Gender and sustainability reporting – Critical analysis of gender approaches in mining

The mining sector remains economically significant across the globe. With a number of growing sustainability concerns (from environmental waste and pollution to social and ethical considerations), most major mining companies have highlighted sustainability concerns and social license to operate as corporate priorities. A number of case studies have also identified serious gender concerns, including disproportionate negative effects for women (especially for Indigenous, racialized, or women working in artisanal mining sectors). Here, we analyze gender dimensions of sustainability reporting to understand how large mining companies monitor and report on these concerns. This provides an understanding of what gender concerns are acknowledged and reported on by industry, as well as those that are not included. We selected a subset of large-scale mining companies that are considered likely to foreground commitments to these issues (members of the International Council on Mining and Metals, ICMM), and analyzed their recent sustainability reports to understand how gender and related intersectional issues are acknowledged, framed, and addressed in voluntary reporting by companies. Among other findings, we highlight that while some company reports highlight gender issues with respect to female employees, or maintaining community relations—this is often narrowly focused on women, rather than a broader gender or intersectional perspective. As well, we are able to identify a range of issues where specific effects for women are addressed, as well as a suite of concerns for which a broader gender and intersectional perspective is needed.