Environment
We aim to preserve or restore the long-term health, function and viability of the natural environments affected by Xstrata's operations, so they can sustain biodiversity, landscape functions and the needs of local communities, during our activities and over the long term once our operations close.
We are committed to minimising environmental impacts throughout the life of our operations and to rehabilitating land once operations have ceased, and to return sites to a condition close to their original state. Our Sustainable Development Policy sets out this commitment.
We have determined our key environmental priorities by assessing the primary environmental impacts of our operations, assessing feedback from stakeholders on our environmental performance and their key concerns, reviewing topics selected and prioritised by industry bodies such as the International Council on Mining and Metals, and reviewing leading scientific opinion and research into the potential impacts of mining and metallurgical activities. Our sites determine risks and priorities in their local context and using feedback from local stakeholders and align these objectives with the Group's overall strategic priorities and approach to broader regional or global issues.
Also in Sustainability
Key environmental priorities
We have determined our key environmental priorities by assessing the primary environmental impacts of our operations.
Management
Xstrata operations manage environmental risks and impacts through a Group-wide risk management framework that identifies risks, prioritises actions, implements mitigation measures and tracks progress.
Incidents and compliance
Our ultimate goal is for no significant environmental incidents to occur at Xstrata operations. To work towards this, we aim to progressively reduce the number of incidents that occur.
Climate change
We recognises the environmental, social and economic threat posed by climate change and the need for co-ordinated, global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Water
We use large volumes of water in the extraction and processing of minerals and metals and we also generate wastewater.
Biodiversity
We develop and implement scientifically sound technologies and procedures for the effective management and conservation of biodiversity and landscape functions in the areas affected by our operations.
Air emissions
We reduce harmful emissions to air, water and land and use the highest reasonably practicable level of control from a recognised hierarchy of hazard controls to eliminate or minimise the impacts of our operations.
Waste
Mining and metallurgical operations produce considerable amounts of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes which, unless properly disposed of, can be a threat to the environment.
Product stewardship
We work with our stakeholders to mitigate the environmental impacts of our products' life cycle and supply chain.