Denim Sustainability Requires Collaboration in Order to Advance

A new initiative to support Latin America and the Caribbean in the transition to a circular economy as part of the COVID-19 recovery has been launched. The Regional Coalition on Circular Economy was announced during a virtual side event at the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of the region, hosted by Barbados and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The Coalition will support access to financing by governments and the private sector, with special emphasis on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in order to promote resource mobilization for innovation and the implementation of specific projects in the region.

Our industry must address critical challenges of safety, productivity, and the way we use land, energy, and water. As our global population grows, this leads to a greater demand for minerals and metals, core components of products and services that are essential to human progress.  But it’s about more than just the work we do and the footprint we leave. We are part of people’s lives. People who demand and deserve more than just high product quality. Modern society rightly expects the mining industry to make a positive contribution to socio-economic development in a sustainable way by reducing its environmental footprint and supporting biodiversity.  Our definition of sustainability – A sustainable business is purposeful, competitive, resilient and agile –it’s a business that thrives through both economic and social cycles.  By understanding the context and listening to stakeholders we stay ahead of evolving trends and provide the solutions to societal expectations around sustainable development. By solving the physical challenges of mining through restless innovation, and by constantly searching for more responsible ways to do business, we are changing the way our employees and stakeholders experience our business – creating enduring value for all stakeholders.  FutureSmart MiningTM – A blueprint for future success – Our Purpose is to re-imagine mining to improve people’s lives.  Central to living up to our Purpose is our FutureSmart MiningTM programme – our innovation-led pathway to sustainable mining. It is our blueprint for the future of our business. A future in which broad, innovative thinking, enabling technologies, and collaborative partnerships will shape an industry that is safer, more sustainable and efficient, and better harmonised with the needs of our host communities and society.  Our Sustainable Mining Plan is integral to FutureSmart MiningTM – We have developed a Sustainable Mining Plan that will foster innovation and deliver step change results across the entire mining value chain, from mineral discovery right through to marketing.  Our Sustainable Mining Plan is designed specifically to drive business efficiencies, resilience and agility. It will ensure that we deliver outstanding sustained business results across all seven of our pillars of value, without compromise – safety, environment, social, people, production, cost/margin, and returns/financial. Sustainability is at the heart of our decision-making – it is how we do business.