Mining Companies Ranked on Environmental Performance
Mining is one of the most environmentally consequential sectors in the global economy. Open-pit extraction, tailings dam failures, water contamination, deforestation, and carbon-intensive processing define the industry's footprint. It also underpins the energy transition: lithium, copper, cobalt, and rare earths are essential for batteries, wind turbines, and electric vehicles.
The question for investors is straightforward. Which mining companies manage their environmental impact with some degree of accountability, and which ones leave a trail of documented harm?
We scored 17 major mining companies on Planet-Friendly Business — our environmental performance dimension — using court filings, regulatory penalties, investigative journalism, and NGO documentation. No corporate sustainability reports. No self-assessed ESG disclosures. Just independently verifiable evidence.
The results are not encouraging for the sector as a whole.
The Ranking: Planet-Friendly Business Scores
| Rank | Company | Ticker | Planet Score | Overall Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheaton Precious Metals | WPM.US | -10 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Rio Tinto | RIO.LSE | -20 | -3.2 |
| 3 | Eramet | ER7.XETRA | -20 | -6.4 |
| 4 | Peabody Energy | BTU.US | -20 | -21.8 |
| 5 | Newmont | NEM.US | -30 | -8.6 |
| 6 | Freeport-McMoRan | FCX.US | -30 | -10.5 |
| 7 | Nucor | NUE.US | -30 | -5.9 |
| 8 | Fresnillo | FRES.LSE | -30 | -3.2 |
| 9 | Albemarle | ALB.US | -30 | -8.6 |
| 10 | Glencore | GLEN.LSE | -40 | -22.3 |
| 11 | KAZ Minerals | KAZ.LSE | -40 | -8.6 |
| 12 | Agnico Eagle Mines | AEM.US | -40 | -5.0 |
| 13 | Vale | VALE.US | -40 | -21.8 |
| 14 | Barrick Gold | ABX.US | -40 | -15.5 |
| 15 | Gold Fields | GFI.US | -40 | -5.5 |
| 16 | Polymetal International | POLY.LSE | -40 | -5.9 |
| 17 | Teck Resources | TECK.US | -60 | -12.7 |
Not a single company in our mining coverage scored positively on environmental performance. The best score in the group is -10. The median is -30. The worst is -60.
Top of the Table: The Least Negative
1. Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM.US) — Planet Score: -10
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Honest & Fair Business | +10 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -10 |
| All other dimensions | 0 |
Wheaton operates as a streaming company rather than a traditional miner — it finances mining operations in exchange for the right to purchase a portion of production at a fixed cost. This model means Wheaton does not directly operate mines, which limits its direct environmental footprint. Its relatively mild negative score of -10 reflects this structural difference rather than any exceptional environmental stewardship. The environmental harm still occurs at the mines it finances.
View Wheaton Precious Metals' full score breakdown
2. Rio Tinto (RIO.LSE) — Planet Score: -20
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | +25 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -20 |
| Zero Waste & Sustainable Products | -40 |
Rio Tinto is one of the world's largest mining companies, producing iron ore, aluminium, copper, and minerals across six continents. Its environmental score of -20 places it near the top of this ranking, though that says more about the sector's baseline than Rio Tinto's performance. The company's score of -40 on waste and sustainability reflects documented concerns around mine waste management and product lifecycle impacts.
View Rio Tinto's full score breakdown
3. Eramet (ER7.XETRA) — Planet Score: -20
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Planet-Friendly Business | -20 |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | -20 |
| Honest & Fair Business | -10 |
| No War, No Weapons | -10 |
| Safe & Smart Tech | -10 |
Eramet, the French mining and metallurgical group, produces manganese, nickel, and lithium. Its -20 environmental score ties it with Rio Tinto and Peabody. With an overall average of -6.4, its negative scores are distributed across several dimensions rather than concentrated in one area.
View Eramet's full score breakdown
The Middle Tier: -30 Scorers
Five companies cluster at -30 on environmental performance: Newmont, Freeport-McMoRan, Nucor, Fresnillo, and Albemarle.
4. Newmont (NEM.US) — Planet Score: -30
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | +25 |
| Better Health for All | +10 |
| No War, No Weapons | +10 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -30 |
| Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing | -40 |
Newmont is the world's largest gold mining company, operating across the Americas, Africa, and Australia. Despite a positive score on community engagement (+25), its environmental performance lags at -30. Its worst score is -40 on ethical sourcing, reflecting documented concerns in its global supply chain. Its overall average of -8.6 makes it middling within the mining sector.
