The mining industry is directly or indirectly linked to several SDG goals. These include for example goals N° 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 15.

The economic, social, and ecological sustainability of mining is debated in Finland, in the EU and around the world. In the report Perspectives on sustainable mining in Finland this topic is approached from the following perspectives: the connection between sustainable mining and central government finances, objectives and implementation of Finland’s mining policy, increasing the added value of battery minerals and battery industry, circular economy solutions for mining operations, local acceptance of mining operations (social licence to operate, SLO), and the management of environmental risks arising from abandoned and closed mines.

Even though mining is a commercial activity, it is connected with the state and central government finances in many ways. Environmental protection and ecologically sustainable mining have also been major themes in Government Programmes in the 2010s. The Finnish Mineral Strategy published in 2010 and the Sustainable Extractive Industries Action Plan presented in 2013 are the two key strategies guiding Finland’s mining and mineral policy. The Sustainable Mining Network and the mining responsibility system created by it were established on the basis of the recommendations set out in the Sustainable Extractive Industries Action Plan. Mining sector actors have been mostly satisfied with the networked activities and the responsibility system. On the other hand, it seems that the 2010 Mineral Strategy and the Sustainable Extractive Industries Action Plan of 2013 do not otherwise necessarily guide the activities anymore. In fact, the question arises whether these strategies should be updated or overhauled. National and various EU-level strategies could also be coordinated with each other more effectively.

Finland presented its national battery strategy in early 2021. Batteries play a key role in the achievement of climate targets. Finland has also worked to improve the added value of battery minerals and battery industry. The key strategic objective of the state-owned Finnish Minerals Group is to develop an electric car battery value chain in Finland.

Circular economy solutions for the mining sector can be used to implement circular economy policy objectives. However, most of the circular economy solutions are still on a trial basis. The problem is to make these solutions more widely and systematically available.

In order to be commercially successful, a mining company must gain the acceptance of the local community (social licence to operate, SLO).  Gaining local acceptance is not always a straightforward matter. There may be major differences between operating practices of mining companies and they sometimes fail to receive the social licence to operate.

In the past, many Finnish mines were abandoned and closed using methods that do not meet today’s environmental and safety standards. In Finland, the state of closed and abandoned extractive waste sites has been examined in the KAJAK projects since the 2010s. A number of projects to reform the environmental liability legislation applicable to mining operations are also under way.

This is not an audit report. Instead, it is a landscape review that examines sustainable mining from many different perspectives. The report therefore does not present audit recommendations. However, the last subsection of each chapter of the report discusses opportunities for development.

Written material was used as sources and a large number of interviews with mining and mineral industry experts were carried out. Mining companies and experts also provided the NAOF with valuable information in writing. Written material was used as sources and a large number of interviews with mining and mineral industry experts were carried out. Mining companies and experts also provided the NAOF with valuable information in writing. Written material was used as sources and a large number of interviews with mining and mineral industry experts were carried out. Mining companies and experts also provided the NAOF with valuable information in writing.

Deutsch — Nachhaltigkeit: soziale, umweltbezogene und innovative Aspekte bei der Vergabe

1. Die Bundesregierung hat im Jahr 2010 das „Maßnahmenprogramm Nachhaltigkeit“ beschlossen. Es richtet sich an alle Behörden und Einrichtungen der unmittelbaren Bundesverwaltung und gibt für elf Bereiche konkrete Maßnahmen vor.
2. Das Maßnahmenprogramm ist Teil der Deutschen Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie. Es fordert u. a. eine weitere Ausrichtung der öffentlichen Beschaffung am Leitprinzip einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung im Rahmen der geltenden rechtlichen Bestimmungen und unter Beachtung des vergaberechtlichen Wirtschaftlichkeitsgrundsatzes.
3. Das reformierte Vergaberecht lässt die Einbeziehung von sozialen, umweltbezogenen und innovativen Aspekten im gesamten Vergabeverfahren zu.

Der Bundesrechnungshof hat geprüft, ob und wie das Beschaffungsamt des Bundesministeriums des Innern diese  Aspekte unter Beachtung der Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie der Bundesregierung wirtschaftlich umsetzt.

English — Sustainability: social, environmental and innovative aspects in procurement

1. In 2010, the federal government adopted the “action programme on sustainability”. It covers all government departments and institutions and sets forth actions for eleven areas.
2. The action programme is part of Germany’s national sustainable development strategy. It requires, for example, for public procurement to comply with the guiding principle of sustainable development within the limits set by legal provisions and the value-for-money principle.  
3. The revised procurement law makes it possible to consider social, environmental, and innovative aspects throughout the entire procurement procedure.

We examined the procurement agency's mission performance within the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community is in line with the national sustainable development strategy and the value-for-money principle.

Deutsch — Nachhaltigkeit: soziale, umweltbezogene und innovative Aspekte bei der Vergabe

1. Das Beschaffungsamt muss die Berücksichtigung von Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten sicherstellen. Es sollte seine Dienstanweisung für Beschaffungen um entsprechende Vorgaben, auch solche für die Recherche zu Nachhaltigkeistsaspekten, ergänzen.
2. Es muss sein Personal regelmäßig zum Thema "Nachhaltigkeit" schulen.
3. Das Beschaffungsamt muss auch Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte, die sich nicht unmittelbar finanziell auswirken, im Vergabeverfahren angemessen berücksichtigen und gegenüber dem Preis gewichten.
4. Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte müssen ebenfalls in der Wirtschaftlichkeitsuntersuchung berücksichtigt werden.

English — Sustainability: social, environmental and innovative aspects in procurement

1. The procurement agency needs to ensure that sustainability aspects are taken into account. To this effect, it should update its procurement instructions and add applicable requirements, including those to enabling information search on sustainability aspects.
2. The procurement agency needs to train staff members at regular intervals on “sustainability”.
3. The procurement agency also needs to adequately weigh sustainability aspects having no direct financial impact in the awarding procedure against the cost.
4. Capital expenditure appraisals also needs to cover sustainability aspects.

Deutsch — Nachhaltigkeit: soziale, umweltbezogene und innovative Aspekte bei der Vergabe

1. Analyse relevanter Unterlagen und Berichte (Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie des Bundes, "Maßnahmenprogramm Nachhaltigkeit", Monitoringberichte, veröffentlichte Aussagen der geprüften Stelle)
2. Informationsgespräch mit der Kompetenzstelle für nachhaltige Beschaffung (zentrale Anlaufstelle für alle Bundesressorts, Bundesländer, Kommunen und sonstige öffentliche Beschaffungsstellen bei Fragen zur nachhaltigen öffentlichen Beschaffung)
3. Prüfung der angeforderten hausinternen Regelungen/Handlungsanweisungen
4. Bei den örtlichen Erhebungen Interviews und Auswertung von Akten sowie Dateien.

English — Sustainability: social, environmental and innovative aspects in procurement

1. Analysis of relevant documents and reports (National Sustainable Development Strategy; “sustainability action programme”; monitoring reports; statements published by the audited body)
2. Discussion held with the Competence Center for Sustainable Procurement (central point of contact: It offers advice on sustainable public procurement for federal, state and local government procurement offices and other public agencies)
3. Review of the required internal rules/instructions
4. During field work: interviews, and analysis of paper-bound and electronic documents.