Sustainability is at the core of business operations for Sandvik Mining South Africa, developing innovative practices that drive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) imperatives.

This means embracing a holistic approach rooted in three pillars – planet, people and profit – according to Sandvik Mining South Africa’s Sustainability Manager, Jan Prinsloo. With its focus on making a positive local impact, Prinsloo highlights that the company’s initiatives are carefully aligned with global commitments.

“We tailor our efforts to specific local needs, while also aligning these with Sandvik's global strategy and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he says. With South Africa being a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement, it has its own National Development Plan determined to the contribution to the global sustainability challenges and targets as set and agreed, he points out. This is another important factor in how Sandvik South Africa prioritises its sustainability areas.

“We also recognise the importance of ‘double materiality’,” he says, “so that we achieve a balanced assessment of how our business operations affect the environment, alongside an understanding of how environmental changes in turn impact our business”

This dual focus drives its work in developing battery electric vehicles that reduce operational carbon emissions, as well as circular economy projects that minimise waste. For instance, Sandvik South Africa collaborates with customers to recycle their used drill bits.

Measures like these will help the company meet its science-based targets to halve Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and Scope 3 emissions by 2050.

At local level, Prinsloo highlights the social responsibilities that the mining sector has embraced, particularly in South Africa where high unemployment and education gaps persist. Sandvik South Africa has invested in projects that directly uplift communities including digital skills programmes, educational outreach using Lego-based robotics and infrastructure upgrades for schools.

“These efforts aim to prepare future generations for employment in a rapidly evolving industry,” he says. “To further promote community empowerment the company prioritises enterprise development, especially among women and youth.”

By sourcing extensively from local suppliers, Sandvik strengthens South Africa's economic ecosystem while advancing its localisation and transformation aims guided by the Mining Charter. Developing small enterprises means guiding them through compliance and operational readiness to become part of the formal supply chain.

“At our production facilities, we conserve water resources and prioritise energy efficiency to reduce our carbon footprint,” he says. “At our high-tech Khomanani facility east of Johannesburg, for instance, we recycle and reuse treated water for equipment washing. We are also implementing plans for rainwater harvesting.”

Initiatives driving energy efficiency include transitioning from diesel to electric forklifts and automating energy monitoring systems – to leverage real-time data to respond to any inefficiencies. Prinsloo argues that sustainability is not just about ticking boxes – but is rather focused on measurable, transparent goals that lead to innovation and creative thinking. “All stakeholders have their role to play and together we will make a change that will fast forward the economic growth that is so much needed,” he says.

“We are even guided and inspired by our country’s Constitution, which bestows rights on our people – such as access to water, education and opportunities,” he explains. “This leads us to engage with communities on projects that can build livelihoods and food security.”