disused mines
generate toxic smoke and old mines sometimes leak
highly acidic water.
Fatalities & Injuries 153 Financial
Total number of fatalities in relation to FTEs Markets &
Total number of injuries in relation to FTEs Information
Users
Social issues mainly center on occupational health & 460 Financial
safety as well as general labor conditions. Markets &
Information
Users
In terms of social sustainability, occupational health and 460 Financial
safety dominate the agenda. Markets &
Information
Users
Those included in the current G3 framework and existing 210* Business
Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. See indicators-
LA7, LA8, PR1

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Relevance sections listed for the indicators above in the
G3 and MMSS.
Sustainable Executive and Executive and management education, particularly for 64 Business
behavior middle- smaller mining companies that are less advanced along
promotion management the spectrum of sustainability performance, is hugely
education on important to getting commitment to- and resources for
sustainability sustainability initiatives. Sustainability performance is
dependent not on just one functional area of an
organization, but on all of them. As such, it is important
that executives and managers from all functional areas
understand the need for- and merits to committing time
and resources to sustainability performance
improvement.
Incentives for It has long been widely understood that the key to 28, 103 Business
employees to changing behaviour is incentives. Sustainability in the
care about mining industry is really simply about changing decision
organization's making and the associated behaviour. As such, it is
sustainable important to incentivize employees to care about
performance sustainability performance rather than simply financial
performance.
Local community Information, * strategies and measures to promote the involvement 408 Financial
engagement consultation and of local residents, including the evaluation of the Markets &
participation approaches taken Information
mechanisms - information / consultation / participation mechanisms Users
for regular exchange of information with local
stakeholders
- training and employment of local labour
- taking into account social issues for local communities
in mine closure plans
Within a short space of time, mining projects create new

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
centres of population with transport routes, power
stations, industrial complexes and housing areas. Mining
groups have a responsibility to implement these major
changes in a way that fits in with the way of life and
needs of local population groups and to inform residents
about forthcoming activities and their possible impacts.
Community Reporting on systematic approaches to community 210* Civil Society
development participation is of particular importance for the Organization
and negative extractive industry, which can often become a significant
impact presence – in economic, social and environmental terms
mitigation – in communities that may otherwise be poor, small,
remote, or under-developed. In that sense, reporting can
usefully disclose how companies act to mitigate negative
impacts, and contribute to local development, and how
consultation processes ensure that the assessments of
impact and the valuations of benefit properly reflect
local views. Reporting on community engagement
processes is also valuable when it describes how wider
and more indirect public benefits are provided (as may
be reported in Indicator EC8), and can be indicative of a
company’s approach to building broad-based
relationships with a local community, not just the direct
beneficiaries.
Social inclusion Report on measures in place for social inclusion. / 210* Civil Society
Reporting on the extent to which community Organization
participation processes are socially inclusive and which
ensure the engagement with women or disadvantaged
groups can indicate a company’s ability to manage
relationships with groups that otherwise might not
benefit from its operations (a social responsibility

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
aspect) or which can oppose operations if they do not
feel that they are treated equitably (a risk mitigation
aspect). Such measures may be disclosed (for example)
in corporate policies, approaches to stakeholder
selection, participatory approaches in community
consultation, and in assessment procedures.
Those included in the current G3 framework and existing 210* Business
Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. See indicators-
SO1, MM6, MM7

Relevance sections listed for the indicators above in the

G3 and MMSS.
SO1 - Nature, scope, and effectiveness of any programs 210* Financial
and practices that assess and manage the impacts of Markets &
operations on communities, including entering, Information
operating, and exiting Users
MM6 - Number and description of significant disputes
relating to land use, customary rights of local
communities and Indigenous People
EC8 - Development and impact of infrastructure
investments and services provided primarily for public
benefit through commercial, inkind, or pro bono
engagement

S01 - It is important to have a measure that reflects the

approach used by the organization to manage its
impacts, both negative and positive, systematically
across the range of communities in which it operates.

MM6 - Extractive industries are highly dependent on

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
stable access to land and natural resources. Land and
related customary resources are of fundamental
importance to local communities and Indigenous
Peoples since they constitute the basis of their economic
livelihood and are the source of their spiritual, cultural
and social identity. Access to land and resources
therefore often becomes a point of conflict between
company facilities and local communities if management
processes are not put in place to effectively assess and
mange, if not prevent, the conflict. The number of
recorded incidents relating to land and other related
resources provides information about the
implementation of an organization’s policies. This
information will help indicate the state of relations with
local stakeholder communities, particularly in regions
where Indigenous People reside or have interests near
operations of the reporting organization.

EC8 - As well as generating and distributing economic

value, an organization can affect an economy through its
investments in infrastructure. The impacts of
infrastructure investment can extend beyond the scope
of the organization’s own business operations and over a
longer timescale. This might include transport links,
utilities, community social facilities, sports centers,
health and welfare centers, etc. Along with investment
in its own operations, this is one measure of an
organization’s capital contribution to the economy.

