Policies & Standards
Commitments
Barrick adheres to a number of international codes and policies and develops corporate and regional policies and programs covering all aspects of corporate social responsibility. At all our sites, our general managers, along with managing the efficient extraction of precious metals, meeting targets for production, costs, safety and environmental protection, are expected to manage corporate social responsibility commitments and reporting requirements, both internal and external to the Company. CSR is part of our business strategy and part of what we do.
As the CSR Charter states:
We strive to act as a responsible corporate citizen and lend our expertise to help engage in constructive public dialogue and informed debate on issues of importance to the Company, the mining industry and the communities in which we operate.
The following documents house Barrick’s commitments and reporting requirements relative to our corporate social responsibility performance:
Internal Policies and Standards
Barrick Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Barrick Corporate Social Responsibility Charter
Barrick Environmental Policy Statement
Barrick Environmental Management Systems Standard
Barrick Safety and Occupational Health Policy Statement
Barrick Community Engagement and Sustainable Development Guidelines
Barrick Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy
Barrick Supplier Code of Ethics
Barrick Anti-Fraud Policy
Barrick Security Policy
External Policies and Standards
UN Global Compact
Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
ISO 14001
International Cyanide Management Code
Towards Sustainable Mining Initiative
International Network for Acid Prevention
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
UN Global Compact
In 2005, Barrick joined the UN Global Compact (UNGC). This initiative promotes corporate citizenship by directly involving business in tackling some of the major social and environmental challenges that arise from increasing globalization. The ten principles of the Global Compact are based on internationally recognized norms and conventions in four critical areas: Human Rights, Labour Standards, the Environment, and Anti-corruption. Barrick has long been committed to the principles of the UN Global Compact. By signing on to the Global Compact, Barrick has signaled its commitment to continue integration of the ten principles into its culture, strategy, and day-to-day operations.
» Barrick's Communication on Progress - 2010/2011 (PDF)
» www.unglobalcompact.org
Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
In 2010, Barrick became an official participant in the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights — a set of guidelines by which companies in the extractive sector can maintain the safety and security of their operations while ensuring respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Voluntary Principles have been collectively developed by governments, NGOs and companies, all with an interest in human rights and corporate social responsibility.
Barrick’s global Security Policy is aligned with the Voluntary Principles and its Security Management System guides their implementation. In geopolitically complex regions, Barrick’s security personnel receive human rights training and must apply the Voluntary Principles.
» www.voluntaryprinciples.org
Global Reporting Initiative
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) provides a framework for sustainability reporting. Barrick began reporting against the GRI Guidelines for the 2005 reporting year, and has continued to be guided in CSR reporting by the GRI.
» Barrick's GRI-G3 indicator table
» www.globalreporting.org
ISO 14001
The International Organization for Standardization promotes the development and implementation of voluntary international standards, both for particular products and for environmental management issues. Barrick’s mines in South America are all ISO 14001 registered and several other operations in various regions are currently pursuing registration. Our goal is to register all operating sites by the end of 2011.
All the ISO standards are developed through a voluntary, consensus-based approach. Each member country of ISO develops its position on the standards and these positions are then negotiated with other member countries. Within each country, various types of organizations can and do participate in the process including industry, government and various non-government organizations (NGOs).
The ISO 14001 standard requires that a community or organization put in place and implement a series of practices and procedures that, when taken together, result in an environmental management system.
» www.iso.org
International Cyanide Management Code
The International Cyanide Management Code for the Manufacture, Transport and Use of Cyanide in Gold Production is a voluntary global initiative to assist the gold mining industry in improving its management of cyanide. Developed under auspices of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the former International Council on Metals & the Environment (ICME), the Code is the product of a multi-stakeholder steering committee that included Barrick and other representatives from the gold mining industry, governments, NGOs, cyanide producers and other stakeholders. The Steering Committee produced a set of best management practices for the lifecycle of cyanide management to ensure its safe manufacture, transport, use and disposal.
The Code addresses potential risks within the gold mining industry, including accidental leaks, release into the environment and exposure of mine workers to concentrated hydrogen cyanide gas. It is intended to complement an operation’s existing regulatory requirements, based on strict controls and practices for all aspects of cyanide use. It was developed to ensure the protection and safety of workers, the environment and communities adjacent to mining operations.
Companies that adopt the Code must have their mining operations that use cyanide audited by an independent third party to determine the status of Code implementation. Those operations that meet the Code requirements can be certified. Audit results are made public to inform stakeholders of the status of cyanide management practices at the certified operation.
Barrick uses cyanide at 23 mines, 21 of which have been certified as Cyanide Code compliant. The remaining two are seeking certification.
» www.cyanidecode.org
Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Initiative
Towards Sustainable Mining is a Mining Association of Canada (MAC) strategy for improving the mining industry’s performance by aligning its actions with the priorities and values of Canadians. The TSM Guiding Principles are a set of commitments that address all areas of the mining industry’s performance. They were developed by the industry, in consultation with its communities of interest.
Members of MAC, including Barrick, report annually on TSM performance indicators in four areas: tailings management, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions management, external outreach, and corporate crisis management planning.
» www.mining.ca
International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP)
The International Network for Acid Prevention is an industry group created to help meet the challenge of acid rock drainage, a serious and potentially enduring environmental problem for the mining industry. Acid drainage, left unchecked, can result in long-term water quality impacts. Barrick is a member of INAP. The network, founded in 1998, coordinates and mobilizes acid drainage information and experience. INAP has become a proactive, global leader in this field.
» www.inap.com.au
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Barrick endorses the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
The Guidelines are recommendations addressed by governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from adhering countries. They provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business conduct in areas such as employment and industrial relations, human rights, environment, information disclosure, combating bribery, consumer interests, science and technology, competition, and taxation.
» www.oecd.org/daf/investment/guidelines