Mark Cutifani, chief executive of Anglo American, said: “Our metals and minerals are the precious ingredients that enable and celebrate so many aspects of our modern lives. But our role in today’s world is far greater than simply as a supplier of physical products.
“If Anglo American is to play its part in creating a sustainable future for the world and improving the lives of all of us who live here, then we must be prepared to challenge our business and ourselves, by re-imagining mining.”
Anglo American’s Sustainability Strategy is part of FutureSmart Mining, the company’s innovation-led approach to sustainable mining. It is the blueprint for the future of the business, a future in which all mines will be safer, more sustainable and efficient, and better harmonised with the needs of their host communities.
This innovative strategy has been developed following a robust consultation process with the employees and a wide array of external stakeholders and is in alignment with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The strategy is holistic and comprises mutually reinforcing elements that together are expected to positively transform how the stakeholders experience the business. Yet it is flexible enough to make it relevant to individual operating sites and local people.
The strategy is focused on three global sustainability pillars, Healthy Environment, Thriving Communities, and Trusted Corporate Leader, each encompassing three global stretch goals.
Anglo American says these goals relate to the company as whole, at an aggregate level, and are deliberately ambitious
“They will challenge our business to innovate and change, and we are mobilising our people and resources to deliver them by 2030,” says the company.
Its goals include:
- Creating five jobs off-site for every job on-site in Anglo American’s host communities;
- Working with government to ensure every school in its host communities performs among the top 20% of state schools in the country;
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30%;
- Improving energy efficiency by 30%, and
- Reducing freshwater abstraction by 50% in water-scarce regions.
“Delivering on these commitments will transform the way Anglo American does business. Keeping our people and the environment safe, supporting excellent education, and using our unique approach of collaborative regional development to further enhance our ability to provide truly sustainable benefits for our host communities present a different picture of the future of mining.
“The financial benefits to our business by 2030 are expected to be significant, including from substantially reduced energy and water costs,” said Mark Cutifani.
“At the same time, we expect our innovative approach and the technologies we are developing to open up new mineral resource opportunities for us over the medium term.”
Anglo American’s Sustainability Strategy was launched yesterday (13 March) to an audience of socially responsible investors as part of the company’s presentation of its 2017 sustainability performance.
Anglo American’s 2017 Sustainability Report and Annual Report are available at the company’s <%$Linker:
