Sustainable development touches every aspect of our business and encompasses a wide range of concerns. Here is a summary of our 10 principal challenges, with links to each section where you can find out more about how we are resolving them.
Safety
We deeply regret that during 2011, 17 people lost their lives at Anglo American operations. Our most urgent priority is to prevent fatal injuries. While we have made much progress in this regard, the safety of our employees will remain our core focus until we achieve and maintain zero harm.
Our approach to safety
HIV/AIDS
More than 75% of our workforce is in South Africa, which has one of the highest HIV-prevalence rates in the world. We estimate that 16.5% of our workforce in South Africa and in other high disease burden countries is HIV-positive. The challenge is to avoid these preventable deaths and keep our workforce healthy and operating safely.
Our approach to HIV/AIDS
Climate change
The way that companies respond to climate change now will define their long-term sustainability in an increasingly carbon-constrained world. Our role is to find ways to continue delivering value to our stakeholders while playing our part in mitigating climate change, and protecting our interests from its potential impacts.
Our approach to climate change
Occupational health
The long latent period associated with many occupational diseases means that we have to provide a working environment that will guard against any adverse impacts on employees by putting adequate measures in place to prevent harm.
Our approach to health and wellbeing
Water
Many Anglo American operations are situated in water-stressed regions. Water-supply security is of strategic importance both to us and to the communities and countries in which we operate – as is the quality of the water that we release back into catchments.
Our approach to water
Mine closure
Ensuring sustainable mine closure is a goal that requires an integrated approach. It is only through mastering the complexity of issues around sustainable socio-economic development and world-class environmental stewardship that we will achieve this outcome.
Our approach to mine closure
Waste
There is no easy way to reduce the volume of mineral waste we produce. Our challenge is to ensure that we continue to find more efficient and cleaner ways of extracting ore, and that the disposal of waste is managed effectively where alternative uses are not yet available.
Our approach to waste management
Socio-economic development
The legitimacy of the mining industry, in developing countries in particular, rests on its ability to contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of host communities. The challenge is to find development solutions that make the necessary positive impact, and endure beyond mine closure.
Our approach to socio-economic development
Human rights
Improving our performance in a range of priorities, including safety, health, socio-economic development, community engagement and employee rights, will, together with the right management system standards and grievance procedures, enable us to respect and support human rights.
Our approach to human rights
Supply chain
We believe that Anglo American has a great opportunity to use its influence and expertise to promote responsible, ethical and sustainable business practice throughout its supply chain. While not raised as a material concern by our stakeholders, we believe that there are potential opportunities associated with our supply chain.
Our approach to supply chain