Is sustainability enough?

Sustainability. As a term, it has been somewhat overused and abused this year, particularly by companies keen to tout their green credentials. I think it’s time to clarify what it means for mining to be ‘sustainable’. And, more importantly, to ask if a sustainable industry is really what we want?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines sustainability as: “the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level”. 

It is usually assumed to be associated with natural resources and ecological balance. However, as I recently explained to a new client, given the above definition, any initiative or tool designed to improve the longevity of mining could theoretically fall under the sustainability umbrella. 

For instance, without intelligent, skilled people to manage mining operations, would they be sustainable? No. Without the correct investment, would a technology start-up be sustainable enough to see its innovations become mainstream? No.

There is more than one way to skin this cat but, personally, I think it’s more interesting to look at whether sustainability is the right thing to strive for in this instance. 

To sustain implies that we are content with what we currently do. It does not imply progress or the pursuit of excellence. Is that really the message we want to communicate to a society that is hungry for change?

While there are certain aspects of mining that are technically unsustainable – unmonitored and abandoned wet tailings facilities, for instance - I don’t think making them more sustainable is the right solution. In my eyes, it’s better to rethink practices that are no longer fit for purpose and transform or replace them rather than try to sustain them. 

Many people/companies are working hard to go above and beyond what they currently achieve; not just in terms of metal production but also in safety, resource use and waste management… We all want the mining industry to thrive, rather than just survive.

So, let’s not diminish our efforts.

As this is the last edition of The Broadcast for 2020, I shall wish you all a relaxed, peaceful and (hopefully not too) socially distanced Xmas break. I’ll see you in January. And here’s what’s coming up if you’re the sneak peek type…

Have a very happy Christmas

Carly