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    Social performance

    We operate under a commitment to respecting the rights of our communities and the environment

    We recognize that we are a part of, and can positively contribute to, the communities where we operate. With this in mind, we have defined our social ambition with an emphasis on our goal of supporting the development of autonomous communities, engaging around issues that are relevant to humanity, and advancing sustainable mining.   

    However, we are also aware that our activities can cause disturbances to our communities and the environment. That is why we actively work to prevent risks and mitigate impacts through processes and standards that guide our social initiatives and how we engage with communities and society in general. We do this with an integrated view of the territory, considering the stages of the business life cycle as well as different activities, operations, and/or projects. 

    We recognize that we are a part of, and can positively contribute to, the communities where we operate. With this in mind, we have defined our social ambition with an emphasis on our goal of supporting the development of autonomous communities, engaging around issues that are relevant to humanity, and advancing sustainable mining.  

    However, we are also aware that our activities can cause disturbances to our communities and the environment. That is why we actively work to prevent risks and mitigate impacts through processes and standards that guide our social initiatives and how we engage with people, communities, and society at large.

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    Principals guiding our Social Performance

    Transparency​​​​  

    To be transparent in reporting the actions taken and the commitments made, keeping stakeholders informed, in appropriate language, about all activities and decisions that affect them; 

    Value sharing

    To develop business practices that can generate economic value and increase Vale's competitiveness while simultaneously creating value for society and the environment;

    Cultural transformation

    To contribute so that our values, behaviors, levers, and ambitions are reflected in how we act socially and materialize our purpose of improving lives and transforming the future. Together.

    Engagement   

    To promote dialogue and relationships with communities and other stakeholders for participatory decision-making; 

    Diversity, equity, and inclusion

    To treat all people fairly and equally, respect and value their uniqueness, promote an inclusive work environment, and not tolerate any form of prejudice and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, disability, religion, nationality, political beliefs, among others; 

    Operational ​Responsibility  

    To make decisions that reduce exposure to risks, cause the least possible harm (do no harm), and create value for society;

    Social performance framework

    Vale's Social Engagement is realized through the management of risks and impacts on communities and by supporting territorial development. This is supported by stakeholder relationships and is underpinned by an unwavering commitment to respecting human rights and complying with legal requirements, where every process, employee, and contractor must be vigilant to avoid any form of violation.

    Engaging with stakeholders and communities is how we build respect and trust. By engaging with people, groups, and institutions, we can incorporate the communities' perspectives into improving our processes. This helps us mitigate impacts, reduce exposure to risks, share our practices, and learn how to become a better company each day. In doing so, we become partners and support the development of the territories where we operate. 

    Our social engagement involves the entire company in reducing communities' exposure to risks and mitigating the impacts of our activities. 

    To facilitate the company's dialogue with communities, we have specialized teams dedicated to Community Relations. Learn more at Local communities.  

    Targets and commitments 

    Consistent with our objective to support the development of the communities and territories where we operate, we have established commitments for the upcoming years that include developing and implementing engagement plans for priority communities, as well as initiatives related to the rights of Indigenous Peoples residing near our operations. In addition, we have made a pledge to lift 500,000 individuals from extreme poverty by 2030 — an initiative that aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 1 – No Poverty. These efforts are primarily carried out through the Vale Foundation and the Vale Fund. Ultimately, we anticipate that our community initiatives contribute to improve Vale’s performance in major external assessments. 

    Targets for the coming years: 

    By 2026, develop Engagement Plans for 100% of priority communities;  

    By 2030, lift 500,000 people out of extreme poverty (learn more here);  

    By 2030, all Indigenous Communities neighboring our operations to have plans in place to secure the rights outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    By 2030, improve our position for social performance in major external assessments.  

    Further information about the status of each of our commitments can be found here. 
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    Governance and risk management

    Matters related to social impact, including human rights, are continuously monitored by the Board of Directors’ Sustainability Committee and addressed by our Executive Committees for Operational Risks and Compliance Risks, following the guidelines in Vale’s Risk Management Policy. These committees take a preventive approach and are responsible for assisting executive vice presidents in monitoring business risks and making related decisions. 

    All risks within Vale are assessed from the perspective of social and human rights. We adhere to methodologies, standards, and systems that are in line with Vale's risk management process and industry best practices.  

    Applying these tools aids in identifying, assessing, managing, and monitoring risks. The most common risks in our industry include those related to community safety, conflicts arising from involuntary resettlement and land use, disturbances to local communities (primarily related to noise, dust, and vibration), disputes over natural resources, and impacts to roads and highways. More information about Vale's risk management process can be found here.

    Related policies 

    Fighting extreme poverty 

    As one of our strategic pillars, Vale has proposed a new social pact with society: we aspire for our positive impact on communities to extend beyond taxes, social programs, and reparations in Brumadinho; instead, we aim to become a catalyst of broader development in the areas where we operate, while promoting a safer and more sustainable mining industry. 

    As part of our social ambition and targets for 2030, we have included a goal to help lift 500,000 people from extreme poverty. This commitment aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global call by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030, all people enjoy peace and prosperity. 

    SDG 1 calls for ending poverty in all its forms, “leaving no one behind.” It explicitly recognizes that economic development does not automatically translate into access to essential rights and services for all. We acknowledge that even within robust social programs aimed at universalizing essential rights, certain social groups — such as black individuals, women, indigenous communities, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, among others — face challenges in inclusion and accessing opportunities. 
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    Since announcing our commitment, we have launched a broad consultation and survey exercise involving various professionals and institutions. This has informed the development of a new methodology that we will continue to refine in the future in consultation with governments, civil society organizations, and other corporations. 

    Methodologically, we have adopted a concept of poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon and an approach based on Multidimensional Family Support (AFM) spanning five dimensions: education, income, health, nutrition, and infrastructure. The focus of our approach is on families. We provide support and referrals to existing public and corporate social programs in each locality based on the specific impacts on people’s everyday life and the different levels of deprivation in urban, rural, and forest settings. 

    We are currently piloting the new methodology in the states of Pará, Maranhão, Amazonas, and Rio de Janeiro. By the end of 2023, approximately 30,000 people have been reached by our programs. These pilot tests are an essential step to deepen our strategic vision and further refine our methodology.   

    Learn more about our Engagement with Communities

    Learn more about our Impact Management