Corporate Engagement Strategies in Northern Mining: Boliden, Sweden and Cameco, Canada

• Published in: Environmental management (New York) 2023-10, Vol.72 (4), p.838-849
• Main Author: Poelzer, Gregory
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Community involvement; Community participation; CSR; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Economics; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental stewardship; Forestry Management; Governance; Indigenous communities; Indigenous peoples; Land use; Mining; Mining industry; Nature Conservation; Political Science; Social license to operate; Social responsibility; Statsvetenskap; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0364-152X; 1432-1009; 1432-1009
• DOI: 10.1007/s00267-023-01854-5

The role of corporations in societal outcomes continues to grow. Mining companies now face the expectation of not only providing economic benefits to communities, but act as a facilitator for social wellbeing and environmental stewardship. In the mining sector, this has placed renewed attention to defining corporate social responsibility and, in turn, how social license to operate is understood. These developments are particularly pertinent when mining operations affect Indigenous communities – where land use is central to livelihood. This study looks at the community engagement strategies of two mining companies in northern countries, Cameco (Canada) and Boliden (Sweden). By comparing their approaches, this paper explores the development of their practices over time and assess to what extent their corporate policy has translated into everyday practice and outcomes. The findings of demonstrate that high levels of trust are established when corporate approaches are built around transparency and collaboration – resulting in agreements that include long-term partnerships around socio-economic and environmental management.