Framework
Borax relies on two leading definitions of sustainable development
to guide its program:
Bruntland Commission
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
Dow Jones Sustainability Group Index
A business approach to creating long-term shareholder value by
embracing opportunities and risks deriving from economic, environmental
and social developments.
In 2004, Borax held workshops to gather feedback on its Sustainable
Development program from internal and external stakeholders.
The company used this feedback to revise its sustainability mission,
objectives, indicators and targets; and,
to better integrate the program with core business functions
and processes. Borax's updated mission and objectives are
presented below. Revised indicators and targets are presented
the Performance section of this report.
Borax's sustainable development mission is to enable creation
of shareholder value by considering the social, environmental
and economic risks – and leveraging social, environmental
and economic opportunities – associated with Borax's
key business processes. These processes and objectives are:
- Safety and Occupational Health: to eliminate all occupational
injuries and illnesses
- Human Resources: to build competencies among
Borax leaders to facilitate a culture of corporate social
responsibility
- Operations: to use resources efficiently
and to minimize
the impact of our operations on the environment
- Commercial: to promote borates’ use, and to create
competitive advantage for Borax
- Business Improvement: to
find new, more efficient ways
of working
- Application Development & Technology: to balance social, environmental and economic considerations
in developing new
applications and technologies
- Capital Investment and
Procurement: to define and consider the social and environmental
aspects and opportunities
of every investment and procurement decision
- External Affairs: to influence
public policy and to generate positive perceptions about
borates and Borax
- Product Stewardship: to conduct and communicate research that establishes borates’ benefits
to human health and the environment
Borax's Sustainable Development Steering Committee
directs program planning and execution: Jeff Olsen, Chief Financial Officer
David Peever, Chief Commercial Officer
Jim Qin, Ph.D., Chief Environmental, Health & Safety Officer
Steve Saperstein, Chief Human Resources,
Communications & External Affairs Officer
This committee is supported by senior staff members and meets
formally every quarter to track progress, and on an ad hoc basis
to address issues that arise throughout the year. Borax holds
individuals accountable for achieving Sustainable Development
objectives through its performance management system, which features
individual and team scorecards. Click
here for Borax's
Sustainable Development scorecard.
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