Rio Tinto Borax’s defining characteristic is leadership. Our mineral resources give us the means to supply nearly half the global market for refined borates. Our human resources – acknowledged leaders in borate science and technology – give us the means to set new standards for production, generate critical information about borates’ role in biological systems, and make groundbreaking discoveries about their potential in industrial systems.

Borax is also an industry leader in aligning its products and practices with principles of sustainable development. In fact, we were one of the first mining companies to raise our own standards for measuring and reporting our social, environmental and economic performance. This year we are raising those standards again to meet the world’s leading independent reporting guidelines, as set out by the Global Reporting Initiative. As a result, this report has been prepared in accordance with the 2002 GRI Guidelines. It represents a balanced and reasonable presentation of our organization’s economic, environmental, and social performance.

Borax is a relatively small company, but our products connect us to a vast network of people around the world. Borate fertilizers increase the yield and quality of crops that feed growing populations. Borates in building materials protect homes from insects and the elements. And new borate technologies help our customers lower emissions and energy use in a diverse array of industries.

You have a right to know how we do business, what we achieved last year and our goals for the future. We are pleased to share that information with you now.

Sincerely,


Gary Goldberg
Chief Executive
Rio Tinto Borax