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 Topic
Sustainability Constituency
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1
Category Group
(if available)
Local Risks and - protecting human rights and preserving livelihoods: 401, 558 Financial
communities and conflicts with policy, risk assessments, measures and controversies Markets &
indigenous local '- standards and training courses for (own and Information
peoples rights communities contracted) security forces Users
and indigenous '- grievance mechanisms for affected communities
peoples
Opencast mining, in particular, requires large areas of
land, these being determined by the extent of the
deposits. This frequently leads to the clearing of large
areas of forest, driving out traditional forms of
agriculture, hunting and fishing. In addition, large areas
are flooded by reservoirs created in order to generate
energy for smelters. The traditional way of life of the
indigenous population in developing and newly
industrialized countries, as well as in parts of
industrialised countries like Australia and Canada, is
closely linked to the land, natural water resources and
local flora and fauna. The changes in land use and (in
some cases forced) resettlements therefore place severe
constraints on traditional ways of life. The industrial
activity also interferes with the traditional extraction of
raw materials by indigenous people using simple
methods (smallscale artisanal mining). This frequently
leads to protests by farmers and unlawful trespassing on
mining areas by illegal prospectors, which in turn
sometimes result in violent assaults by security
personnel or local military or police forces.
SO1 - Nature, scope, and effectiveness of any programs 210* Financial
and practices that assess and manage the impacts of Markets &
operations on communities, including entering, Information

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1
Category Group
(if available)
operating, and exiting Users
MM6 - Number and description of significant disputes
relating to land use, customary rights of local
communities and Indigenous People
EC8 - Development and impact of infrastructure
investments and services provided primarily for public
benefit through commercial, inkind, or pro bono
engagement

S01 - It is important to have a measure that reflects the

approach used by the organization to manage its
impacts, both negative and positive, systematically
across the range of communities in which it operates.

MM6 - Extractive industries are highly dependent on

stable access to land and natural resources. Land and
related customary resources are of fundamental
importance to local communities and Indigenous
Peoples since they constitute the basis of their economic
livelihood and are the source of their spiritual, cultural
and social identity. Access to land and resources
therefore often becomes a point of conflict between
company facilities and local communities if management
processes are not put in place to effectively assess and
mange, if not prevent, the conflict. The number of
recorded incidents relating to land and other related
resources provides information about the
implementation of an organization’s policies. This
information will help indicate the state of relations with
local stakeholder communities, particularly in regions

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 Topic
Sustainability Constituency
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1
Category Group
(if available)
where Indigenous People reside or have interests near
operations of the reporting organization.

EC8 - As well as generating and distributing economic

value, an organization can affect an economy through its
investments in infrastructure. The impacts of
infrastructure investment can extend beyond the scope
of the organization’s own business operations and over a
longer timescale. This might include transport links,
utilities, community social facilities, sports centers,
health and welfare centers, etc. Along with investment
in its own operations, this is one measure of an
organization’s capital contribution to the economy.
Land use Payments to Report on Payments to local communities as part of 210* Civil Society
local land use agreements, not including land purchases. Organization
communities
Land use and Risks and Number and description of significant disputes relating 210* Civil Society
customary rights conflicts with to land use, customary rights of local communities and Organization
local Indigenous Peoples / The extent to which grievance
communities mechanisms were used to resolve disputes relating to
and indigenous land use, customary rights of local communities and
peoples Indigenous Peoples, and the outcomes. Extractive
industries are highly dependent on stable access to land
and natural resources. Land and related customary
resources are of fundamental importance to local
communities and Indigenous Peoples since they
constitute the basis of their economic livelihood and are
the source of their spiritual, cultural and social identity.
Access to land and resources therefore often becomes a
point of conflict between company facilities and local

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 Topic
Sustainability Constituency
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1
Category Group
(if available)
communities if management processes are not put in
place to effectively assess and mange, if not prevent, the
conflict.
Report on any policies relating to community
consultation and support (including free, prior and
informed consent), and settings where such dialogues
are required by company policy and where they are not.
Those included in the current G3 framework and existing 210* Business
Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. See indicators-
SO1, MM6, MM7

Relevance sections listed for the indicators above in the

G3 and MMSS.
Land use rights Risks and Issues such as land rights, population relocations, use of 460 Financial
conflicts with private security forces to protect mining assets, and Markets &
local mine closures also remain controversial Information
communities Users
and indigenous
peoples
The right to access the land is not restricted by a narrow 255 Mediating
interpretation of property rights. The rights‐holders have Institution
human rights, which may not include land‐ownership
rights, partly because some countries do not recognize
individual property rights, and partly because some
people may not have legal title to the land on which they
live or work, but may have customarily done so for
years, if not generations. That aspect has huge
significance for the landless and other rights are also
involved. It affects those with land rights, and those who
work on the land, such as sharecroppers, and those who

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 Topic
Sustainability Constituency
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1
Category Group
(if available)
use land seasonally, such as pastoralists or informal
businesses common in many parts of Africa. These
groups often correlate with those that are already the
most vulnerable groups in society (e.g. due to gender,
caste or age discrimination). Their not owning property
rights does not mean they do not have rights –

The impact on human rights is felt much before business

operations begin – even when a company expresses its
intention to develop a project in a particular area, there
are human rights implications, because of raised
expectations within a community. The power
asymmetry between State and communities, between
private economic interests and individuals or groups,
often becomes the determining factor in shaping the
land ownership dilemma. Business, civil society, and
governments have a common interest in developing a
framework that prevents human rights abuses at all
stages of business’ relationship with land – before
acquisition, during acquisition, and after operations have
commenced and, if necessary, concerning appropriate
relocation, rehabilitation and compensation. The
extraction of natural resources – oil, gas, and mining –
has commanded considerable attention in the area of
business and human rights, but other businesses –
tourism, manufacturing, infrastructure projects, power
plants, public highways, irrigation projects, and even
urban office complexes and supermarkets require land.

