Developing a framework for sustainable development indicators for the mining and minerals industry

BACKGROUND:

Minerals are essential to a variety of industries that help in everyday life. However, the extraction of minerals is often associated with numerous negative environmental impacts. The mining industry is responsible for more pressing sustainability challenges than any other industry. The mining industry must address these challenges by addressing the concerns of different stakeholders, as demonstrated by the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development project.

GOALS AND METHODS:

This paper seeks to contribute to the existing mining sustainability projects by developing a framework for sustainability indicators to measure performance and recommend improvements. The framework includes economic, environmental, social, and integrated indicators to be used internally and externally for stakeholder engagement.

CONCLUSIONs AND TAKEAWAYS:

Sustainable development has become a crucial part of the mining industry, and the industry needs to assess its progress accurately. The framework presented by the authors can be used to assess the level of sustainability in the sector and that of individual mining companies. The scope of the framework is more suitable for large-scale mining and organizations. Therefore, further work is needed to develop a for small-scale mining.