Report Scope

Borax's 2004 Sustainable Development Report focuses on performance during the calendar year, but also provides data from previous years to illustrate trends.

The company published similar reports in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 all of which are available in the library section of our web site at www.borax.com. There have been no significant changes to the business since the last report.

Borax reports on its global social performance related to its products and practices, and its environmental performance related to its mining, refining and shipping operations in the United States, South America and Europe. Global economic performance is reported by Borax's parent company, Rio Tinto.

For more information on Borax's 2004 Sustainable Development Report, contact:

Tarun Bhatia
Business Improvement Project Manager
Rio Tinto Borax
26877 Tourney Road
Valencia, CA 91355
USA
T: 661-287-6055
E: tarun.bhatia@borax.com

For more information on Rio Tinto's 2004 Sustainable Development Review, visit www.riotinto.com.

This report was prepared in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2002 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, generally considered to be the leading international standard for reporting social, environmental and economic performance.