Quebec Iron Ore Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:14:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Case study: How Quebec Iron Ore promotes workplace diversity https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-quebec-iron-ore-promotes-workplace-diversity/ Mon, 08 Nov 2021 07:07:00 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=13035 Founded in 2015, Quebec Iron Ore is a leading independent producer of high-grade iron ore, meeting the world’s highest steelmaking process standards of clients located mainly in China, Japan, Europe, India, Korea and the Middle East. , and strongly supports the principle that all individuals should have an equal opportunity to participate in the success of its business. This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Quebec Iron Ore published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting […]

The post Case study: How Quebec Iron Ore promotes workplace diversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Founded in 2015, Quebec Iron Ore is a leading independent producer of high-grade iron ore, meeting the world’s highest steelmaking process standards of clients located mainly in China, Japan, Europe, India, Korea and the Middle East. Quebec Iron Ore seeks to foster an open and inclusive work environment  Tweet This!, and strongly supports the principle that all individuals should have an equal opportunity to participate in the success of its business.

This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Quebec Iron Ore published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Quebec Iron Ore believes that a diverse workforce is essential to optimising the business’s overall performance and, also, helps make the local economy more resilient. In order to promote workplace diversity Quebec Iron Ore took action to:

  • promote female employment
  • support indigenous employment
  • promote cultural diversity

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Quebec Iron Ore identified a range of material issues, such as business ethics, health, safety and well-being, water stewardship, mine tailings management, energy and GHG emissions management. Among these, promoting workplace diversity stands out as a key material issue for Quebec Iron Ore.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Quebec Iron Ore engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Governments
Investors
Employees
Clients
Indigenous groups
Media
Local communities
Society
Shareholders
Suppliers
Union
Non-governmental organisations
Industry peers

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Quebec Iron Ore consulted a total of 564 stakeholders – including employees, managers, the union, indigenous groups, suppliers, investors, clients, governments, municipalities, associations, and industry peers – through a survey and interview.  Quebec Iron Ore asked them to rate the importance of topics by ranking them on a scale of 0 (no importance) to 4 (great importance), and to indicate their level of satisfaction with how Quebec Iron Ore managed key issues.

What actions were taken by Quebec Iron Ore to promote workplace diversity?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Quebec Iron Ore reports that it took the following actions for promoting workplace diversity:

  • Promoting female employment
  • Positions held by women represented 11% of Quebec Iron Ore’s workforce
in 2019, mostly in traditional administrative jobs. Some of these positions are associated with operations, including the operation of heavy machinery. To increase the proportion of women in the short and medium term, Quebec Iron Ore applies the following measures:
    • Increase marketing showcasing the possibilities of non- traditional jobs aimed at young women through educational institutions, specialised job placement agencies and recruitment partners.
    • Give preference to equally qualified female candidates in the selection process, especially for management and leadership positions.
  • Supporting indigenous employment
  • Members of Indigenous groups represented 4% of Quebec Iron Ore’s workforce on December 31, 2019. When considering Indigenous jobs contracted out to the Bloom Lake Mine site, the number of Indigenous jobs exceeded 70 at some point during the year. However, maintaining employment and managing seasonal variations in some activities posed certain challenges regarding
the employability of Indigenous individuals in 2019. The year 2019 highlighted the need to change how Quebec Iron Ore promotes Indigenous employment, as the traditional one-on-one interview was found not to be suitable for members of these groups, because their core values often prevent individuals from self-promoting. As for the various selection tests and questionnaires, Quebec Iron Ore found that they were not adjusted to their learning style. Quebec Iron Ore has therefore replaced the conventional tests with a questionnaire to assess the candidate’s ability to get started in the job. Quebec Iron Ore has also traded one-on- one interviews for group activities, in which games allow Indigenous candidates to showcase their talents and help Quebec Iron Ore identify job opportunities for them.
  • Promoting cultural diversity
  • Quebec Iron Ore implemented new measures
to support diversity and inclusion in its workforce in 2019. First, it created a strategic alliance with the Club de recherche d’emploi de Montréal Centre-Ville (a job search club), which specialises in assisting immigrant professionals find jobs. Quebec Iron Ore also conducted a pilot project by inviting 23 immigrants for a two-day exploration exercise at the Bloom Lake Mine site. The project included presentations to participants and one-on-one meetings with mine managers to promote opportunities to hire people from diverse backgrounds. Two candidates who took part in the pilot project were later hired.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 405-1 Diversity of governance bodies and employees

Disclosure 405-1 Diversity of governance bodies and employees corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Quebec Iron Ore, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Quebec Iron Ore: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Quebec Iron Ore promotes workplace diversity appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Quebec Iron Ore promotes ethical business behaviour https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-quebec-iron-ore-promotes-ethical-business-behaviour/ Fri, 13 Nov 2020 07:00:46 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=11697 Founded in 2015, Quebec Iron Ore is one of the world’s largest independent producers of high-grade iron ore following the 2018 launch of operations at its main asset, the Bloom Lake Mine in Quebec, Canada. Quebec Iron Ore and its parent company, Champion Iron Limited, use a variety of tools such as policies, training, charters, codes and procedures to foster and maintain a corporate culture that encourages ethical behaviour and compliance with their obligations. This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Quebec Iron Ore published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found […]

