Glencore Xstrata : 2013 Sustainability Report published

pic2402815 May 2014
Baar, Switzerland
Glencore  Xstrata  (‘Glencore’) has published today its 2013 Sustainability Report.  The  2013  Sustainability  Report  details  Glencore’s performance during  2013  and  provides  an  overview  of  our approach to the areas of sustainability that are considered to be material to the Group.
·Targeting  Zero  Harm:  We  believe  in  the possibility of a zero-harm operation  and  our  priority  remains  the  safety and wellbeing of our workers.  Our  immediate  goal  is  to  eliminate fatalities and serious injuries at all of our operations.
   During  2013,  we  launched  SafeWork,  a safety initiative that aims to bring about long-term changes in behaviour and attitudes towards safety. Following  a  pilot project at five of our sites, we are now rolling out the SafeWork programme to all our assets.
· Engaging  with  our  communities:  Our  business  generates significant economic  benefits  for  the  countries  in which we operate and for the communities living near to our assets. During the year, we continued our strong  commitment  to  community  development  and  to  supporting  the communities in which we operate. We invested nearly $180 million to fund initiatives that fulfil fundamental needs, such as education and health.
   Our  Group  policy on community and stakeholder engagement was issued in 2013. Our policy addresses the potential social impact of our activities    and  the concerns of the communities living close to our assets. We will continue  to  engage  with  local  communities  in  a  constructive  and transparent  manner  and  work together to address any concerns that may arise.
· Practising good land management: We are aware that our global operations can have both a direct and indirect impact on the environment.
   We  continue  to engage constructively with governments and stakeholders    around  climate  change  and  to  make continuous efforts to improve our operational efficiency, reduce energy consumption and implement measures to mitigate our direct greenhouse gas emissions.
· Promoting human rights: Respecting human rights is core to our approach to  business. As part of our application for admission to the Plenary of the  Voluntary  Principles  Initiative (the organisation responsible for the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights), we developed and issued  a  Group  human  rights  policy  during  the  year.   Our policy
   strengthens  our approach to protecting human rights and the fundamental freedoms of our people and stakeholders.
Ivan Glasenberg, CEO, commented, “Glencore’s 2013 sustainability report recognises the solid progress we have made in our sustainability performance, while showing an understanding of the challenges that remain ahead of us. We believe that conducting our business safely and sustainably is our responsibility to the communities in which we operate as well as a commercial imperative.”
Finally, we are pleased to announce that Glencore has become a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). The ICMM brings together 22 mining and metals companies to improve sustainability performance across the industry. Glencore’s membership of the mining and metals industry’s leading sustainability body recognises our commitment to combine and enhance best practices for sustainability. We are looking forward to working closely with ICMM to identify, develop and implement
solutions to the sustainability challenges facing the industry today.
We welcome feedback on this report, which can be sent to
About Glencore
Glencore  is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies.  As  a  leading  integrated producer and marketer of commodities with  a  well-balanced  portfolio  of  diverse  industrial  assets,  we are strongly  positioned  to  capture value at every stage of the supply chain, from  sourcing  materials  deep  underground  to  delivering products to an international   customer   base.   The  Group’s  industrial  and  marketing activities  are  supported  by  a  global  network  of more than 90 offices located  in over 50 countries. Our diversified operations comprise over 150 mining  and  metallurgical sites, offshore oil production assets, farms and agricultural  facilities. We employ approximately 200,000 people, including contractors.