S3 Affected communities
ESRS 2 SBM-3 Material impacts, risks, and opportunities and their interaction with strategy and business model
Sandvik are linked to impacts related to affected communities through business relationships in our value chain. People and communities are one of our focus areas within the sustainability strategy and we aim to have a positive impact on society, including people and communities throughout our value chain. We participate in local communities through partnerships, education, and volunteering to bring our values to life. Sandvik engages in diverse community relation projects worldwide with three primary focus areas:
Sustainability Shift: Organizations, projects, and activities related to climate change, resources and waste management, or the clean and sustainable development of communities.
Digital Shift: Organizations, projects, and activities that build technical and digital skills, support innovations that contribute to global advancement, or introduce people to new technologies.
Societal Impact: Projects that support equality and inclusion, improve health and wellbeing, or contribute to positive development in the local communities where we operate.
Impacts, risks, and opportunities |
Value chain |
Description |
How impact affects people or environment |
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Rights of indigenous communities |
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Downstream |
Mining sites may have impacts on affected communities and indigenous people. Environmental impacts can arise from mining sites being situated in areas of biodiversity importance or mining operations large physical footprint. The land use impacts of mining are not confined to direct operations but also to the development infrastructure around the site contribute to environmental degradation in a larger area than the local footprint of a mine. Mining operations may also impact water, soil and air pollution. This can occur, for example, through acid rock drainage, through water pollution as a result of heavy metals leaking from waste storage facilities, from the leaking of mercury or cyanide, or from mine dust emissions. Large-scale mining is associated with complex human rights impacts and opportunities. Where not managed appropriately, this can cause disputes or disagreements over land and resource rights, forced or voluntary resettlement, and infringements on Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Considered an actual impact if not mitigated. |
Impacts in the local environment may negatively influence a community’s livelihood and access to a clean and healthy environment. The mining operations may affect the rights of local communities and indigenous people and, if not managed, result in, for example, forced relocation or other infringement of rights. |
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Biodiversity loss affecting local communities |
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Downstream |
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Conflict and disputes in local communities |
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Downstream |
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Communities’ civil and political rights, land and resource rights, and social and cultural rights |
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Downstream |
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Human rights issues and incidents connected to affected communities |
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Downstream |
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Positive impacts
Opportunities
RisksS3-1 Policies related to affected communities
We have not developed specific policies for the area of affected communities, but the area is integrated in our Code of Conduct, Supplier Code of Conduct and Sponsorship and community involvement procedure. We have procedures for participating in local communities through partnerships, education, and volunteering to bring our values to life, and through this we engage with affected communities. The effectiveness of policies addressing affected communities is measured within the framework of Sandvik Group’s management system.
The foundation of our Code of Conduct is, together with our core values, built on the International Bill of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption as outlined in the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact, in which we participate. We are committed to adhering to these principles, to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We believe that by doing so we are providing a solid foundation that supports a more sustainable future for Sandvik and for our stakeholders. Sandvik is committed to respecting internationally recognized human rights and to play our part in avoiding causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts, wherever they may occur in our value chain, as part of our Human rights commitment, including affected communities.
S3-2 Processes for engaging with affected communities about impacts
Sandvik engages with local communities when setting up community engagement projects. This involvement helps inform our investment decisions and enables us to make meaningful contributions to the societies where we operate, as well as enhance our offering. For the mapping and understanding of impacts, risks, and opportunities we have used credible proxies and relevant reports, frameworks, and media.
S3-3 Processes to remediate negative impacts and channels for affected communities to raise concern
Sandvik encourages all stakeholders to report concerns about suspected breaches of Sandvik Code of Conduct, policies, and the law, without fear of retaliation through our grievance mechanism, Speak Up. Speak Up is available externally and can be found on our website home.sandvik. Speak Up is also available through country-specific telephone hotlines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in all major countries where Sandvik has operations.
Remediation is part of our human rights due diligence process and impacts related to affected communities can be reported through our Speak Up mechanism. Remediation occurs where relevant through our global whistleblowing process, Speak Up. More information about Speak Up is under G1-1.
S3-4 Taking action on material impacts on affected communities, and approaches to managing material risks and pursuing material opportunities related to affected communities, and effectiveness of those actions and S3-5 Targets related to managing material negative impacts, advancing positive impacts, and managing material risks and opportunities
We have not developed specific actions, targets and metrics related to affected communities. The area is integrated in The Sandvik Way through different policies and procedures. We are linked to impacts related to affected communities through our business relationships and have therefore not developed entity specific metrics for the topic.