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 Topic
Sustainability Constituency
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1
Category Group
(if available)
Community Voluntary The establishment of mining operations may involve the 210* Civil Society
resettlement and/or displacement and resettlement of people. Whether Organization
involuntary voluntary or involuntary, potential impacts may include:
resettlement loss of productive land, loss of employment and income,
loss of housing, loss of access to common resources and
public services, and social fragmentation.
Issues such as land rights, population relocations, use of 460 Financial
private security forces to protect mining assets, and Markets &
mine closures also remain controversial Information
Users
Companies’ activities may impact on the right to 66 Mediating
freedom of movement, for example, a community has to Institution
be relocated because of company operations, which
restricts the freedom of those people to choose where
they live. Development related relocation is permissible
only if absolutely necessary and so long as it is not
conducted arbitrarily or in an unreasonable manner. To
this end, freedom of movement must be recognised and
considered as part of any discussions concerning
relocation. Resettlement should be lawfully achieved
after consultation with, notice and compensation for,
and ideally consent from, those affected. Bonded
labour,56 in situations where a worker’s passport or
travel documents are withheld, breaches the right to
freedom of movement.

Corruption Finally, and similarly to other extractive industries, the 460 Financial
mining space is particularly susceptible to corruption, Markets &
bribery, and other breaches of codes of conduct Information
Users

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 Topic
Sustainability Constituency
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1
Category Group
(if available)
Public policy As per GRI SO5 Public policy positions and participation 210* Business
positions and in public policy development and lobbying
lobbying
By understanding the social and economic risk and
opportunities of climate change helps organisations
reduce their impact on the environment. Engaging in
climate change policy development helps organisations
understand their likely effectiveness, scale and cost.
Bonded labor Companies’ activities may impact on the right to 66 Mediating
freedom of movement, for example, a community has to Institution
be relocated because of company operations, which
restricts the freedom of those people to choose where
they live. Development related relocation is permissible
only if absolutely necessary and so long as it is not
conducted arbitrarily or in an unreasonable manner. To
this end, freedom of movement must be recognised and
considered as part of any discussions concerning
relocation. Resettlement should be lawfully achieved
after consultation with, notice and compensation for,
and ideally consent from, those affected. Bonded
labour,56 in situations where a worker’s passport or
travel documents are withheld, breaches the right to
freedom of movement.
Security Security forces Issues such as land rights, population relocations, use of 460 Financial
practices private security forces to protect mining assets, and Markets &
mine closures also remain controversial Information
Users

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Indigenous Adherence to The GRI should solicit companies’ policies and practices 361, 482 Civil Society
peoples rights international on the question of Free Prior and Informed Consent Organization
agreements (FPIC) by asking if company explicitly recognizes or
(e.g. Equator references the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Principles and Indigenous Peoples or the ILO Conventions 107 and 169.
Free Prior and Reporting should go beyond compliance violations to
Informed explicitly address reporters’ proactive strategies to
Consent (FPIC) address their impact on Indigenous communities
of Indigenous (particularly with respect to cultural heritage) and how
Peoples) well companies are equipped to anticipate, forestall and
mitigate negative impacts. Report on operations where
indigenous communities are affected by activities
(where FPIC applies), where specific engagement
strategies are in place, number of projects that have
failed FPIC review processes, and any projects that were
preempted or discontinued due to that failure. Report
on measurement and tracking of indicators of
Indigenous Peoples’ community well-being, (e.g. life
expectancy, substance abuse, domestic violence, native
language literacy, and intensity of cultural practices)
before during and after project. Disclose what materials
and training the company provides to its employees
pertaining to the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Mining operations can affect large areas of land, displace

local residents, and have long-term environmental
impacts. LEGAL: With the near universal adoption of the
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (IP)
and with the expectation that these rights will be
adopted both nationally and internationally as legal

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Category
(if available)
standards, corporations should be thinking from the
highest levels about how they are incorporating these
specific human rights into their management structure.
FINANCIAL: While there are some examples of successful
FPIC, there are many more where a company's
operations have been shut down, projects delayed or in
some cases forcibly abandoned due to blockades, legal
actions or permit appeals. REPUTATIONAL: Companies
that ignore the rights of local communities and/or
respond to protests through the employment of private
security forces are highly exposed to human rights
violations, and face reputational risks that can lead to
lost revenue or destruction of shareholder value.
Any company involved in mining on the lands of
Indigenous People will have an impact on the local
community. Potential negative impacts include but are
not limited to contamination of and competition for local
water resources, disruption of herd migration, lack of
appropriate infrastructure development, housing and
employment, division of local tribes, increase in vice, and
air and noise pollution. Risks include not only
operational (financial) but reputational. FPIC provides
the opportunity for companies to operate on Indigenous
Peoples' land in a manner that respects their right to
self-determination, provides equitable economic
benefits, and serves to preempt multiple financial, legal,
regulatory and reputational risks. Opportunities exist for
economic partnerships that not only provide
communities with an equitable stake in company
success, but can serve to increase efficiency and

