Environmental sustainability in the mining sector: evidence from Catalan companies

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

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Vintró Sánchez, Carla|||0000-0003-4189-1500, Sanmiquel Pera, Lluís|||0000-0001-5612-4713, Freijo Álvarez, Modesto|||0000-0003-0538-8377
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/26036
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/26036
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.12.069
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Mineral industries -- Spain -- Catalonia
Sustainable development
Environmental management
Sustainability
Mineral industries
Catalonia
Indústria minera
Desenvolupament sostenible
Gestió ambiental
Indústria minera -- Catalunya
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Enginyeria de mines
Descripción
Sumario:This paper examines the adoption of environmental practices in small and medium sized companies inthe surface mining industry in Catalonia (Spain). To fulfill this aim, a survey of 41 items concernint 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.