SDG 5: Gender Equality and Altech 

The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals are broken down into 169 targets and 231 unique indicators. Although framed for governmental responses, many of these targets and indicators are readily applicable to companies – particularly those seeking to address (as many are) the SDGs as part of their wider ESG programme. In this series of Briefing Notes, Sustainable Capital will draw on examples from some of our clients to illustrate how selected SDG targets and indicators are being addressed.

The World is facing unprecedented demand for minerals to be used in battery production. Progressive mining companies are seeking to meet these demands in a range of innovative technological advances but such progressive companies are also seeking to simultaneously address other SDGs. One such company is Altech Chemicals Ltd. which has implemented a range of measures to address another critical issue: gender equality.

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Altech Chemicals Limited is aiming to become one of the world’s leading suppliers of high purity alumina through the construction and operation of a proposed processing plant at Johor, Malaysia. Feedstock for the plant will be sourced from the Company’s 100%-owned kaolin deposit at Meckering, Western Australia.

It is important to remember that not all SDGs and certainly not all targets and indicators are relevant to every company. Companies are, in fact, pretty much free to choose which of the SDGs, targets and indicators are most relevant to their activities – the important thing is to be clear about this. There is, however, one caveat, to wit, the SDGs, their targets and indicators cannot be offset: companies cannot offset one SDG against another. Honesty and integrity is, after all, a key element of the G in ESG.