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Sustainability awareness in Brazilian mining corporations: the case of Paraíba state

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Abstract

Mining and minerals industries are fast-growing, but at the same time, they have gained more attention due to their impacts over the environment and society. This research aims to provide new insights into the topic of perception and awareness toward sustainability in industrial mining in Brazil. The work included in-depth interviews with a set of companies’ managers/directors focusing in particular on aspects related to the social and environmental dimensions, including communication and relationship with the community, impact assessment and mitigation strategies. The knowledge and use of for formal indicators was also evaluated and analyzed through the proposed Model for Sustainability Assessment of Mining (SAoM model), which was applied to all participating companies. The results put in evidence the existing gap between large and small companies, with these last ones showing lower awareness for the impacts of their activities. The lack of community engagement and of local stakeholders’ involvement, as well as the disregard for actions to mitigate their environmental and social impacts, is the main challenges to be overcome by this sector. The sector has then a long path to go toward sustainability and an active involvement of public institutions is required to allow for its development without compromising locals welfare.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank to CAPES and Science Without Borders scholarship, BEX Process 10.190-13-9 for providing financial support to this research.

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  1. Departamento de Produção e Sistemas, ALGORITMI Research Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal

    Wellington Alves, Paula Ferreira & Madalena Araújo

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  1. Wellington Alves
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  2. Paula Ferreira
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  3. Madalena Araújo
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Correspondence to Wellington Alves.

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Alves, W., Ferreira, P. & Araújo, M. Sustainability awareness in Brazilian mining corporations: the case of Paraíba state. Environ Dev Sustain 20 (Suppl 1), 41–63 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-018-0171-6

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