Sustainable development opportunities within corporate social responsibility practices from LSM to ASM in the gold mining industry

Mining is an important part of the economy of several countries including Brazil. Despite the major role played by large-scale mining (LSM) in the mineral sector, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) also participates in the mining market and plays a crucial social role mainly in developing countries through assuring livelihoods for a great number of people. Both LSM and ASM can cause negative environmental and health impacts. Certification has been in focus for the LSM, following good practices and standards especially to improve health and safety performance. For ASM these issues still constitute a challenge. In some successful cases as corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports demonstrate, health, safety, and environment (HSE) impacts have been addressed through cooperation between LSM and ASM, which can benefit communities as a whole. A question guiding our research was whether there is potential for ASM gold mining certification to be a tool for achieving a win-win outcome within the gold mining sector, and for mercury emission reduction as proposed by the Minamata Convention. Brazilian ASM certification could become a market trend that would receive support from LSM towards the use of cleaner technologies and mining industry better practices? To answer that overarching question, our methodology included a review of CSR reports produced by LSM operating in Brazil and a comparison to their CSR initiatives worldwide. Field interviews with ASM miners were also undertaken. The results from LSM and ASM cooperation are classified with regard to types of initiatives to improve good practices guidance and promotion of sustainable development partnerships.