Product responsibility

AngloGold Ashanti-Product responsibility

Management approach

AngloGold Ashanti is engaged in a number of initiatives that promote product responsibility in gold. The company is a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and the World Gold Council (WGC).

The ICMM furthers responsible production in the mining and metals industries by acting as a catalyst for performance improvement and contributing to sustainable development. Many of the world’s major metals and mining companies are members of the ICMM. ICMM members are required to implement the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework, which comprises three elements: a set of 10 principles, public reporting and independent assurance. The principles cover all aspects of sustainability performance. Members are also required to implement a number of position statements that give greater clarity to some of the commitments in the 10 principles. Company members must report their performance against the 10 principles in accordance with GRI guidelines. Lastly, they must provide third-party verification that they meet their commitments to the 10 principles.

The RJC is an international not-for-profit organisation bringing together companies across the jewellery supply chain. RJC members are committed to promoting responsible ethical, social and environmental practices in a transparent and accountable manner throughout the industry from mines to jewellery shops. Mining members of the RJC are required to be independently certified to its Code of Practices by December 2012. AngloGold Ashanti is working towards this goal.

The WGC is a global gold marketing body funded by the world’s leading gold mining companies. It is also party to product responsibility initiatives and is a member of both the ICMM and the RJC.

Performance indicators

The following core and additional indicators are reported in compliance with GRI in addition to indicators from the Mining and Metals Sector Supplement of the GRI (prefaced with ‘MM’). In addition, where the response is applicable to the ICMM principles or the principles of the UN Global Compact, this is illustrated by their respective logos ICMM and UN Global Impact .

Indicators that have been verified by Ernst & Young (E&Y) for 2010 are indicated with either a Ernst & Young L or a Ernst & Young R depending on whether the indicator has had limited or reasonable assurance.

Indicator Description UNGC ICMM E&Y
PR1 (Core) Life cycle stages in which health and safety impacts of products and services are assessed for improvement, and percentage of significant products and services categories subject to such procedures. UN Global Impact    
PR3 (Core) Type of product and service information required by procedures, and percentage of significant products and services subject to such information requirements. UN Global Impact    
PR6 (Core) Programmes of adherence to laws, standards and voluntary codes related to marketing communications, including advertising, promotion and sponsorship.      
PR9 (Core) Monetary value of significant fines for non-compliance with laws and regulations concerning the provision and use of products and services.      

Health and safety impacts of products


PR1: Life cycle stages in which health and safety impacts of products and services are assessed for improvement, and percentage of significant products and services categories subject to such procedures.

This core indicator is categorised under the GRI aspect of customer health and safety.

Gold is a benign product which has no significant health or safety impacts. However, the activities involved in the mining and processing of gold, and in some of the by-products generated, have the potential to negatively affect the safety and health of employees and communities, and their environment. AngloGold Ashanti is involved in a number of initiatives that promote responsible gold production, as detailed in discussion of its management approach to product responsibility above.

Product and service labelling


PR3: Type of product and service information required by procedures, and percentage of significant products and services subject to such information requirements.

This core indicator is categorised under the GRI aspect of product and service labelling.

As we primarily sell gold in unwrought form, packaging requirements are minimal and this disclosure is therefore not significant in our business.

Adherence to marketing communications laws, standards and codes


PR6: Programmes of adherence to laws, standards and voluntary codes related to marketing communications, including advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

This core indicator is categorised under the GRI aspect of marketing communications.

This disclosure does not relate to our business as AngloGold Ashanti does not conduct extensive marketing communications programmes and does not therefore generate any significant impact in this area.

Fines relating to provision and use of products and services


PR9:Monetary value of significant fines for non-compliance with laws and regulations concerning the provision and use of products and services.

This core indicator is categorised under the GRI aspect of compliance.

No incidences of non-compliance with laws or regulations concerning the provision and use of products and services have been identified.

Operational safety
Management approach
Number of work-related fatalities  
Fatal injury frequency rate  
Work-related injuries  
All injury frequency rate  
Lost time injury frequency rate  
Occupational and community health
Management approach
Occupational lung disease  
Cases of silicosis  
Cases of tuberculosis  
Cases of occupational lung disease  
Noise-induced hearing loss  
Compensable cases of noise-induced hearing loss  
Malaria  
Number of malaria cases  
Malaria incidence  
Malaria lost time injury frequency rate  
HIV/AIDS  
Number of employees and contractors attending VCT programmes  
Number of employees on ART  
Human rights
Management approach  
Human rights and security  
Security incidents recorded  
Percentage security personnel trained in human rights  
Discrimination and corruption  
Whistle-blowing reports received in 2010  
Actions taken in response to incidents of corruption  
Labour, employment and transformation
Management approach  
(Tab straight through to indicators)  
Number of employees and contractors  
Employee turnover  
Composition of workforce  
Additional information
Communities
Management approach  
Economic value added statement  
Payments to government  
Community investment  
Participation in public policy development  
Mine life cycle
Management approach  
Rehabilitation  
Rehabilitation liabilities  
Additional information
Environment and natural resource stewardship
Management approach  
Energy  
Direct energy consumption
Indirect energy consumption
Water  
Water consumption
Water discharge
Greenhouse gases  
Direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight
Land  
Amount of land owned, leased or managed for production
Use of land in or close to areas of high biodiversity value
Reportable environmental incidents
Additional information
Product responsibility
Management approach  
Health and safety impacts of products
Product and service labelling
Adherence to marketing communications laws, standards and codes
Fines relating to provision and use of products and services