Induced social responsibility in global mineral supply chains: Fatalities from tailings dam failures

Demand for mineral resources is estimated to increase four-fold over the next 20 years due to the widespread introduction of clean energy technologies. However, increasing global demand and consumption of mineral resources also requires increased mining activities upstream of the resource supply chain. We developed a new method to quantify production inducements in the mining sector and assess the number of fatalities allocated to these inducements using multi-regional input-output tables. Tailings dam failures are used as a case study, and the number of fatalities allocated to the car industry in each country is considered as the induced social responsibility (ISR). Based on failure data for the period 1928–2020, the ISR of 10 car-producing countries was identified. The top 5 % of ISR was in the transport equipment sector in India, Mexico, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Brazil's transport equipment sector induced the highest output in its own mining sector (US$3.9 million), and the country's ISR for this sector was also the largest (approximately 15). Sustainable tailings dam management is discussed from the viewpoint of both resource and consumer countries. Dam management technologies and methods are also considered, with a focus on the mining sector in resource-rich countries. Stakeholders involved in the resource supply chain should quantify and identify direct and indirect links between countries and industries to contribute to greater supply chain credibility and transparency.