The increased focus on best practice environmental management has led to mining and mineral processing companies
developing a variety of procedures to ensure that the environmental impacts of their operations are minimised, and that
company managements are fully aware of these impacts and the policies and procedures established to ensure this process.
Parallel to this, international standards for the development and implementation of environmental management systems are
being promoted as necessary for companies to demonstrate their due diligence. Good environmental management systems
should be built upon the systems already established within companies, and should ensure that the process of continual
improvement is integral to their operation. An outline of the basic components of environmental management systems is
provided, along with examples of the way various mining companies have implemented such systems. The benefits of best
practice environmental management to mining companies are also considered.