The post Case study: How Quebec Iron Ore promotes ethical business behaviour appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Founded in 2015, Quebec Iron Ore is one of the world’s largest independent producers of high-grade iron ore following the 2018 launch of operations at its main asset, the Bloom Lake Mine in Quebec, Canada. Quebec Iron Ore and its parent company, Champion Iron Limited, use a variety of tools such as policies, training, charters, codes and procedures to foster and maintain a corporate culture that encourages ethical behaviour and compliance with their obligations.

This case study is based on the 2019 Sustainability Report by Quebec Iron Ore published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Layout 1Abstract                  

Quebec Iron Ore’s reputation and the trust of those with whom it does business are among the most important assets of its business. Accordingly, it is essential for Quebec Iron Ore to conduct its business while respecting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and excellence  Tweet This!. In order to promote ethical business behaviour Quebec Iron Ore took action to:

  • implement an Employee Code of Conduct
  • provide training
  • promote misconduct reporting

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Quebec Iron Ore identified a range of material issues, such as health, safety and well-being, water stewardship, mine tailings management, equity and equal opportunity employment, respect for ecosystem support capacity, human capital management and engagement. Among these, promoting ethical business behaviour stands out as a key material issue for Quebec Iron Ore.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Quebec Iron Ore engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Governments
Investors
Employees
Clients
Indigenous groups
Media
Local communities
Society
Shareholders
Suppliers
Union
Non-governmental organisations
Industry peers

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Quebec Iron Ore engaged with a total of 564 stakeholders – including employees, managers, the union, indigenous groups, suppliers, investors, clients, governments, municipalities, associations, and industry peers – through a survey and interview, asking them to rate the importance of the topics by ranking them on a scale of 0 (no importance) to 4 (great importance), and to indicate their level of satisfaction with how Quebec Iron Ore manages important issues.

What actions were taken by Quebec Iron Ore to promote ethical business behaviour?

In its 2019 Sustainability Report Quebec Iron Ore reports that it took the following actions for promoting ethical business behaviour:

  • Implementing an Employee Code of Conduct
  • Quebec Iron Ore produced an Employee Code of Conduct in 2017 that set standards for the behaviour expected of all staff in their daily activities and in their relationships with others. Although exhaustive, this Code does not deal with all situations that may occur, but provides guiding principles to support a decision process consistent with Quebec Iron Ore’s values, commitments and reputation. It outlines the key responsibilities of Quebec Iron Ore’s employees to shareholders of the parent company Champion Iron Limited, as well as individuals and communities. All employees and managers have an obligation to be aware of the Code and to agree to adhere to it. It should be noted that all employees, officers and directors are also subject to the Code of Conduct of the parent company, Champion Iron Limited.
  • Providing training
  • In 2019, Quebec Iron Ore launched an online training and certification course on the Employee Code of Conduct. In addition to reviewing the key topics of the Code, the process includes a mandatory test to ensure understanding of the concepts learned as well as a commitment to comply with the Code at all times. The test must be passed with a score of 100% for certification to be obtained. Training and certification must be renewed on an annual basis by all staff. The same process applies to the parent company’s Code of Conduct. Training and certification in the parent company’s and Quebec Iron Ore’s codes of conduct will be mandatory, starting in 2020. All staff should also be familiar with various company policies and procedures that provide detailed advice, guidance and directives on specific situations that may arise in the course of their work and ensure that they make the right decisions and do the right things.
  • Promoting misconduct reporting
  • Everyone working for Quebec Iron Ore has a duty to promptly report any situation in which its codes of conduct, their underlying policies or the law appear to have been violated. Champion Iron Limited will introduce a whistleblower policy for the parent company and its subsidiaries in 2020, which will apply to Quebec Iron Ore. This policy will notably be accompanied by an anonymous reporting procedure through a platform administered by an independent third party. Additionally, in accordance with its Code of Conduct, anyone working for Quebec Iron Ore who violates any law, the Code of Conduct or other policies or procedures may be subject to disciplinary action, up to
and including termination of employment. In 2019, Quebec Iron Ore received two reports related to a potential Code violation, which were treated with the utmost diligence. No one was fired for violating the Code of Conduct.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures

2) Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken

3) Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices

4) Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area

 

Disclosure 205-2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies and procedures corresponds to:

Disclosure 205-3 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken corresponds to:

Disclosure 206-1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, and monopoly practices corresponds to:

Disclosure 419-1 Non-compliance with laws and regulations in the social and economic area corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Quebec Iron Ore, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Quebec Iron Ore: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Quebec Iron Ore promotes ethical business behaviour appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]>