While absolute results remain low overall, and while the very tragic tailings dam failure in Brumadinho revealed systemic shortcomings, in terms of Vale’s relative results compared to the other companies assessed, the company shows one of the three stronger results in Economic Development and above average results for Business Conduct, Community Wellbeing and Environmental Responsibility.

Vale ranks 8th among the 38 companies on its mine-site-level results, though with an average score of only 19% in the mine-site assessment.

In Economic Development, Vale’s results stem in part from its collaborative R&D work with producing country institutions on socio-economic and environmental issues related to mining. Vale also shows one of the stronger results on the issue of supporting technical and vocational skills development among the wider population in collaboration with in-country institutions.

Vale is associated with several leading practices, including a systematic programme of professional training for underrepresented groups in its workforce, including women and people with disabilities.

However, Vale’s results in Working Conditions are below the average achieved across all 38 companies and Vale’s overall results are limited by a lack of evidence of action on a number of issues. For example, Vale shows no evidence on: the integration of ESG criteria into its investment decision-making processes, ensuring its operations address the health and safety needs of women workers, and tracking its performance on reducing its adverse impacts on water quality. Furthermore, Vale shows no evidence of a formal commitment not to explore or mine in World Heritage Sites and to respect other protected areas.

Moreover, Vale’s results in the mine-site assessment are very variable. While one of its five assessed mine sites shows one of the six stronger results among the 180 sites assessed (with a score of 37%), two of the company’s other assessed mine sites show no relevant evidence on eight of the ten issues covered: local employment, local procurement, post-closure planning, community grievances, air quality, water quality and quantity, and emergency preparedness.