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Category
(if available)
profitability of operations through application of
Indigenous Peoples' unique expertise of their territories
Risks and Total number of operations taking place in or adjacent to 210* Civil Society
conflicts with Indigenous Peoples’ territories, and number and Organization
indigenous percentage of operations or sites where there are formal
peoples agreements with Indigenous Peoples’ communities. The
remote locations of mining operations have often
brought mining companies into contact with Indigenous
Peoples. This indicator measures the level of risk
associated with a company’s exposure in operating on or
near territory claimed by indigenous communities and
the extent to which that risk is managed through
formalized agreements recognized by all parties. Key
stakeholders including investors and lenders, as well as
Indigenous Peoples themselves, are increasingly
interested in policies on free, prior and informed
consent. Additional standards of particular relevance to
companies in the mining and metals sector include:
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples.
Emergency Local Communities adjacent to mining operations will be 210* Civil Society
preparedness community concerned about the hazards and risks the operations Organization
engagement generate. Information is sought on the existence of
emergency plans, how they are prepared (consultation,
rehearsal, regular review and modification), and their
content (arrangements for the management of crises
should they arise); this will assist community
understanding of risks. A fast and effective local
response to an incident, based on an adequately
informed and prepared community, can be the most

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Category
(if available)
important factor in limiting injury to people as well as
damage to property and the environment.
Process safety Safety Mining is considered among the riskiest industries from 479 Business
management a health and safety perspective. Ageing mine
systems infrastructure combined with inadequate safety
management systems and implementation can lead to
devastating events. Fatalities continue in the sector
although the majority of companies report positive
trends on the frequency and/or severity of accidents in
their operations.
Adherence to Number and frequency of work-related accidents, 134, 290 Business
international, including injury or long-term health complications to
national and workers, and processes in place to manage such risks.
local best Relates to type of equipment used, safety measures
practices/norms taken and compliance with local and international
regulations. For example, compliance with regulation on
occupational exposure limits to certain minerals during
production phases.

Local and international laws exist to ensure worker

safety in mining productions due to the high-risks
involved. For example, an analysis conducted by Xstrata
Coal in Australia identified activities within the
continuous miner development unit that presented the
greatest risk of injury. One of the main risks to worker
safety involves equipment design and management in
relation to roof bolting, cable handling, operation of
shuttle cars and load haul dump vehicles. The analysis
led to a publication of a handbook of guidelines detailing
best practice specifications to be used when designing,

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Category
(if available)
ordering and manufacturing new machinery.
Other Artisanal and Risk Number (and percentage) of company operating sites 210* Civil Society
small-scale management where artisanal and smallscale mining (ASM) takes place Organization
mining (ASM) and mitigation on, or adjacent to, the site; the associated risks and the
actions taken to manage and mitigate these risks.
Artisanal and small-scale mining can have negative
impacts on both the environment and the health and
safety of those involved. At the same time, ASM can
provide an important source of livelihood for many
communities. The context in which ASM exists can
provide significant risk to companies. This indicator
provides insight into how the company manages risks
associated with ASM, such as:
• Environmental risks (e.g. mercury and cyanide
pollution, dumping of tailings into river systems).
• Social issues, including potential conflict over land
access and with security teams.
• Hazards to health
Corporate Code of Ethics Achievements in the CSR goals settled in previous 449 Mediating
governance reporting period. Beside qualitative information Institution
numbers should be given too.
Code of Ethics should be in place
Impact on the environment: biosphere and socially
impact ought to be illustrated.
Labor Conduct Code?
Payroll transparency is seldom given; we need it to
evaluate the relation between the highest and the
lowest pay
Transparency for the taxes. What quantum of it have
been paid to the local community, state/country of

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Category
(if available)
residence, etc.

It reflects the "possible way" for mining companies to

become a sustainable industry.
A good skill for social responsible investments.
It may have an impact on economic strategies especially
in the emerging countries.
More the reporting data of extractive industries is
transparent, the greater/larger is the impact on
investments and especially ethical investments.
For ethical analysts this transparency widens the
platform for more objectively assessment procedure.
Most of them excludes the extractive sector by principle,
but this sector exists and needs to be taken in the lively
awareness of the investors.
On the other hand investors may/ought to incite
extractive companies to respect and implement CSR-
Guidelines. Their role to play is somehow more
important than governmental regulations and laws.
Gender GOVERNANCE / EUROPE: boardroom lady boom: is it 389 Financial
participation on possible without quotas? Markets &
governance On 22 June, the CapitalCom agency published its 2011 Information
bodies survey into the boardroom gender mix of CAC 40 Users
companies, with fairly encouraging results: the
proportion of women on the board has doubled in
recent years, from 10.5% in 2009 to 20.8% in 2011.

In January, the French parliament adopted legislation

imposing quotas for the proportion of women on the
board of major companies. Under the measures, the

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Category
(if available)
development of female board membership is mandatory
and gradual: 20% for listed groups, public companies of
an administrative, industrial and commercial nature by
January 2014, rising to 40% by January 2017. The law
also stipulates that companies with no women present
on their board must appoint at least one within six
months of it being on the statute books (voted on 13
January 2011). In France, some 2,000 companies are
affected (the 650 largest listed firms and companies with
more than 500 employees and those generating sales in
excess of €50bn). In terms of sanctions for
noncompliance, appointments that run counter to the
parity principles are to be declared null and void and
attendance fees are to be temporarily suspended.

At the European level and at the instigation of the Vice-

president of the European Commission, Viviane Reding,
the European parliament will decide in March 2012 on
whether to adopt common legislation on this matter (a
mandatory proportion of women in decision-making
positions of 30% in 2015 and 40% in 2020). This will
depend on the level of improvement seen based on the
selfregulation of European companies, in accordance
with the equality initiative adopted by the European
Commission in December 2010 and the European
parliament resolution of 17 January 2008 calling for the
Commission and member states to promote a balance
between women and men on company boards,
particularly where member states are shareholders.

