PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Members of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) will systematically introduce the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) system to further improve site-level performance through regular and transparent reporting on safety, environmental and social indicators, including partnerships with First Nations landholders and communities.
Adopting TSM, which was developed by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) and implemented worldwide among key mining nations, would support companies in demonstrating site-level safety, sustainability and environmental, social and governance performance through better measurement and accountability, said MCA CEO Tania Constable.
TSM will also show how operations engage with Traditional Owners while supporting social and economic aspirations and heritage protection.
Constable said the phased introduction of TSM as an expectation of MCA membership will give industry stakeholders, including First Nations partners, local communities and groups, investors and customers, additional assurance and visibility on the sector’s site-level sustainability performance across a range of important practical measures.
TSM builds on existing commitments by the Australian minerals industry by providing a consistent and independently verified approach to assess and communicate site level performance, supporting trust and enhancing confidence in the industry’s sustainability credentials.
“Australian mining is a global leader in sustainability performance, and it’s time to take another step forward to enhance community, investor and customer trust and confidence in the industry,” Constable said.
MAC CEO Pierre Gratton said that TSM has led to better outcomes for mining communities in Canada and around the world.
“We are very proud of TSM’s increasingly global reach and power to improve sustainability through measuring site-level performance,” he added.