Working across the value chain to address nature-related risks and opportunities

Our approach to nature-positive outcomes extends well beyond our operational footprint.

Recognising that nature-related risks and impacts are upstream and downstream in the value chain, we have been piloting new ways of understanding, prioritising and influencing change where we do not have direct operational control.

Working within the value chain, we conducted an upstream assessment of mining tyres and a downstream initiative at Saldanha Bay using environmental DNA (eDNA)*.

Upstream: understanding and influencing supply chain impacts

Mining tyres are a critical input to operations, yet their production depends heavily on natural rubber, a commodity associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss, and social impacts in tropical landscapes.

To better understand these risks, we undertook a detailed pilot assessment of the tyre supply chain, focusing on natural rubber sourcing linked to Michelin.

This work was undertaken as part of a Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) pilot and followed the LEAP process (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare), providing a structured and repeatable way to assess nature-related dependencies and impacts in complex supply chains.

Using global datasets and tools such as the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter, ENCORE, IBAT and Global Forest Watch, we mapped priority suppliers and identified high-risk sourcing regions, including rubber plantations in Indonesia.

The assessment highlighted dependencies on ecosystem services such as soil fertility and water regulation, alongside significant risks related to deforestation, habitat loss and impacts on threatened species and local livelihoods.

These nature-related risks also translate into business risks, including supply disruption, price volatility, regulatory pressure and reputational exposure.

While the pilot produced specific insights for one priority supplier, its broader value lies in how it demonstrates a proactive, upstream approach.

Rather than treating supply chain impacts as outside its remit, we are using this analysis to engage suppliers, encourage commitments such as zero deforestation and restoration, and explore system-level solutions including alternative materials, recycling and landscape-scale nature-based solutions.

This reflects a deliberate shift from reactive risk management towards shared responsibility and collaboration across the value chain.

Downstream: understanding impacts at the point of use

Downstream, we applied eDNA monitoring at Saldanha Bay in South Africa to better understand how product movement interfaces with marine ecosystems beyond the mine gate.

Saldanha Bay is a key export hub, where shipping, port operations and associated activities interact with a biologically rich coastal and marine environment.

While these activities sit outside direct operational control, they form a critical part of the value chain and therefore of our nature-related risk and impact profile.

Environmental DNA monitoring provides a non-invasive, highly sensitive method for detecting the presence and diversity of marine species through genetic material found in seawater.

By analysing eDNA samples, we can establish a clearer picture of biodiversity patterns in and around the port, including the presence of ecologically important or sensitive species, without relying solely on traditional survey methods that are often costly, episodic or limited in spatial coverage.

At Saldanha Bay, eDNA was used to build a baseline understanding of marine biodiversity and to track changes over time in response to shipping activity and port use.

This supports early detection of potential pressures, such as shifts in species composition or the presence of non-native species, and provides evidence to inform engagement with port authorities, logistics partners and customers.

The focus is not on attributing impact to a single actor, but on improving collective understanding of ecosystem condition and shared dependencies on healthy marine systems.

In partnership with the Saldanha Bay Water Quality Trust, eDNA monitoring continues to provide insights into downstream impacts and guide conservation actions in the bay.

Using eDNA downstream reflects our broader approach to value chain stewardship.

It recognises that nature-related risks can emerge where products are transported, processed or used, and that credible data is essential for constructive collaboration.

By investing in advanced monitoring tools such as eDNA, we are strengthening transparency, supporting science-based decision-making, and enabling more informed dialogue across the value chain to help safeguard ecosystem resilience alongside economic activity.

Why value chain engagement matters

Together, these upstream and downstream examples reflect a consistent rationale.

Nature-related risks are often systemic, cumulative and embedded in value chains.

They cannot be effectively addressed through site-level action alone.

By working across the value chain, we can anticipate risks earlier, influence outcomes beyond its direct control, and contribute to broader landscape and seascape resilience.

This approach also aligns with emerging expectations under frameworks such as TNFD, which emphasise value chain impacts and dependencies.

More fundamentally, it supports Anglo American’s ambition to contribute to a nature-positive future by addressing the drivers of nature loss, not just the symptoms, and by partnering with suppliers, customers and stakeholders to deliver change at scale.

* eDNA, or environmental DNA, is genetic material collected from environmental samples like soil or water, which is non-invasive tool used to detect and monitor the presence of different species.

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Nature

Working across the value chain to address nature-related risks and opportunities

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