Our approach
Our sustainable development strategy
At Rio Tinto, our commitment to sustainable development is integrated into everything we do. Our operations give us the opportunity to bring long-lasting positive change to the communities, regions and countries where we work, and our metals and minerals are transformed into end products that contribute to higher living standards.
Our strategy of investing in large, long-term, cost competitive mines and businesses means that we operate on extended time horizons. Some of our projects last 40 years or more from mineral discovery through to closure, representing large-scale, long-term investments in fixed capital, often situated in remote locations.
Latest updates on our major projects
Adopting a responsible approach to mineral development ensures we gain and maintain our licence to operate. It means we provide confidence to our stakeholders, and improve our access to the mineral resources, people and capital we need. Our approach to sustainable development therefore enables us to keep investing in line with our Group strategy.
Our focus on sustainable development provides us with a competitive advantage. This includes helping us to manage risks effectively, reduce environmental impacts, engage with our communities, decrease operating costs, provide additional business opportunities, attract high calibre employees and ensure their health and safety, and ultimately to deliver better returns for our shareholders.
We have developed and implemented a structured framework to ensure that we meet the goal of contributing to the global transition to sustainable development. It equips us to achieve leading performance, and effectively manage risks, so that we maximise opportunities for our stakeholders. This framework contains the "must have" building blocks that represent Rio Tinto's high level business drivers.
Download The way we work - our global code of business conduct
We are committed to working with others to explore how together we might help solve some of the global challenges we face - including biodiversity loss; climate change and its impact on water and energy; poverty; corruption and sustainable development. By building relationships with our stakeholders, and by applying risk analysis and management effectively throughout our business, we can create opportunities out of external challenges, and extend our licence to operate.
For full details about Rio Tinto's strategy, visit our online Sustainable development report