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(if available)
Europe as a whole illustrates the degree of hesitation
between a soft-law approach and conventional
legislation (quotas in this instance), but it is clear from
the experience at national level that the second method
tends to get much better results.
Political Note that this topic is applicable to more than the three 394, 616 Financial
accountability industries noted. Essentially the political accountability Markets &
practices of any company that is owned by public Information
stockholders. Political contributions, the amount of Users
disclosure and board oversight are among the data items
that would be helpful in a sustainability report.

In making investment decisions (especially for investors

interested in socially responsible investing) is would be
helpful to understand how a given company is exposed
to political risk (i.e. are they backing the winning
candidate, are they subject to potential retribution, why
do they find it necessary to make political contributions,
etc.).
I have found the information I reference to be helpful in
constructing investment portfolios that take into
account this attribute of sustainability. Since it is not
currently an established parameter in the socially
responsible investment industry (www.ussif.org),
adoption by the Global Reporting Initiative would go a
long way in moving the topic of political accountability
forward.
Stakeholder Government, Access to land is dependent on good stakeholder 479 Business
relations to community and (government, community, NGO) relations. Failure to
conduct business NGO manage these relationships can lead to reputational

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Category
(if available)
damage, increased operational costs and reduced access
to mineral resources. For example, Vedanta has faced
consistent opposition from Orissa communities
regarding a bauxite mine in India, with NGOs such as
Action Aid, Amnesty International all condemning the
company’s mining activities. The outcome is that
Vedanta has improved upon its stakeholder engagement
and strategy.
Social license to Earn and maintain a social license to operate through an 368 Financial
operate effective engagement with local stakeholders. Societal Markets &
and community issues related to mining were found to Information
be strongly linked to three business drivers: access to Users
natural resources, political and regulatory environment
and a company's reputation.

Societal and community issues related to mining were

found to be strongly linked to three business drivers:
access to natural resources, political and regulatory
environment and a company's reputation.
Stakeholder It is important that stakeholder groups are properly 64 Business
identification identified in the process of stakeholder engagement in
order to ensure that all voices are being heard and
factored into decisions. In having to report on the
number of stakeholder groups identified, organizations
will be able to benchmark against companies operating
in similar environments to understand if they are grossly
below the reasonable number of stakeholder groups
likely to have a stake in their project.

Having to report on the process of stakeholder

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Category
(if available)
identification and engagement year after year will
reinforce the need to continuously undertake
stakeholder analysis and engagement.

This topic is material because more and more mining

companies are working in areas of the world that have
complex stakeholder contexts which are both difficult to
understand and difficult to manage. Stakeholder
engagement is the hallmark of successful interactions
between mining companies and communities, and an
indicator which digs deeper into the ongoing process of
understanding and engaging stakeholders will reinforce
focus on this performance area.
Supplier Labor conditions Labour conditions among the supply chain. 479 Business
screening in the supply
chain
Mining – Coal – Specific Topics
Other Sourcing strategy ESG standards How do you ensure that your suppliers adhere to a 153 Civil Society
and policies of suppliers and standard of ESG compliance similar to that of your Organization
contractors company?

When assessing the performance of your procurement

and purchasing functions: Do you incentivise your
procurement management for the selection of ESG
performing suppliers even if you might have to carry a
premium over less expensive suppliers?

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Category
(if available)
Mining – Iron, Aluminum, Other Metals – Specific Topics
Economic Carbon Carbon A great deal of the environmental damage is caused by 479 Business
abatement and reduction the way we do business. Governments have recognised
offsetting initiatives this and are working to reverse some current trends.
Achieving this will depend on rebalancing the focus of
taxation – increasing taxes on economic negatives, such
as pollutions, while reducing them on economic
positives, such as labour. The European Union’s
contribution to a balanced carbon world includes the
Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which is a mechanism
to cost the price of carbon (negative externality) into
those industries that are the highest greenhouse gas
(GHG) emitters. In the short term, carbon pricing will
change the cost structure for many companies and the
relative competitiveness of carbon-intensive business
sectors. Over the long term, if unchecked, the changing
climate could do severe damage to the economy,
undermining the ability of pension funds and other long-
term investors to finance their liabilities. While some
commentators have argued that investors should
preferentially invest in companies with low GHG
emissions, the prudent investors will also consider the
likelihood that the company will be required to reduce
some or all of its GHG emissions, the timeframe over
which the emission reductions are required, and the cost
to the company of reducing or offsetting its emissions.

Steel companies, for example, are faced with greater

production costs as this sector is both energy- and
emissions-intensive. More countries are adopting

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Category
(if available)
climate change legislation and pressure is mounting on
emerging markets to curb carbon emissions. Those
companies with a comprehensive strategy to reduce
energy will be the most competitive going forward. In
the EU, steel companies have significant challenges as a
result of rising energy and carbon (permits for emissions
i.e. carbon credits) costs. The sector has also been
negatively impacted at the macro level. Softening
demand in China’s construction industry led to a
dramatic drop in steel prices in the last quarter of 2008.
Environmental Materials Recycled input Materials used that are recycled input materials. 210* Civil Society
stewardship materials use Includes both post-consumer recycled material and Organization
waste from industrial sources (e.g. new scrap from
fabricators and old scrap from end-of-life equipment),
but excludes internal recycling within the facility (home
scrap).
Use of recycled steel (scrap) as a raw material saves 521 Business
natural resources and energy, resulting in lower CO2
emissions.
Energy Smelting and These processes require a significant amount of energy 368 Financial
consumption refining that if derived from fossil fuels can contribute Markets &
processes significantly to climate change. Information
Users
Energy efficiency Bauxite Amount of energy used during heat transfers and 268 Mediating
of operations processing and recoveries, digestions, pumping, and the mining, Institution
aluminum crushing transport and grinding of bauxite relative to the
production amount of energy required for such processes.

