ICMM - International Council on Mining & Metals

NEWS

26.01.05
Media Advisory: Leading Mining and Metals companies will report in accordance with GRI guidelines

GRI and ICMM completed Mining and Metals Sector Supplement through multi-stakeholder process.

Davos, Switzerland 27 January 2005. The 16 leading mining and metals companies comprising the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) have agreed to report on their sustainable development performance using the GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework, including the recently developed Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. The target date for achieving this is within two reporting cycles. By using the GRI Framework, ICMM members will fulfil their commitment to measure performance against the ICMM sustainable development principles.

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and ICMM convened a multi-stakeholder working group to develop a Mining and Metals Sector Supplement to the GRI Guidelines. The Supplement aims to provide a practical way to measure corporate performance against key sustainable development criteria specific to mining and metals operations.

Paul Mitchell, ICMM Secretary General, said:

“This is a significant step forward for the industry. It will enhance transparency in reporting of companies’ operations and their social, environmental and economic impacts. And, it will allow systematic comparisons to be made between the performance of leading companies in the sector. As such, I expect that this initiative will be welcomed by investors, regulators and other groups interested in the performance of the mining and metals sector. It is a true demonstration of social responsibility and business leadership by the companies concerned.”

Ernst Ligteringen, GRI Chief Executive, said:

“ICMM members have backed up their long term commitment to sustainability by aiming for an unprecedented level of transparency. Companies in other sectors are bound to take notice. I am gratified that leading companies in the mining and metals sector found value in the open, multi-stakeholder approach to creating this supplement, and are now demonstrating this in their commitment to apply this tool in their reporting practices and systems.”

ICMM members’ commitment is based on the GRI's 2002 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and the pilot version of the Mining and Metals Sector Supplement, which is due to be released in early 2005. The GRI has commenced a process to review and update the Guidelines, in which ICMM members are participating. The third generation of GRI Guidelines (G3) will be released in 2006.

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• Ten Principles were developed in May 2001 as part of the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework, which also comprises three additional elements: a reporting framework, a forthcoming verification system, and the systematic dissemination of good practice through an online library, www.goodpracticemining.org. The principles cover areas such as corporate governance, human rights, environment, materials stewardship, community and national economic development, and access to information.

• See notes to editors for more details on the Working Group.

• The Supplement is available from www.globalreporting.org and www.icmm.com in English and Japanese. It will be available in Spanish, French and Portuguese in coming months.

• The final draft version of the Supplement, awaiting governance approval, is available on the ICMM website.

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Notes to Editors:

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a multi-stakeholder process and independent institution whose mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. These Guidelines are for voluntary use by organisations for reporting on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of their activities, products, and services. The GRI incorporates the active participation of representatives from business, accountancy, investment, environmental, human rights, research and labour organisations from around the world. Started in 1997, GRI became independent in 2002, and is an official collaborating centre of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). See www.globalreporting.org/G3 to find out more about the Guidelines innovation process now underway.

The International Council on Mining and Metals is a CEO-led organisation dedicated to sustainable development. ICMM comprises many of the world's leading mining and metals companies as well as regional, national and commodity associations, all of which are committed to improving their sustainable development performance and to the responsible production of the mineral and metal resources society needs. ICMM's vision is a viable mining, minerals and metals industry that is widely recognised as essential for modern living and a key contributor to sustainable development.

ICMM’s 16 corporate members are:

Alcoa, Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton, Freeport-McMoRan, Lonmin, Mitsubishi Materials, Newmont, Nippon Mining & Metals, Noranda, Placer Dome, Rio Tinto, Sumitomo Metal Mining, Umicore, WMC Resources, Zinifex.

ICMM’s 23 association members are:

Camara Minera de Mexico, Chamber of Mines of South Africa, Consejo Minero de Chile A.G., Eurometaux, Euromines, Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, Indonesian Mining Association, Instituto Brasileiro de Mineraçao, International Aluminium Institute, International Copper Association, International Lead Zinc Research Organisation, International Wrought Copper Council, International Zinc Association, Japan Mining Industry Association, Minerals Council of Australia, Mining Association of Canada, Mining Industries Associations of Southern Africa, Nickel Institute, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, Sociedad Nacional de Minería de Chile, Sociedad Nacional de Minería Petróleo y Energia, The Cobalt Development Institute, World Coal Institute.

GRI-ICMM Multi-stakeholder Working Group

The Working Group drew together 20 members from industry, finance, labour and social and environmental NGOs, who over the course of 12 months and 4 meetings developed the Mining and Metals Sector Supplement to accompany the GRI 2002 Guidelines. A list of members is available on www.icmm.com/sd_reporting.

About the Mining and Metals Sector Supplement

The Supplement was made available in draft form for public comment in English and Spanish for a period of 11 weeks from June to August 2004, during which 39 comments were received from representatives from industry, labour, academics, and NGOs from North and South America, Europe, Australia and South Africa. The comments are available for interested parties. Following the Working Group’s fourth meeting in September 2004 and approval from the ICMM Council, it was made available for use while it awaits governing body approval from GRI.

About companies that report in accordance with the GRI Guidelines

As of 20 January 2005 there were 625 organisations worldwide that had produced one or more sustainability reports based on the GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. Of these, just under 10% (total 51) of these reports were identified as being “in accordance” with the GRI Guidelines, meaning they met five criteria including responding to each core indicator and featuring a statement signed by the CEO.

Contacts:

Alyson Slater
Global Reporting Initiative
PO Box 10039
1001 EA Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 531 0000
Fax: +31 20 531 0031


Gabriela Flores
International Council on Mining and Metals
19 Stratford Place
London
W1C 1BQ