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Contribute to a healthy environment for all

Our environmental performance and contribution to restoring a healthy environment for all, will help build a better world and a more sustainable future for BHP.

A healthy environment means the natural world around us is balanced and resilient. The world must achieve this to support biodiversity, people and economies into the future. 

It is our role to be environmentally responsible, show care, and seek to contribute to the restoration of a healthy environment – producing our commodities in the most effective way, while avoiding or minimising adverse impacts to the ecosystem services we all depend on. These services include clean water, a stable climate and cultural connections that enhance our way of life. 

Contribute to a healthy environment for all

  • What it means for you

    Our people act responsibly, recognising the environmental values of the areas we operate in. BHP engages with those we share the environment with to seek to understand what healthy environment means to them. We put the right controls in place before work commences, and check these controls are effective on a regular basis. 

    Throughout the mine life cycle, we proactively avoid or minimise environmental impacts – seeking ways to reduce threats to biodiversity, minimise our emissions to air, water, land, and ensure waste is managed responsibly. We ensure our rehabilitation and closure work contributes to healthy environment outcomes. 

    A healthy environment requires the collective effort of our value chain, so alignment with our approach is an important consideration when working with suppliers and partners in our supply chain. 

    If something is not right, we act – stopping and doing what is right to ensure environmental impacts are avoided or minimised. All actual and potential environmental events are recorded consistently in line with Our Requirements and procedures, and we take time to investigate and learn from them. 

    Our environmental performance is critical for operational excellence, building trust with those around us and creating social value. Our actions today shape our legacy. 

  • How you make an impact

    You acknowledge the value of a healthy environment for all, show care, report and manage environmental events and play your part to avoid or minimise environmental impacts. 
  • Resources
    Environment Global Standard
    Climate Change Global Standard
    Water Management Global Standard
    Closure and Legacy Management Global Standard
    HSEC Reporting, Event Management and Investigation Global Standard
    Social Value and Sustainability Global Standard
medioambiente

Always

• Immediately stop any work that may contribute to a significant environmental or community event such as an accident, incident, spill or release of material.

• Report any actual or potential impact to the environment or communities from an environmental event to your line leader or 2Up leader (don’t assume someone else will report).

• Identify, understand and comply with any environmental and regulatory requirements that relate to your work, including any land disturbance, water, air, biodiversity, dust, noise and waste management requirements.

• Identify, assess and take steps to avoid and minimise adverse environmental impacts associated with your work and take opportunities to improve environmental performance.

• Encourage those who work with us and our customers to minimise their environmental impacts and take opportunities to improve performance.

beenviroresponsbilealways 2022

Never

• Operate in a location or way that is not in accordance with the
Environment Global Standard,
Climate Change Global Standard,
Water Management Global Standard,
Closure and Legacy Management Global Standard, local regulatory requirements, or site environmental procedures.

• Undertake work that has the potential to impact on the environment unless you are trained and competent to do so and controls are in place to minimise environmental impacts.

• Engage contractors, suppliers, customers or joint venture partners without an assessment that takes into account their environmental and community impacts, risks, controls and performance.

Hypothetical scenarios

  • Q: Our waste is disposed off-site by a licensed waste facility that is audited by our regulators. Do I also have to review their performance?
    A: Yes, you should review the performance of all suppliers to ensure they manage their environmental performance appropriately. Direct, indirect and cumulative environmental impacts and their associated risks and controls need to be assessed by BHP. This includes environmental impacts associated with our direct operational activities, impacts from others as a result of activities on which our operations rely and impacts from others that may increase the severity of our own impacts.
  • Q: When it rains, I have noticed overflows of water from site to a neighbouring creek. What should I do?
    A: Report the issue as an event, seek advice from your site environmental personnel and make operations aware of the issue. An investigation will need to occur to determine whether there are any potential impacts from the overflow to the creek or surrounding environment. Reporting the issue as an event will also ensure any regulatory agencies are notified if appropriate, an analysis of the incident, root causes, preventative actions and learnings are disseminated, and any required corrective actions can be completed.
  • Q: I notice the way we are doing our work has the potential for dust emissions and other environmental impacts. I think there is a better way of doing it that could result in lower emissions. What should I do?
    A: We are always looking to minimise adverse environmental impacts and maximise opportunities for positive environmental outcomes from our activities so raise your suggestions with your line leader or 2Up leader. You can also check with the site’s environmental team that your suggestions are in line with regulatory permits.
  • View more Hypothetical Scenarios

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How to speak up

If you have questions about Our Code, speak to your line leader, 2Up leader, Ethics and Investigations, Compliance, or Legal. Employee Relations or a HR Business Partner can direct you to the relevant reporting options available. You can also seek further information and resources via BHP’s RespectChat.  Anyone who works with us, on our behalf, or is associated with us, can also raise misconduct concerns via Integrity@BHP or the BHP Protected Disclosure Reporting Channel.

Online: Make a report in either Integrity@BHP or the BHP Protected Disclosure Reporting Channel. 

Phone: You can also contact the BHP Protected Disclosure Reporting Channel by phone. 

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