Extraction of natural resources involves high risks for violations of human rights and severe impact on the environment. This toolkit aims at giving companies and civil society organisations an understanding of such risks and the links to business operations. How does the extraction of natural resources affect people and the environment? What responsibility do companies have?

...The extraction of raw materials creates millions of jobs and is an important source of income for many countries, especially for low-income countries...By managing these assets responsibly, the gains from mineral extraction can reduce poverty and increase societal wellbeing. However, while the opportunities are considerable, the extractive industries are a high-risk sector in many ways due to their extensive social and environmental impacts...

This training material is designed for companies that want to learn more about the extractive industries' impact on people and the environment and how companies should ensure that they respect human rights and the environment across their operations. The material is also designed for civil society organisations working on issues related to sustainable business and that monitor company behaviours...