A Track Record of Thought Leadership

Five Winds International has been at the leading edge of understanding what sustainability means to the mining and metals sector since the company was founded in 1998.

1998

Five Winds International conducts a metals market study for the International Council on Metals and the Environment (ICME), the predecessor to the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). This landmark study demonstrates to the mining industry how its products are perceived in end-use markets-whether they are restricted, on a watch-list, etc. The study is used as a valuable reference for many years to follow, and establishes Five Winds as a trusted guide to the metals and mining industry on market access issues.

2001

Five Winds International writes Eco-efficiency and Materials, a book that examines the concept of eco-efficiency from a materials perspective. The book argues that different materials have different life cycle profiles and affect the environment in different ways. This framework provides an appreciation of the inherent eco-efficiency attributes of metals, and influences materials selection policies and decisions for years to come.

2002

Five Winds International works with Rio Tinto's borates division, Rio Tinto Borax, to develop its overall sustainable development framework. The Rio Tinto Borax Sustainable Development Project is considered a leading model for its time and is highlighted as a case study at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

2006

Five Winds International works with the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) to develop its concept of materials stewardship. This concept, captured in a seminal publication entitled Maximizing Value, becomes a principal element of ICMM's activities for promoting the optimal and appropriate use of minerals and metals in society.

Today

At Five Winds International, we continue to use our global expertise to help our clients in the mining and metals sector spot trends and stay ahead of emerging issues. We are able to do this because we participate at the leadership level in decision-making organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)/Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Life Cycle Initiative, and the World Resources Institute/World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WRI/WBCSD) GHG Protocol.