The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) has produced a four page, Water Stewardship Framework, an outline of its members approach to using a shared resource that is an essential part of all mining and metals operations.

The framework is built around four key elements:

1. be transparent and accountable
2. engage proactively and inclusively
3. adopt a catchment-based approach
4. effective water resource management.

The elements are high level and very flexible but reflect recognition of the need to dialogue on scarce water resources to ensure equitable distribution. The content will be very useful to those who are in the process of writing water policies or guidelines for engagement on water allocation. The document can be freely downloaded.

WBCSD BUSINESS GUIDE TO WATER VALUATION

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) publication, Water valuation: Building the Business case aims to demonstrate the business case for companies to engage in water valuation. It is supported by a review of 21 business case studies that illustrate why and how different companies have carried out water valuation. It is a first response to Vision 2050, a WBCSD report that lays out a pathway leading to a world where 9 billion people live well, within the limits of the planet, by 2050 (WBCSD, 2010). Water Valuation: Building the Business case paves the way towards the integration of true water values and true water costs into decision-making.

The UK-based International Council on Mining & Minerals (ICMM) has launched an on-line toolkit on materials stewardship, incorporating industry specific tools and case studies of materials stewardship in practice.

The Toolkit complements the previously published ICMM Guidance document, Maximising Value: Guidance on implementing materials stewardship in the minerals and metals value chain. The Guidance document focused upon why materials stewardship is important and the new toolkit focuses on how to implement the guidance document.

ICMM reports that materials stewardship is about companies contributing to sustainability by making the best use of intelligent design and application of technology to increase recoveries by extending the resource base through reduced losses, by reducing the use of materials per unit production, by diverting “waste” materials to productive uses and by restoring resources such as land and water to productive use. Materials stewardship is about managing materials throughout their life cycle.

Dr John Atherton, ICMM’s Director: Materials Stewardship said, “…Materials stewardship is based on a sense of shared responsibility for the resources we utilize and the materials we create. This tool kit will assist companies in delivering this through good practice…”