An investigation into the extent to which the domestic mining Industry has responded to secondary stakeholder demands For an improved environmental performance

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study conducted to determine the South African mining industry's response to secondary stakeholder demands for an improved environmental performance. The study involved a questionnaire-based survey of informed senior managers in the major mining companies. The survey tested progress over the past decade on measures of environmental practice, emissions intensity, stakeholder partnerships and clean technologies. The data obtained from the survey was interpreted through use of existing theoretical models, the application of quantitative statistics, and the use of Chi-square analysis based on contingency tables. The results of the survey indicate that the industry has achieved moderate progress in the environmental performance measures tested. The study, however, finds that the industry has significant scope for improvement through the embedding of product stewardship and sustainable development strategic capabilities. The report concludes with recommendations for internal industry collaboration and engagement with secondary stakeholders, and offers a new model which could be used as framework to build such a high-level strategy