Managing for Sustainable Development
Management approaches at Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal BC have long reflected the view that sustainable development is not only ethically correct but commercially sound. There is an awareness that the extent to which our practices are aligned with this belief increasingly influences not only reputation and relationships, but also access to resources, employees, and investment.
As with other Rio Tinto Alcan operations, Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal BC strives for increasingly structured and integrated approaches, through which sustainable-development principles are routinely and rigorously factored into decision making and reflected in standards and practices.
Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal BC acts consistently on bedrock commitments to operate in ways that result in neither accidents nor injuries to people, nor in harm to the environment. Performance is tracked continually and opportunities to address challenges and deficiencies — and to move closer to achieving the dual objective — are identified and acted on.
Additional and more targeted management tools align with the prioritization of health, safety and environmental responsibility, and advance more specific objectives that also promote sustainable development. Key among these are the practices and programs referred to as "People Advantage". (See “People".)
Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal BC also uses continuous-improvement methodologies to reduce waste and improve process efficiencies – in support of environmental, customer-satisfaction and other objectives – and value-based assessment methodologies to make investment and other resource-allocation decisions.
Third-party verification and engagement are important features of Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal BC management approaches. Since 2003, Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal BC has maintained an integrated certification encompassing leading international environmental (ISO 14001) and health and safety (ISO 18001) standards for all BC operations, and product quality (ISO 9001) standards for casting operations. The 2007 audit for compliance against these standards was successful.
Management approaches are also informed by routine engagement with a range of stakeholders within operating areas. The underlying objective is to improve dialogue and advance progress towards shared objectives.
Examples include the Public Advisory Committee, which has played a key role in pollution prevention planning; the Nechako Watershed Council, which seeks to balance the water-related interests of diverse regional stakeholders; and multi-faceted engagement with First Nations, often with a focus on capacity building and environmental management.
Additionally, Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal BC supports and engages with broader stakeholder interests extending beyond its operating areas, where interests align and opportunities for shared learning exist. Examples in 2007 included ongoing sponsorship of the “30 Days of Sustainability” program in Vancouver and the Sustainable Cities PLUS Network, and a new relationship with the Fresh Outlook Foundation.