Sustainable Development
Sustainable development (SD) is variously defined by governments, international agencies and in the minds of individuals. One widely quoted definition is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Although the words and the understanding of the words differ, the acceptance of the importance of SD is not in question.
Every definition of SD involves three elements, all of which must be sustainable:
- "Social" is understood to include all the elements that make communities and societies sustainable. In addition to the traditional food, clothing, shelter and other elements, it includes the fair and equitable sharing of common resources for today and tomorrow, otherwise known as inter-generational equity.
- "Economic" refers to the engine that provides the wealth, including employment, to further
- the development that is needed by developing countries and
- the further development that is expected by majority opinion in developed countries.
- "Environmental" refers to the state of the environment today; the integrity of the environmental systems that must continue and thrive for today and tomorrow; and the environmental resources that must continue to exist or renew themselves for today and tomorrow.
Metals collectively share many characteristics that favour their continued and expanded use by society in pursuit of sustainable development goals. Nickel is technically a finite resource: it makes up a fixed percentage of the earth's composition (fifth most common element after iron, oxygen, silicon and magnesium, although only approximately 0.01% of the earth's crust). What is recoverable from nature will vary with technology, but is also ultimately finite.
However, nickel is used, not "consumed". Nickel taken from the inventory of nature (deposits) is available for use and reuse without degradation: as an element, it does not deteriorate or lose any of its intrinsic properties. There is always the same amount of nickel existing at the end of a particular product cycle as at the beginning. Although nickel can be "lost" (emissions to air, water and soil at levels or in amounts too small to be economically recoverable), the basic supply of nickel for present and future generations is not in question.
Nickel-containing materials, properly applied, maintain and improve the quality of life of citizens and allow the institutions of society - including business - to deliver sustainable solutions. These sustainable solutions depend upon the attributes and services provided by nickel: corrosion protection, durability, cleanability, power storage, the ability to act as a catalyst, recyclability.
Current Information
The nickel industry, as part of its commitment to the achievement of greater efficiencies and the reduction of emissions associated with the production of nickel, has carried out a life cycle inventory (LCI) and life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) project which has measured all the significant environmental impacts associated with the production of nickel. Approximately 55% of the world's annual production of nickel is reflected in the LCI and LCIA, and the results of the project may be accessed via the Nickel Institute's web site (provide link).
More information on the role that nickel fulfills in the pursuit of sustainability can be found on the Nickel Institute's web site (www.nickelinstitute.org).
Implications
Because "sustainable development" has so many different indices, there is no universally accepted measure of a material's sustainability credentials. It is all too easy to compare materials based on one or more readily-measured parameter, creating a perception that may be very misleading. Substitution of one material for another, if based on flawed reasoning, may have unintended consequences which make the goal of sustainability less, rather than more, likely to be achieved. Therefore, it is important to consider all the likely impacts before making a substitution decision.
Additional information
In May 2003, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) approved a set of principles and committed its corporate membership to measure their sustainable development performance against them.
The principles are central to ICMM's Sustainable Development Framework and draw on the landmark MMSD (Mining, Minerals & Sustainable Development) report. In light of the MMSD recommendations, ICMM undertook a "gap analysis" comparing current standards with relevant conventions and guidelines. These included the Rio Declaration, the Global Reporting Initiative, the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises, the World Bank Operational Guidelines, the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery, ILO Conventions 98, 169, 176, and the Voluntary Principles on Human Rights and Security.
The principles can be viewed by visiting the website of the ICMM (www.icmm.com)