View Newmont's full score breakdown
5. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX.US) — Planet Score: -30
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | +25 |
| Honest & Fair Business | +20 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -30 |
| Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing | -40 |
| Safe & Smart Tech | -50 |
Freeport-McMoRan operates some of the world's largest copper and gold mines, including the Grasberg mine in Indonesia. Its -30 environmental score is notable given the scale of its extraction operations. The -50 on technology safety is the lowest tech safety score in our mining coverage, and the -40 on ethical sourcing reflects documented supply chain concerns. Its +20 on governance suggests some structural transparency, though this does not offset the environmental and sourcing gaps.
View Freeport-McMoRan's full score breakdown
6. Nucor (NUE.US) — Planet Score: -30
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Zero Waste & Sustainable Products | +30 |
| Better Health for All | +10 |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | +10 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -30 |
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | -25 |
Nucor is the largest steel producer in the United States and a significant recycler — its electric arc furnace operations use scrap steel as primary feedstock. This recycling focus is reflected in its +30 score on waste and sustainability, the highest in that dimension among all companies in this ranking. However, steelmaking remains energy-intensive regardless of feedstock, and Nucor's -30 environmental score reflects the carbon reality of the process.
View Nucor's full score breakdown
7. Fresnillo (FRES.LSE) — Planet Score: -30
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Honest & Fair Business | +70 |
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | +25 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -30 |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | -30 |
Fresnillo is the world's largest primary silver producer, based in Mexico. Its governance score of +70 is the highest of any company in this mining ranking and among the highest in our entire database. Yet governance compliance does not translate to environmental performance: Fresnillo still scores -30 on environmental impact, reflecting the inherent challenges of precious metals extraction.
View Fresnillo's full score breakdown
8. Albemarle (ALB.US) — Planet Score: -30
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | +25 |
| Better Health for All | +10 |
| Safe & Smart Tech | +10 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -30 |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | -40 |
Albemarle is the world's largest lithium producer — a material essential to electric vehicle batteries and energy storage. The irony is direct: a company central to the clean energy transition scores -30 on environmental performance. Lithium extraction is water-intensive and often occurs in ecologically sensitive regions. Albemarle's -40 on worker respect adds a labour dimension to its risk profile.
View Albemarle's full score breakdown
The Bottom Tier: -40 and Below
Seven companies scored -40 or worse. This tier accounts for nearly half the companies in our ranking.
9. Glencore (GLEN.LSE) — Planet Score: -40, Average: -22.3
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Zero Waste & Sustainable Products | +10 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -40 |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | -40 |
| Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing | -40 |
| Honest & Fair Business | -30 |
| Fair Money & Economic Opportunity | -30 |
Glencore has the worst overall average in this ranking at -22.3 across all 11 dimensions. The commodities trader and miner scores negatively on nearly every metric we track. Its environmental score of -40 is compounded by equally poor scores on worker rights, ethical sourcing, and governance. Public court records include bribery settlements, environmental penalties, and documented labour concerns across its global operations.
View Glencore's full score breakdown
10. Vale (VALE.US) — Planet Score: -40, Average: -21.8
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Planet-Friendly Business | -40 |
| Honest & Fair Business | -50 |
| Better Health for All | -30 |
| Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing | -30 |
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | -30 |
| Zero Waste & Sustainable Products | -30 |
Vale, the Brazilian mining giant, scores second-worst on overall average at -21.8. The company's -50 on governance is the lowest governance score in this ranking. Vale's environmental and safety record includes the Brumadinho tailings dam collapse in 2019, which resulted in 270 deaths and extensive environmental contamination, according to public court filings and regulatory investigations. Its negative scores span nearly every dimension we measure.
View Vale's full score breakdown
11. Barrick Gold (ABX.US) — Planet Score: -40, Average: -15.5
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Planet-Friendly Business | -40 |
| Better Health for All | -40 |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | -30 |
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | -20 |
| Zero Waste & Sustainable Products | -20 |
Barrick Gold, one of the world's largest gold producers, scores -40 on both environmental performance and health impact. Its operations span the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. The -40 on health suggests documented community health concerns near its mining sites. Barrick's overall average of -15.5 places it in the lower half of this ranking.
View Barrick Gold's full score breakdown
12. Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM.US) — Planet Score: -40, Average: -5.0
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | +25 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -40 |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | -20 |
| Better Health for All | -10 |
| Kind to Animals | -10 |
Agnico Eagle operates gold mines in Canada, Australia, Finland, and Mexico. Its +25 on community engagement is notable — the second-highest community score alongside several peers. However, its -40 on environmental performance is a sharp contrast, and its overall average of -5.0 is kept relatively mild only because most other dimensions scored at zero.
