Policies

Currently, the framework comprises policies on eight sectors and issues where we perceive major sustainability risks: the defence industry, oil and gas (including oil sands), mining, dams, animal testing, forestry and logging, nuclear weapons proliferation, plus an overarching human rights and environmental protection policy.

We regularly review these policies to ensure they reflect new developments. In 2013, for example, we made important amendments to our policies covering the defence industry, nuclear weapons proliferation, oil and gas, and forestry and logging. Further details were presented in the 2013 Corporate Responsibility Report.

The key concerns addressed by the eight policies of our Sustainability Risk Framework are listed below:

Main concerns in critical sectors

Defence industry

Particularly cruel weapons that inflict indiscriminate harm to humans and the environment, often after a conflict has ended;
The provision of certain services by private security companies.

Oil and gas

Human rights abuses;
Significant adverse environmental or social impacts, particularly where critical natural habitats, vulnerable groups and/or critical cultural heritages are impacted.

Mining

Human rights abuses;
Significant adverse environmental or social impacts, particularly where critical natural habitats, vulnerable groups and/or critical cultural heritages are impacted;
Poor occupational health & safety record and risk of increasing HIV penetration.

Dams

Human rights abuses;
Significant adverse environmental or social impacts, particularly where critical natural habitats, vulnerable groups and/or critical cultural heritages are impacted;
Non-involvement of relevant stakeholders;
Non-involvement of affected neighbouring states.

Animal testing

Unethical and inhumane treatment of animals.

Forestry and logging

Illegal logging;
Significant adverse environmental or social impacts, particularly where critical natural habitats, vulnerable groups and/or critical cultural heritages are impacted.

Nuclear weapons proliferation

Activities associated with nuclear energy or similar in countries that are outside the established framework and international regime of global non-proliferation efforts.

Human rights and environmental protection

Human rights violations and abuses such as murder, torture, deprivation of liberty, forced labour or harmful child labour;
Countries that lack an operational, effective and internationally recognised government;
Companies that are causing ongoing, severe and unmitigated damage to the environment, flora and fauna of a particular place and biodiversity in general, especially in industries and activities that have had a problematic track record in this area in the past.