Mining companies are becoming more innovative in managing relationships with communities living near their operations, with the metals they produce playing an increasingly significant role in those efforts.
Silver, long prized for its monetary and industrial uses, is earning a new reputation as a “star” metal in responsible mining - that is, mining companies aspiring to adhere to high ESG standards.
Silver is being used to purify water in host communities in Mexico - a move pioneered by Vancouver-based advocacy group, Metals for Humanity, and the world’s largest primary silver producer, Fresnillo PLC.
The Pure Silver Initiative (PSI) started in 2015 and has been implemented in three states in Mexico - two where Fresnillo operates – and, during the COVID pandemic, in Mexico City schools.
Metals for Humanity believes the initiative will soon be sufficiently developed to be rolled out to other mines globally - making the metal a potential symbol of sustainable mining.
Not just silver …
However, the same approach can be applied to other metals. Zinc, for example, is an important trace element for the human immune system. The health of many host mining communities in developing countries would benefit from having their diets enriched with this important trace element.
The next phase of PSI is educational. A newly released Spanish-language video (click here for the English version), created by Metals for Humanity, plays on the vibrant tradition of Mexican wrestling, lucha libre, to demonstrate silver’s powerful antibacterial properties. The video is a cartoon featuring a masked wrestler representing silver triumphing over harmful bacteria in a dramatized battle. The idea is to distribute the video across local schools to show children the life-saving properties of silver.
“The video isn’t just about science, it’s about storytelling,” says Ingrid Putkonen, Managing Director at Metals for Humanity. “By tying silver’s amazing properties to something kids already know and love, like lucha libre, we’re making the message both memorable and meaningful.”
Engaging with local communities
Putkonen explains that tying the physical properties of metals to the needs of host communities is an important step in creating a deeper understanding between mining companies and the people who live near their operations. Using educational videos is also a novel approach for mining companies to communicate with those communities.
“This kind of initiative shows a potential shift in how mining companies engage with host communities,” says Fresnillo’s CEO Octavio Alvídrez. “Rather than the traditional focus being just on improving local infrastructure, transportation, basic education and utilities, this initiative goes even further by using metals to solve real problems in the local community.”
He explains that the use of videos to explain the role of metals to host communities is a potentially powerful engagement tool.
Incorporating metals into local applications and expanding the use of educational tools represents a meaningful step forward for responsible mining companies seeking to build stronger bonds with host communities.
