Impact and dependencies assessment
The company has not holistically assessed its impacts or how it depends on nature, including biodiversity. It has an opportunity to start such an assessment across its value chains, focused on quantification of its impacts or dependencies.
Key areas and species
The company discloses the locations that are in or adjacent to areas important for biodiversity within its own operations. However, it does not disclose the locations of its suppliers that are in or adjacent to areas important for biodiversity. The company does not disclose species populations existing in or adjacent to its own locations or those of its suppliers. Nor does it disclose the status according to national and international conservation lists of species identified in its own locations.
Ecosystem conversion and restoration
No evidence was found regarding the company’s efforts to avoid ecosystem conversion, including deforestation, or promote restoration. Glencore has an opportunity to develop a strategy and publicly report on specific, time-bound targets. The company is not committed to restoring ecosystems, although it discloses details and outcomes of ecosystem restoration projects in areas affected by its own operations or its suppliers.
Resource exploitation and circularity
No evidence was found regarding the company’s efforts to work towards a circular economy or which organisms it exploits. It has an opportunity to develop a strategy and publicly report on specific, time-bound targets. The company does not disclose efforts to improve soil health.
Water
Glencore demonstrates it is reducing water withdrawal in its own operations. However, it does not disclose a time-bound target to reduce water withdrawal across its own operations. The company reports how much water is withdrawn for its own operations in water-stressed areas but does not engage with suppliers to reduce water withdrawal. The company does not report a decrease in water pollution, nor does it disclose its processes for managing and monitoring discharge water quality. Additionally, the company does not regularly report on water pollution or disclose targets to reduce water pollution. While the company recognises access to safe and clean water as a salient right, it does not disclose a commitment to respect the right to water. Finally, it does not disclose its processes for implementing preventive and corrective action plans for identified specific risks to the right to water and sanitation in its own operations.
Solid and air pollution
The company is reducing the production of hazardous waste, including mineral waste such as tailings and sludges. However, it is not reducing plastic use and waste in its own operations. It does not report on the amount of plastic waste generated and proportions directed from or to disposal, nor on air quality parameters of emissions of harmful air pollutants. Moreover, it does not report time-bound targets to reduce air pollutants across the most material parts of its value chain.
GHG emissions
Glencore’s scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions have increased in the past reporting cycle. The company has a time-bound target to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions, which includes the reduction of its total emissions by 15% by 2025 and by 50% by 2050 compared to a 2019 baseline. However, the company does not report progress against this target. The company is reducing its scope 3 emissions. It has an associated time-bound reduction target and reports progress against it.
Invasive species
The company has not identified any activities that could lead to the introduction of IAS in its own operations.
