Corporate social responsibility and the mining industry: conflicts and constructs

TLDR

In response to growing criticism, the mining industry has increasingly focused on its environmental and social impacts, leading to CSR policies, reporting, and a need to understand local communities for tailored strategies. The paper examines mining company reports to reveal the language and constructs used to frame responsibility to the environment and community and to identify potential conflicts. The authors use brief case studies and report analysis to illustrate conflicts between operations and the environment/community and to show how corporate strategies are developed. © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Abstract

Abstract In response to widespread and increasing criticism, the mining industry has started to pay serious attention to its environmental and social impacts. This has recently manifested itself in the formulation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and strategies and a proliferation of CSR, environmental, sustainability and community reporting. Several brief case studies are used to illustrate the issues and conflicts that arise between mining company operations and the environment and community, and how these have led to the development of corporate strategies to deal with environment and community issues. The paper then examines mining company reports, revealing the language and constructs used by the mining industry to frame its responsibility to the environment and community and role in possible conflicts. Companies need to better understand the complex nature of the communities in which they operate in order that suitably tailored strategies are developed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.