Anglo American’s commitment to sustainability has been recognised through the company’s inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index, the index of companies that meet a series of stringent corporate responsibility standards. 

The index is globally renowned and forms the basis of a wide range of ethical and sustainable investment funds. Anglo American’s inclusion follows the semi-annual review of the FTSE4Good Index Series, managed by index provider FTSE Group.

Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: “Anglo American’s inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index is a further demonstration that placing sustainability at the heart of our business is not only the right thing to do, but also delivers clear benefits to all our stakeholders. Operating safely, sustainably and responsibly is embedded in everything we do and is a key component towards our goal of becoming the leading global mining company.”

FTSE’s dedicated Responsible Investment team, together with the independent FTSE4Good Index Policy Committee, develops the robust index criteria through an extensive consultation process with independent experts including NGOs, governmental bodies, consultants, academics, investors and the corporate sector. The criteria help investors to identify companies that minimise social and environmental risks. Companies with larger risks and impacts have to meet more challenging requirements.

Anglo American has a long established track record in responsible business practices

In response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, Anglo American was the first major employer to offer free testing, counselling and treatment to its employees and dependants; the Group’s enterprise development programmes currently support 17,200 new jobs in small, micro and medium-sized enterprises, while Anglo American invested US$111 million in more than 700 community development projects in 2010.

Anglo American is committed to environmental stewardship and minimising the impact of its operations. Anglo American has pioneered innovative water treatment technologies for the mining industry, such as the eMalahleni facility in South Africa, which treats coal mine water to drinking standard and supplies it to water-stressed local communities. Biodiversity action plans are in place at all operations located within valuable ecosystems. Anglo American manages climate change through energy efficiency initiatives driven by its asset optimisation process, investment in new low-carbon technologies and ongoing adaptation to climate change.

Anglo American has received numerous awards for its sustainable development performance. It is the first mining company to have a commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals recognised by the United Nations-run Business Call to Action, and its HIV/AIDs programmes have been recognised on a number of occasions by the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Anglo American is also the only mining company to have secured the CommunityMark, an award for excellence in community development awarded by Business in the Community, Europe’s leading corporate responsibility organisation.

Inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index complements the role Anglo American plays in a number of key international organisations working in sustainability, including the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), Business Action for Africa, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Investment Climate Facility for Africa, United Nations Global Compact, Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

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