A popular and often-heard phrase nowadays is "sustainable development." But what does it mean and what effect, if any, can it have on the mineral processing industry?

If you look in the dictionary, the phrase is derived from "sustain" (to hold up under pressure) and "develop" (to come or bring to an advanced stage). As with many things, the whole is substantially greater than the sum of its parts.

It is an indisputable fact that sustainability is at the very heart of business-all business. Regardless of the particular area of activity, all companies need to assure their long-term survival and competitiveness by predicting evolving trends and acting upon them at the earliest opportunity.

The idea that a business can be entirely sustainable is anathema in today's commercial world, but many businesses are seeing sustainable development as the way ahead, as a target to be aimed for wherever possible. This policy allows improvement in performance and often commercial gains.

Such a plan promotes ongoing opportunities for energy and efficiency savings, as well as the ability to respond to both market and technological changes. It also would help companies clearly identify future opportunities and risks, allowing them to be proactive rather than reactive.

Businesses that have these sorts of policies in their corporate approach can improve process efficiency with resource input and energy-consumption savings and mitigate the environmental effects of the production process.

The lowering of environmental risks can have a significant effect on insurance outgoings and help increase asset value. The differing environmental effect on a range of products can lead to a broader product base and increased customer support.Also a viable, sustainable development pol icy often makes the company a better investment opportunity in these days of ethical and politically correct investors. Similarly, this sort of proactive approach often means that companies are in a better position to respond to future legislation.

To survive in business in today's highly competitive world, a company must identify its objectives, establish indicators to performance related to those objectives, and initiate a system of continuous review and assessment of its activities.

Manufacturers need to identify all the external pressures on them, both environmental and non-environmental, and assess the resources available now and in the future. An examination of the interaction between social, environmental, and economic factors is essential. Having done that, the appropriate action should become clear.

In short, the phrase sustainable development is not that different than one widely used in the modern cement industry: "good business practice." Keep it up.