Today, we are beginning to incorporate life cycle measures into our decision-making and management processes. This includes solid waste management, recycling and materials recovery.
As we gain a deeper understanding of how we can contribute to a more sustainable future, product and materials stewardship is playing an increasing role in the decisions that we make in our day-to-day business activities.
More than 10 years ago, product stewardship was focused on managing the regulatory and risk management issues related to our existing products and on considering product stewardship implications associated with new product development. Today, we are beginning to incorporate life cycle measures into our decision-making and management processes. This includes solid waste management, recycling and materials recovery.
Product stewardship is managed and overseen at Teck by an internal Product Stewardship Committee (PSC). The PSC is a cross-functional team of corporate officers and senior managers who apply risk management principles to manage key aspects of our existing and future products. Broadly speaking, the management process helps guide the products we produce, the markets and customers we sell to, and the new products we develop. The management process is strengthened by the multidisciplinary makeup of the committee members. Hailing from a broad range of backgrounds, the committee consists of specialists in environment, legal, risk management, business development, sustainability, waste management, sales and marketing, and operations – all of whom approach product stewardship issues with a different perspective. In addition, the PSC is informed by the work of the multidisciplinary Sustainability Working Group, adding to the diverse perspectives that shape its work.
The mandate of the Product Stewardship Committee is twofold. First, it reviews proposals for new products, new uses for existing products, new jurisdictions for the sale of products, and the acquisition of new businesses. The second facet of the PSC is to provide guidance and direction to the company at large regarding substantive issues and corporate policies concerning product stewardship.
The history and foundational work of the Product Stewardship Committee has provided important lessons for us. What began as a group focused on managing regulatory compliance, risk and liability has evolved into a committee that champions true product stewardship and ensures we stand out in the marketplace as a leader in the responsible management of our products.
This case study was originally published in our 2010 Sustainability Report.
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