Page 12 - Bullion World Issue 11 Volume 05 November 2025

Bullion World | Volume 5 | Issue 11 | November 2025

Best Practices and ESG Interventions: Key Social Concerns:
• Adoption of Clean Technologies: Use of electro- • Labour Rights: Health and safety, fair wages, and
refining, pyro-metallurgy with emission controls, working conditions, especially for contract workers
and chemical recovery systems. and informal sector participants.
• Renewable Energy Integration: Installation • Sourcing Ethics: Risks of child labor, unsafe
of solar panels, use of green power purchase working conditions, and conflict financing in gold
agreements (PPAs), and RECs to lower carbon sourced from high-risk areas.
footprint. • Community Impact: Pollution, displacement, and
• Water Management: Implementation of Effluent lack of consultation with local communities during
Treatment Plants (ETPs), Zero Liquid Discharge setting up of refining facilities.
(ZLD) systems, and rainwater harvesting. • Diversity and Inclusion: Underrepresentation
• E-waste Recycling: Extracting precious metals of women and marginalized communities in
from urban waste (electronics, old jewellery) as leadership and technical roles.
part of a circular economy approach.
• Environmental Compliance: Alignment with Best Practices and ESG Interventions:
the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate • Worker Welfare: Implementing OHS
Change (MoEFCC), Central Pollution Control (Occupational Health and Safety) programs, skill
Board (CPCB), and State Pollution Control Boards development, and benefits such as insurance and
(SPCBs) guidelines. pensions.
• Supply Chain Due Diligence: Adopting OECD
2. Social (S) Aspects Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply
The social pillar of ESG focuses on how refining Chains of Minerals and implementing KYC and
companies treat employees, contribute to society, conflict-free sourcing policies.
and manage their supply chain responsibly. In India,
the informal sector, artisanal miners abroad, and local • Community Engagement: CSR initiatives focused
communities are deeply intertwined with the precious on education, water, sanitation, and livelihood
metals value chain. generation in nearby communities.

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