The impact of corporate social responsibility on social acceptance as a determinant of the sustainable mineral extraction - Polish case study

Corporate social responsibility policy is widely used by mining companies as a tool for reliable operation. However, the application of CSR activities does not ensure gaining social acceptance, which is crucial for undisrupted minerals extraction and project development. In this article, the authors review tools used by mining companies to implement and measure corporate social responsibility and examines the level of social acceptance for mining operations by conducting a survey among 78 members of the local community in Legnica-Glogovv Copper Basin. The research is based on: 1. Existing methods of measuring Social License to Operate; 2. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method - proposed by the authors to verify its usefulness for defining factors that have an impact on the social acceptance for mining. The study, based on the case of one of the leading world's copper producers, shows that despite the large financial outlays allocated to the development of the local community, mining companies struggle with achieving a full social license to operate. The hierarchization of factors influencing the perception of mining activity can help companies prioritize areas that require a deeper dialogue with the local community. The success of future extractive projects depends on proper recognition of local community attitudes towards mining. The findings show that the successful implementation of the CSR strategy should be preceded by a broad analysis of social conditions to meet the expectations of stakeholders.