Mining co-operatives: A model to establish a network for sustainability

Abstract

Mining Co-operatives wield significant influence over the mining sector. These organizations have been getting increasing importance to support diggers through initiatives and policies to improve small-scale mining activ-ities. In spite of the importance of cooperatives to the local communities, studies on their role and contribution towards sustainable business practices in the sector are still scarce. This paper investigates the scenario of mining Cooperatives in Brazil through a set of interviews to the managers of these Co-operatives, which allowed to conclude on the relevance of the sector to establish a sustainable network into the mining sector in the country. The results indicated some key concerns related to lack of awareness towards cooperative principles and en-vironmental impacts and the reduced engagement with local community. The need to improve knowledge and academic background of both diggers and managers emerged as a major challenge to be overcome to ensure that cooperative principles are effectively put in place and guide the cooperatives towards sustainable development

Sustainability Indicators: Information Asymmetry Mitigators between Cooperative Organizations and Their Primary Stakeholders

“…These values involve honesty, social responsibility, and care for others [24,25]. Cooperatives have mainly covered the agribusiness, consumer, credit, and health sectors [25,[32][33][34]. However, other sectors also have initiatives in the cooperative segment, such as mining [26,32], rural electrification, and infrastructure [35].…”

“…In this sense, cooperatives have been relevant actors for supporting members' activities and developing initiatives and policies oriented toward sustainability, not only for their members but for the entire community [34]. They provide financial and non-financial gains with indirect support through the services offered [32].…”

“…Society is increasingly sensitive to issues related to sustainability. It is one of the principles of modern society, with the appreciation of technologies, processes, products, and min-imal impacts on the ecosystem, organizations operating within sustainable limits [34,42]. Sustainability is a concern that permeates all society levels and has the premise that it must develop to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.…”

Operations in the Cotton Chain: A Study at Agro-industrial Cooperative Holambra II and the Paulista Association of Cotton Producers (PACP)

“…In mid-2020, the Cooperative implemented changes in its organizational structure and governance, aiming at long-term sustainable growth, efficiency gains in the decision-making process (Alves, Ferreira, & Araújo, 2019;Fedorova & Valiev, 2021), and enhancement of the corporation's competitive advantages (Lazzarini et al, 2001). Figure 2 presents the current corporate structure of Cooperative Holambra II.…”

Formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining in Colombia: Achievements and challenges relating to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals

“…A lack of community engagement has been identified as a major impediment to the formalization of smallscale mining (Alves, Ferreira and Araujo, 2016). A focus on communities, as opposed to individuals, as the main beneficiaries of AREs serves to boost the creation of associative and cooperative structures that have been shown to play an important role in mitigation of the social and environmental impacts of mining (Alves, Ferreira and Araújo, 2019).…”