Towards sustainability in Nordic Mining : A path towards sustainability for the Nordic mining industry

• Rapid global development has led to an increased demand for raw materials such as minerals and metals – a trend that has also benefited the Nordic mining industry. However, as there are economic, environmental and social challenges related to the extraction of minerals and metals, it is important to know which aspects to prioritise for sustainability purposes. Therefore, the aim of this project is to examine the Nordic mining industry’s sustainability practices and develop guidelines for its sustainability efforts. The analysed data includes a literature review, a review of mining company websites, an analysis of sustainability reports, a review of existing sustainability initiatives, a stakeholder survey and interviews with company officials. The study has resulted in sustainability criteria guidelines for the Nordic mining industry. The guidelines are divided into the following seven core subjects: corporate governance, fair operating practices, economic aspects, human rights, labour practices, society and the environment. Corporate governance is the framework for decision making within the company, the most important aspects of which are stakeholder management, respect for the rule of law, risk management and self-regulatory practices and management systems. Fair operating practices concern ethical conduct in a company’s relationships with other organisations, where anti-corruption, responsible political involvement, fair competition and responsible supply chain management should be prioritised. The economic dimension of sustainability concerns a company’s impact on the economic conditions of its stakeholders and economic systems at local, national and global levels. Economic performance includes direct economic value for society. In contrast, indirect economic values relate to investments and services that can have an impact on communities. Local procurement practices mean the purchase of local products and services. Human rights are the basic rights to which all human beings are entitled. The suggested sustainability criteria are non-discrimination, freedom of association and collective bargaining and indigenous rights. The labour practices of a company include all the policies and practices that relate to the work that is performed within, by or on behalf of the company, including sub-contract work. Here, the sustainability criteria to be given precedence are employment, training and education, occupational health and safety, diversity and equal opportunity, conditions of work and social protection and work-life balance.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Tillförlitlighets- och kvalitetsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Reliability and Maintenance (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Nationalekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Economics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

CSR

Corporate social responsibility

sustainability

sustainable development

mining

Kvalitetsteknik

Quality Technology and Management

Economics

Nationalekonomi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

rap (ämneskategori)