Energy is often lost in poor heat transfers due to vessel

scaling and non-optimal designs of systems. Heat can be

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Category
(if available)
recovered from calciners through newer technologies to
improve the energy efficiency of aluminum production
systems, including digestion, pumping and the
processing of bauxite.
Energy consumption and climate change remain two of 460 Financial
the most pressing issues facing the aluminum industry. Markets &
Today, coal and hydro dominate the energy source of Information
aluminum production. Although specific power Users
consumption (MWh/t) has been halved over the past 10
years, smelting remains a very energy-intensive process
that uses considerably more energy than steel
production. This ecological disadvantage is partly offset
by the significantly lower specific weight of aluminum
and the moderate energy input required for aluminum
recycling. Nevertheless, further decreases in specific
energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from
anode consumption remain a key challenge.
Recycled steel Use of recycled steel (scrap) as a raw material saves 521 Business
(scrap) use natural resources and energy, resulting in lower CO2
emissions.
Steel Data (esp. share of reduction agents!), energy 65, 613 Business
production, use management
of reduction
agents (e.g., High energy intensity. In steel production the major
coal, coke) source of our energy consumption is the use of coal and
derived coke as a chemical reduction agent which are
indispensable to reduce iron ore in a chemical process
(and therefore they are not used as a fuel). The use of
reduction agents has been reduced close to the
chemical-technical minimum. It therefore cannot be

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Category
(if available)
reduced with the existing technologies. Neither can this
“energy” be substituted by other forms, i. E. one could
not replace a tonne of coal by its energy equivalent of
electricity from renewable sources.

Please create a business category for materials in

general or at least for basic materials. This industry is not
only construction materials (e.g. steel industry is
missing). The global impact of the materials industry is
partly very important.
Emissions to air - Management Data, Management, Risks, Opportunities 65, 613 Business
GHG emissions and reduction of
CO2 emissions in High CO2 intensity due consumption of reduction agents
steel production
Please create a business category for materials in
general or at least for basic materials. This industry is not
only construction materials (e.g. steel industry is
missing). The global impact of the materials industry is
partly very important.
One of the challenges faced by the iron and steel 460 Financial
producing sector is the successful management of CO2 Markets &
constraints and climate change risks. Numerous steel Information
companies are developing technologies to reduce the Users
CO2 intensity of the steel making process. Any
breakthrough would represent a considerable
competitive advantage, not only within the industry
itself, but also in competition with the aluminum sector.
Transport of Measures aiming at reducing GHG emissions from 476 Business
materials to transport of materials.
smelting

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(if available)
facilities The concentrate trade is a well established global
business and involves the shipping of substantial
volumes of material for smelting at facilities across East
Asia in general. The transport of materials for smeltering
leads to considerable emissions of exhaust gas pollution,
such as CO2, which affects human health and the
environment.
Soil pollution Bauxite residue Bauxite residue total in tonnes 153 Financial
Markets &
Information
Users
Chemical * land use planning: geologic risk assessments and 408 Financial
treatment of guidelines on biodiversity Markets &
ores - mining and ore processing: methods applied and Information
impact on the environment Users
- tailings storage and disposal: guidelines, management
systems, monitoring
- mine closure and reclamation: guidelines, management
systems, mine closure plans, monitoring of closed sites
- measures to prevent acid mine drainage (AMD)
- controversies on environmental issues related to the
company's activities
Besides land and water consumption, deforestation and
pollution of the air with greenhouse gases, dust and
sulphur dioxide, the greatest threat posed to the
environment by mining is the disposal of waste rock and
tailings, some of which are highly toxic. Riverine or
marine tailings disposal, the practice of disposing of
untreated tailings containing heavy metals, toxins and
acids into rivers or coastal waters, which is still in use in

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(if available)
some places, has disastrous consequences for aquatic
ecosystems, and thus also for local drinking water
supplies and fisheries. In particular, the chemical
treatment of ores, for example the treatment of gold
using cyanide, necessitates careful selection of the
method of disposal and scrupulous monitoring of
deposited residues. However, the waste rock itself also
conceals risks: when layers of rock which from
underground anoxic deposits come into contact with
oxygenrich air and rainwater, they form large amounts
of acid. These lead to acidification of soils and water and
may mobilise toxic heavy metals.

While some companies usually take good precautionary

measures at new projects, there are various old plants
and contaminated sites which pose severe threats to the
environment: companies sometimes buy themselves out
of responsibility for these by selling them or transferring
ownership.
Water pollution Mining and Ore mining and processing can also contaminate surface 479 Business
processing and ground water.
Hazardous waste Spent Pot Lining SPL spent pot lining in kg per tonne of hot metal 153 Financial
(SPL) in produced. Spent Pot Lining (SPL) is a contaminated Markets &
aluminum graphite/ceramics cell waste generated in the primary Information
production production of aluminium. Users
Waste Aluminum However, as aluminum producers are becoming 460 Financial
management production vertically integrated, they are also increasingly faced Markets &
with other sustainability issues such as stakeholder Information
engagement and mineral waste management. Users
Recycling and Percentage and kind of recycled materials used in steel 612, 614 Mediating

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Category
(if available)
reuse of steel productions, includes steel scraps and by-products. The Institution
scraps and by- main by-products produced during iron and crude steel
products in steel production are slags (mixture of silica, calcium oxide,
production magnesium oxide, and aluminum and iron oxides), gases,
dusts and sludges (produced from dust or fines in
various steelmaking and rolling processes; high moisture
content).

Due to steel's magnetic properties and thus, feasibility

with which steel is separated from waste streams, more
steel is recycled worldwide annually than all other
materials put together. Recycling steel contributes to
resource conservation and industry sustainability,
enabling high recovery rates and avoiding landfills.
According to the World Steel Association, the recovery
and use of by-products has contributed to a material
efficiency rate of 97% worldwide and reduced CO2
emissions as well as generated revenues for steel
producers. On average, the production of 1 tonne of
steel results in 200 to 400 kg of by-products.
Recycling and In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, a reduction of 460 Financial
reuse of waste airborne emissions of heavy metals, dioxins and furans, Markets &
in steel as well as recycling and reuse of waste, will feature Information
production prominently on companies’ future agendas. The Users
consolidation seen in the steel sector over the last few
years is likely to continue into the future.

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Category
(if available)
Water Water Hard rock mines typically require water for drilling, and 384 Mediating
withdrawal consumption for any associated size reduction facilities. Water Institution
and impacts on consumption can be stated in terms of gallons of water
fresh water per ton of ore produced, except for production drilling
sources and site dust control.

Water is becoming more and more a scarce and valuable

resource as population and consumption rise. Many
human factors influence the availability of water. It is
therefore important to become aware of the water
consumed for drilling.
Chemicals Cyanide The use of cyanide has a long history in the mining 542 Mediating
management industry. For decades, it has been used as a pyrite Institution
depressant in base metal flotation, a type of
beneficiation process. It also has been used for more
than a century in gold recovery.

Cyanide concentrations are generally measured as one

of the following four forms:
- Free Cyanide. Free cyanide refers to the cyanide that is
present in solution as CN or HCN and includes cyanide-
bonded sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium (free
cyanide is very difficult to measure except at high
concentrations and its results are often unreliable,
difficult to duplicate, or inaccurate).
- Weak Acid Dissociable (WAD) Cyanide. WAD cyanide is
the fraction of cyanide that will volatilize to HCN in a
weak acid solution at a pH of 4.5. WAD cyanide includes
free cyanide, simple cyanide, and weak cyanide
complexes of zinc, cadmium, silver, copper, and nickel.

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 Topic
Sustainability
Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
- Total Cyanide. Total cyanide refers to all of the cyanide
present in any form, including iron, cobalt, and gold
complexes.
- Cyanide Amenable to Chlorination (CATC). CATC
cyanide refers to the cyanide that is destroyed by
chlorination. CATC is commonly used at water treatment
plants.

Cyanide can cause two major types of potential

environmental impacts at abandoned mine sites:
- Free-standing Cyanide Solution. Cyanide-containing
ponds and ditches can present an acute hazard to
wildlife and birds. Tailings ponds may present similar
hazards, although cyanide concentrations are typically
much lower.
- Cyanide Leachate from Process or Waste units. Cyanide
in active heaps and ponds and in mining wastes (e.g.,
heaps and dumps of spent ore, tailings impoundments)
may be released and present hazards to surface water or
ground water. In all but a few major cases, cyanide spills
have been contained onsite, and soils have provided
significant attenuation in most cases. Cyanide may also
increase the potential for metals to go into solution and,
therefore, be transported to other locations.
Other Reserves The main sustainability issue facing the mining industry 460 Financial
is that of declining ore grades which implies that, over Markets &
time, more mineral ore needs to be extracted and Information
processed in order to produce the same amount of Users
metal. This is likely to exacerbate many of the
environmental and social issues facing the mining &

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
metals industry going forward. Prominent environmental
issues include mineral waste management as well as the
management of key inputs such as energy and water.
Stakeholder Social license to However, as aluminum producers are becoming 460 Financial
relations to operate vertically integrated, they are also increasingly faced Markets &
conduct business with other sustainability issues such as stakeholder Information
engagement and mineral waste management. Users
Mining – Other (Rare Minerals, Precious Metals and Gems) – Specific Topics
Environmental Materials Recycled input Materials used that are recycled input materials. 210* Civil Society
stewardship materials use Includes both post-consumer recycled material and Organization
waste from industrial sources (e.g. new scrap from
fabricators and old scrap from end-of-life equipment),
but excludes internal recycling within the facility (home
scrap).
Energy Smelting and These processes require a significant amount of energy 368 Financial
consumption refining that if derived from fossil fuels can contribute Markets &
processes significantly to climate change. Information
Users
Energy efficiency Recovery and * climate protection strategy and measures 262, 401 Financial
of operations use of - GHG emissions data Markets &
secondary raw - energy and GHG efficiency of metals production Information
materials - measures to improve energy and GHG efficiency of Users
metals production
- use of secondary raw materials in the production

The metals and mining industry is a significant consumer

of fossil fuels and electrical energy. In view of the
continuing rise in the concentration of CO2 in the
atmosphere and the associated impact on climate,
mining companies therefore have a particular

