Summary - The view on society – sustainability and mining

Summary

• Origins of “Sustainability”: In 1713, Hans Carl von Carlowitz introduced “sustainable use” in forestry, balancing timber harvest with forest regeneration.

• Sustainability frameworks:
  • Three-Pillar Model: Sustainability is commonly framed around three equal goals—environmental, economic, and social.
  • Overlapping Circles: True sustainability lies only at the intersection of all three dimensions.
  • Nested Dependencies: Environment underpins society, which in turn supports the economy.
  • Weak sustainability allows substituting natural with human-made capital, while strong sustainability sees nature as irreplaceable and prioritizes ecological limits.

• Advanced sustainability frameworks:
  • Circular Economy: Eliminate waste, keep products/materials in use, and regenerate natural systems.
  • Doughnut Model: Ensure a safe space between social foundations (inner ring) and planetary boundaries (outer ring).

• Role of Mining: Mining sits at the start of supply chains (primary extraction) and is also a major user of resources—offering opportunities for urban mining and recycling.

• Sustainability vs. Sustainable Development: “Sustainability” is the long-term goal; “sustainable development” refers to the processes (e.g., Brundtland definition, SDGs) to achieve it.

• ESG: The UN Global Compact and the Who Cares Wins report helped shift CSR toward measurable ESG practices, which today enable companies to align their sustainability efforts with the UN SDGs and demonstrate impact through clear metrics.

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