Environmental sustainability in the mining sector: evidence from Catalan companies

This paper examines the adoption of environmental practices in small and medium sized companies in the surface mining industry in Catalonia (Spain). To fulfill this aim, a survey of 41 items concerning environmental management systems and environmentally sustainable practices has been conducted. Res...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Vintró Sánchez, Carla, Sanmiquel Pera, Lluís, Freijo Álvarez, Modesto
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
Repositorio:Repositori Obert UdL
OAI Identifier:oai:repositori.udl.cat:10459.1/71261
Acceso en línea:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.12.069
http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/71261
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Environmental management
Sustainability
Mining industry
Catalonia
Descripción
Sumario:This paper examines the adoption of environmental practices in small and medium sized companies in the surface mining industry in Catalonia (Spain). To fulfill this aim, a survey of 41 items concerning environmental management systems and environmentally sustainable practices has been conducted. Results show that companies have committed themselves to environmental and sustainable issues. The majority of companies claim to understand the effects of their activities on the environment and they care for responsible access and management of natural resources. Restoration plans and the annual waste declaration are mandatory in Catalonia, and rational resources exploitation practices have been adopted by a high percentage of mines. Finally, some examples of good environmentally sustainable practices are introduced.