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MINING Page 85 of 95
 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
responsibility to take steps to reduce CO2 emissions. If
nothing else, rising energy prices have prompted
companies to take numerous measures to improve the
energy efficiency of their processes. Large potential
savings can also be generated by using secondary raw
materials (scrap metal), the processing of which requires
many times less energy than the use of primary raw
materials (ores).
On cost grounds alone, companies are favourably
disposed toward energy-saving production processes
and the processing of scrap metal. However, they
frequently cite the lack of availability of scrap metal as a
counter-argument to further increasing the proportion
of secondary raw materials in their production. For the
industry to develop sustainably, the individual players
need in future to focus more on using renewable energy
sources such as, in particular, the sun, wind and biomass
and to develop measures to promote the extensive
recovery and use of secondary raw materials.
Radioactive Risks, storage The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 45 Civil Society
waste and disposal estimates that the industry annually produces 1 million Organization
barrels (200,000 m3) of what it considers ‘low and
intermediate-level waste’ and about 50,000 barrels
(10,000 m3) of the even more dangerous ‘high-level
waste’. These numbers do not include spent nuclear
fuel, which is also high-level waste. It takes 240,000
years for radioactive plutonium to decay to a level that is
safe for human exposure, which is an even longer period
than modern humans have been on the Earth (200,000
years). There is no way to guarantee that these

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
substances can be kept safe for this amount of time. It is
senseless to allow the nuclear industry to continue
producing more nuclear waste.
Remediation, Nuclear power Nuclear decommissioning refers to safe handling, at the 530 Mediating
reclamation and reactors and end of life, of nuclear power reactors and nuclear Institution
decommissioning plant facilities. As the first generations of such reactors reach
decommissionin the end of their original design lives and some countries
g review their nuclear power programmes, the number of
reactors to be decommissioned in the next ten years is
set to increase significantly. Each decommissioning
presents particular technical challenges and risks to
human health and the environment. The cost of
decommissioning varies greatly, depending on the
reactor type and size, its location, the proximity and
availability of waste disposal facilities, the intended
future use of the site, and the condition of both the
reactor and the site at the time of decommissioning. It
represents a substantial share of the cost of a nuclear
power reactor’s overall operations. The term
“decommissioning” refers to safe management – at the
end of life – of many different types of nuclear facilities
and sites. Decommissioning is carried out at power
stations, fuel processing facilities, research reactors,
enrichment plants, nuclear and radiological laboratories,
uranium mines and uranium processing plants. Reactors
that power submarines and ships (including ice breakers
and aircraft carriers) must also be decommissioned. The
biggest growth area for decommissioning is civilian
nuclear power reactor which the peat accumulated.

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
Decommissioning typically generates two-thirds of all
the very low, low, and intermediate level waste
produced during a reactor’s lifetime. As the number of
nuclear power plants scheduled for decommissioning
grows, countries need to be prepared to handle these
levels of waste. The scale of the task ahead will require
national and international regulation, extensive funding,
innovative technology and large numbers of trained
workers. One lesson that begins to emerge is that
nuclear power plants should be designed from the start
for safe and efficient decommissioning
Radioactive Decommissioning generates waste that can be 530 Mediating
waste categorized as low, intermediate and high level nuclear Institution
management waste. Although the radioactive waste volumes are
and disposal relatively small, high level waste contains 95 per cent of
the radioactivity in waste from the nuclear power
industry. It will need to be kept isolated for thousands of
years
Social Human rights Rare metal ores Rare metal ores (ores rich in tin, tantalum, tungsten and 56 Mediating
abuses (tin, tantalum, gold), are used to make a range of routine high-tech Institution
tungsten and goods for sale worldwide, such as laptops, mobile
gold) extraction, phones and light-bulbs. Serious abuses are associated
transport or with the extraction, transport or trade in minerals
trade
Labor conditions Employee EC1 210* Financial
training and LA1, LA2, LA4, LA5, LA7, LA8, LA10, LA13, LA14 Markets &
development HR2, HR3, HR5 Information
SO3 Users

Employees are one of our most significant stakeholders.

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MINING Page 88 of 95
 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
They cover important aspects of Gold Fields key values in
alignment with our Code of Ethics.
They support other strategic initiatives that support the
reporting of these indicators eg. DJSI, World Gold
Council, Voluntary Principles on Human Rights and
Security, UNGC and other related initiatives.
Labor Employee EC1 210* Financial
management relations LA1, LA2, LA4, LA5, LA7, LA8, LA10, LA13, LA14 Markets &
relations HR2, HR3, HR5 Information
SO3 Users

Employees are one of our most significant stakeholders.

They cover important aspects of Gold Fields key values in
alignment with our Code of Ethics.
They support other strategic initiatives that support the
reporting of these indicators eg. DJSI, World Gold
Council, Voluntary Principles on Human Rights and
Security, UNGC and other related initiatives.
Other Corporate Employee In South Africa, the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) 479 Business
governance participation Act aims to change corporate ownership in favour of
marginalised black or minority communities. Companies
such as Anglo Platinum (AngloAmerican Group) and
Lonmin have designed and put in place plans to
implement the BEE through employee share ownership
(ESOP) plans and supplier preference and local sourcing
schemes.
Reserves The main sustainability issue facing the mining industry 460 Financial
is that of declining ore grades which implies that, over Markets &
time, more mineral ore needs to be extracted and Information
processed in order to produce the same amount of Users

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 Topic
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Topic Specification Explanation Reference(s)1 Constituency
Category
(if available)
metal. This is likely to exacerbate many of the
environmental and social issues facing the mining &
metals industry going forward. Prominent environmental
issues include mineral waste management as well as the
management of key inputs such as energy and water.

* GRI Sector Guidance

1
All references can be found at https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting/sector-guidance/Topics-Research/Pages/default.aspx

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MINING Page 90 of 95
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* GRI Sector Guidance

° Resource available on request and/or for a fee.

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