E3 Water and marine resources
Negative impacts on water and marine resources were identified in our upstream and downstream value chain, mainly related to mining activities and their impact on water quality and access. For our own operations, the impact on water was assessed not to be significant enough to meet the threshold of materiality, neither the risk, opportunities or dependencies on water. We manage the withdrawal and discharge processes in adherence to local permits. All wastewater from production processes undergoes appropriate treatment, either within our facilities or through third-party operations, before being released back to recipients, or is recirculated and reused. We utilize the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF’s) Water Scarcity Risk Map to identify sites located in water-stressed areas.
Impacts, risks, and opportunities |
Value chain |
Description |
Impacts on people or environment |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Water quality |
|
Upstream |
Water quality impacts are related to the extraction and processing of minerals and metals. The extraction can affect water quality negatively through tailings and pollution. Further up in the value chain impacts on water may be associated with the use of chemicals in refining processes. |
Poor water quality has a negative affect on health and wellbeing for people and wildlife. Potential negative effects on nature include decreased biodiversity. |
||
Water quality and marine ecosystems |
|
Downstream |
Impacts on water from mining activities, such as tailings or pollution to water. The use of water and mining activities can affect groundwater quality. |
|||
Access to water |
|
Downstream |
The use of water in mining operations may affect the access to water for people and nature. |
Water is crucial for life, both for people and nature. |
||
|
||||||
Positive impacts
Opportunities
RisksE3-1 Policies related to water and marine resources
We have not developed specific policies covering our material topics on water and marine resources. The area is however integrated in our Code of Conduct, Supplier Code of Conduct, Business Partner Code of Conduct, and Sustainability policy. Our community involvement projects are steered by the Community involvement, sponsorship and donations procedure. We recognize water as a shared resource and put requirements on suppliers and business partners to measure, document, and plan their work to minimize their environmental impact from water consumption. The effectiveness of policies addressing water and marine resources is followed up through monitoring of compliance within respective policy.
Remediation is a part of our due diligence process. Suspected breaches or concerns related to regulations or our policies can be reported through our global whistleblowing mechanism Speak Up, including impacts related to water and marine resources.
E3-2 Actions and resources related to water and marine resources and E3-3 Targets related to water and marine resources
We have not developed specific actions, targets, and metrics related to the material topics on water and marine resources. We are linked to water impacts through our business relationships in the upstream and downstream value chain. Therefore, we apply phase in provisions for the development of entity specific metrics.
Through our community involvement and sponsorship activities, we have the opportunity to contribute to addressing water-related challenges in the areas where we operate. For example, this may involve supporting local communities in implementing clean water solutions.
When evaluating strategic suppliers, we assess their environmental impact to minimize the impact of the materials we source. Through our approach to develop and offer sustainable solutions for our customers, we take action which indirectly reduces negative impacts on water. We develop water-efficient mining and rock processing solutions that reduce our customers’ water use. Developing and providing our customers with sustainable solutions is integrated into our strategy and business model.