Our approach
Global economic uncertainty brings new challenges for our industry. While immediate business plans may change, our vision for sustainable development does not.
The most commonly accepted definition of sustainable development is contained in a 1987 report from the World Commission on Environment & Development called "Our Common Future", also referred to as the Bruntland definition: "Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
Mining and producing coal can make a contribution to present and future generations. Through the supply of affordable and reliable energy, the provision of employment opportunities and even the rehabilitation of previously degraded land once mining ceases. However if not managed, our activities have the ability to detract from sustainable development, such as the use of water and land, amenity impacts on local communities and production of greenhouse gas emissions from our operations and the use of our coal.
For Coal & Allied, sustainable development is about choosing a responsible way to do things - to act responsibly, to get the most value from what we do and leave things in the best possible way once we are finished mining.
In practice, this means:
- understanding stakeholder expectations, balancing conflicting expectations and changing behaviours appropriately
- working with customers and suppliers to maximise the use of our products and minimise adverse effects
- engaging with people inside and outside the business
- managing operations responsibly, to maximise resource use and minimise social or environmental effects
- having open and accountable governance frameworks, and
- delivering year-on-year improvement.
Our sustainable development contribution will be maximised if is it integrated into everything we do, from high level business planning through to everyday tasks. As a result, our sustainable development framework is integrated with our business strategic map.
Often we practice taking a sustainable development approach without thinking about it too much. We promote business improvement ideas and knowledge sharing to get the best value and efficiency from our operations and product. Our "Goal is Zero" campaign is a constant reminder about our ultimate aim to provide a workplace that is free from injury and illness.
Our environmental management system is built on responsible use of water, energy and raw materials and we aim to minimise the release of pollutants and waste where we can. We also work hard on building good relationships with our neighbouring communities, so that we can continue to operate - now, and into the future.
By doing these things we aim to get the best out of our business and maximise our long term value.
We also recognise that sustainable development is not something a single organisation can achieve on its own, nor is it a single project that can be completed and ticked off as it's finished.
It is about the way we work, within our business and in our interactions with others, to meet the multiple objectives of social wellbeing, environmental stewardship and economic prosperity, throughout the life of a mine and beyond.
