Sustainability is a fundamental factor in the delivery of Ma’aden’s Strategy 2025. Ma'aden approach is inspired by the company's commitment to three driving forces in the world of sustainability:
Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Government has launched a countrywide initiative to diversify the economy and create jobs. The Saudi Vision 2030 places great importance on social and environmental care. As a result, there is increasing national regulatory focus on the environmental performance of businesses, health and safety of communities, and growing commitment to corporate social responsibility.
The International Council on Mining and Minerals (ICMM) Principles
The Principles adopted by the International Council on Mining and Minerals serve as a best-practice framework for sustainable development in the mining and metals industry. Ma’aden has adopted these principles throughout its operations and adopted them as the foundation of Ma'aden's Sustainability Strategic Direction, under Ma’aden’s Strategy 2025.
The UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs)
The UN’s 17 Sustainability Development Goals are playing a key role in driving the sustainability agenda for governments and businesses worldwide. Ma'aden's Sustainability Strategic Direction, under Ma’aden’s Strategy 2025, is aligned with seven UN Sustainability Development Goals, as showed in the illustration below, which are most strategically important for Ma’aden and the mining industry in Saudi Arabia. Ma’aden is already making significant contributions and has ongoing aspirations under the UN Sustainability Development Goals that are adopted by Ma'aden.
For more information on Ma’aden’s Sustainability Strategy see our latest Annual Report.
Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)
Ma’aden has an ambitious target to protect the environment, improve vegetation cover, enhance biodiversity, and generate carbon credits to offset its carbon footprint through delivering Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) projects.
These solutions will help Ma’aden to protect mangrove coastal areas and encourage nature destinations by preserving mangrove habitats ecosystem while also raising awareness of their importance as we aim to plant an additional 10 million terrestrial trees and 10 million mangrove trees by 2040.
They are the primary source of livelihood for coastal communities, stabilize the shoreline, prevent erosion, and clean the local water supply.
Biodiversity Management
Ma’aden has developed a sound Biodiversity Management standard that defines the minimum requirements to develop and integrate a strategic approach to biodiversity by identifying and mitigating the impacts of operations on biodiversity.
Our Biodiversity Management standard applies to our affiliates to anticipate and mitigate impacts on biodiversity at all stages in the mining value chain from exploration, project development, operations (including transport routes and associated infrastructure), and closure.
We collaborate with the Ministries and National Centers in initiatives for the preservation of biological features, and endangered species by providing them with secure habitats without disturbance from invaders, and we safeguard the houbara with a 175km protection area within the Saja & Umm Ar-Rimth Natural Reserve (currently under construction).