View Agnico Eagle's full score breakdown
13. Gold Fields (GFI.US) — Planet Score: -40, Average: -5.5
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Planet-Friendly Business | -40 |
| Better Health for All | -20 |
| All other dimensions | 0 |
Gold Fields, the South African gold producer, scores -40 on environmental performance with most other dimensions at zero. The -20 on health impact suggests documented concerns, though its overall profile is less extensively negative than peers like Glencore or Vale. The absence of positive scores in any dimension is itself a finding.
View Gold Fields' full score breakdown
14. KAZ Minerals (KAZ.LSE) — Planet Score: -40, Average: -8.6
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | +25 |
| Honest & Fair Business | +10 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -40 |
| Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing | -30 |
| Kind to Animals | -20 |
KAZ Minerals, the Kazakh copper producer, shares the -40 environmental score common to this tier. Its +25 on community relations and +10 on governance provide some counterbalance, but operating in Central Asia presents inherent environmental governance challenges. Its -30 on ethical sourcing raises additional supply chain concerns.
View KAZ Minerals' full score breakdown
15. Polymetal International (POLY.LSE) — Planet Score: -40, Average: -5.9
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Honest & Fair Business | +40 |
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | +25 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -40 |
| Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing | -30 |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | -20 |
Polymetal, the gold and silver producer with operations primarily in Russia and Kazakhstan, has a notably split profile. Its +40 on governance is the second-highest governance score in this ranking, behind Fresnillo's +70. Yet its environmental performance matches the sector's worst at -40. The governance-environment gap suggests that corporate transparency does not necessarily correlate with environmental outcomes.
View Polymetal's full score breakdown
16. Teck Resources (TECK.US) — Planet Score: -60, Average: -12.7
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Better Health for All | +10 |
| Planet-Friendly Business | -60 |
| Zero Waste & Sustainable Products | -40 |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | -20 |
| Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing | -20 |
Teck Resources holds the worst environmental score in our mining ranking at -60. The Canadian diversified mining company produces copper, zinc, and steelmaking coal. Its -40 on waste compounds the environmental picture. Teck's overall average of -12.7 reflects negative scores across multiple dimensions, with only a single positive score (+10 on health). For investors screening on environmental performance, Teck represents the bottom of this sector.
View Teck Resources' full score breakdown
Key Findings
No mining company scored positively on environmental performance. Every company in our coverage scored between -10 and -60 on Planet-Friendly Business. This is the worst sector-wide environmental performance we have documented.
Governance does not predict environmental outcomes. Fresnillo scores +70 on governance but -30 on the environment. Polymetal scores +40 on governance but -40 on the environment. Corporate transparency and regulatory compliance do not appear to correlate with reduced environmental harm in this sector.
The "green transition" miners are not green. Albemarle (lithium) scores -30 on environmental performance. The materials that enable decarbonisation are extracted through processes that generate their own documented environmental costs.
Community engagement scores contrast with environmental damage. Six companies in this ranking score +25 on Respect for Cultures & Communities, yet all six also score -30 or worse on environmental performance. Community programmes and environmental impact appear to operate on separate tracks.
Glencore and Vale are the worst overall. With averages of -22.3 and -21.8 respectively, these two companies score negatively across nearly every dimension we track. Their poor environmental performance is part of a broader pattern of documented concerns.
What About Companies That Scored Zero?
Several mining companies in our database — including Anglo American (AAL.LSE) and Antofagasta (ANTO.LSE) — currently show scores of zero across all dimensions. A zero score does not mean a company is clean. It means our scoring system has not yet processed sufficient independently verifiable evidence for or against that company on a given dimension. As we expand our data coverage, these scores will update.
View Anglo American's profile | View Antofagasta's profile
How We Score
Every score on Mashinii is derived from independently verifiable sources: court filings, regulatory actions, investigative journalism, and NGO documentation. Companies cannot influence their scores through corporate sustainability reports or paid ESG disclosures.
We score across 11 independent dimensions rather than producing a single blended rating. A mining company can score well on governance but poorly on the environment, and you see both numbers. This transparency is the point.
Our environmental dimension, Planet-Friendly Business, evaluates documented evidence of emissions and climate impact, pollution incidents, deforestation and habitat destruction, water contamination, and regulatory environmental penalties.
Learn more about our methodology
What This Means for Your Portfolio
Mining stocks appear in more portfolios than most investors realise. They are components of broad market indices, commodity ETFs, and emerging market funds. If you hold a diversified portfolio, you likely hold at least one company from this ranking.
The data here is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. It is a factual assessment of where each company stands based on publicly documented evidence. What you do with that information depends on your values.
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