KGHM with POLITYKA’s CSR Leaf as one of Poland’s ESG leaders

KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. has been recognized for its sustainable and systemic actions with POLITYKA’s CSR “White Leaf”. These awards are given for implementing the most relevant management categories recommended by the ISO 26000 standard. The evaluation included, for example, labor practices, the environmental impact management system, social engagement, and local community development.

SUSTAINABLE KGHM

In accordance with its strategy, KGHM’s activities focus on, among other things, the idea of sustainable development and concern for environmental and climate protection - with the aim of both preventing and effectively adapting to climate change. This is reflected in the activities implemented and in the internal normative acts adopted by the company, such as the Climate Policy and the Human Rights Policy. In the past year, each of the company’s strategic initiatives underwent additional evaluation. The negative, neutral, and positive on the following aspects was studied: Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; ESG image divided into three categories: environment, society, and corporate governance; and impact on risk mitigation and support of climate opportunities according to the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures) Recommendations. In addition, KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. is implementing a number of other organizational and process changes, among others in areas related to corporate governance.

KGHM FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The company also maintains an active dialogue with local communities, which results in a number of activities for the development of the residents and the areas in which it operates. For years, it has been running CSR programs, including EKO-health, through which Copper Belt residents take part in free Nordic walking activities and swimming lessons. KGHM also sponsors national, regional, and local cultural institutions, sports clubs, and recreational and health-oriented events. KGHM also subsidizes the implementation of family-friendly programs that support the parental and educational competencies of parents, teachers, and caregivers, i.e., School for Parents and Educators, Family Strengthening Program, as well as workshop titled “The reality of autistic people.” The company also takes part in the “Two Hours for the Family” nationwide campaign, but also encourages local governments to participate in educational prevention programs, including Treasure Archipelago, Power Star, and Leader100. All of these activities have so far benefited some 40 thousand beneficiaries.

KGHM’s CSR activities also include the Mie(dź) Rodzinę (Have a Family) campaign, in which foster parenthood is promoted in cooperation with local governments in the Copper Belt. The company also runs the award-winning “CUdowni rodzice” (Wonderful Parents) program. As part of it, on the occasion of the birth of a child, employees are given congratulations and gifts for the parents and the babies, including baby clothes, copper pendants, and teddy bears.

Employee volunteerism is also thriving at KGHM. This year alone, KGHM volunteers took part in dozens of assistance operations. Examples include planting forests, flowers, and shrubs, blood collections, cleaning up recreational areas, and the “Doughnut with a Noble Filling” charity event, which raised more than PLN 143,000 among the company’s employees in 2023.

ABOUT THE RANKING

The “Polityka” weekly magazine, in cooperation with the Deloitte consulting firm and the Responsible Business Forum, honored Polish ESG leaders for the 12th time. This is one of the oldest initiatives of its kind in Poland. The awards are given to companies that emphasize social and environmental topics in their operations, in addition to economic aspects, and manage them effectively. Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and its other-than-market consequences, the companies’ involvement in helping Ukrainians and Ukraine was also assessed, and the main barriers related to these activities and assistance were identified. In this year’s edition, 127 applications were considered and 104 companies were awarded.