Name: Elisa Marly Heringer Herkner
Type: MSc dissertation
Publication date: 01/04/2022
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| Marta Zorzal e Silva | Advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| Bruno Milanez | External Examiner * |
| Cristiana Losekann | Internal Examiner * |
| Domitila Costa Cayres | External Alternate * |
| Luciana Andressa Martins de Souza | Internal Alternate * |
| Marta Zorzal e Silva | Advisor * |
Summary: This work aims to study the activities classified as Corporate Social Responsibility of the
company Samarco Mineração S/A, a joint venture owned by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce and
BHP Billiton Ltda. The company extracts itabirite ore in the municipalities of Mariana and
Ouro Preto, in Minas Gerais, transports it through pipelines to Anchieta, located on the coast of
Espírito Santo, WHERE, through pelletizing plants, it processes the ore into pellets in order to
export to the foreign market. The choice of the object of study is justified by the Fundão tailings
dam failure in Mariana, on 11/15/2015, which put an end to the companys upward trajectory
of expansion, success and high profitability. Considered the biggest mining dam disaster in the
world, it caused multiple environmental and socioeconomic damages in the municipality of
Mariana and in the entire Doce River. The question that guided the research aimed to understand
what strategies were used by the company, especially with respect to the communities directly
impacted, to obtain their consent, trust and belief that the company`s business is beneficial and
prosperous for them. The theoretical and methodological basis that guided the process and the
research findings was based on the theoretical-methodological model of the Global Network of
Mineral Production (GNMP) and in the literature review on Corporate Social Responsibility.
The combination of the categories of these two theoretical contributions provided elements to
think about CSR practices in the case of the mining company Samarco S/A. Based on the
understanding provided by these contributions, a critical analysis of the Annual Sustainability
Reports of Samarco, from 2005 to 2015, was carried out. Through Nvivo Software, a qualitative
content research was performed to identify CSR actions. The evaluation showed that most
actions were directed to sustainable environmental development and social development,
considering the socioeconomic, historical and cultural context of the company. The analysis
showed that communication actions, compliance with terms of commitment (TAC), education
and socio-environmental protection activities, infrastructure improvement works, strengthening
of leadership and encouraging entrepreneurship predominated in the period. In light of the
literature, we conclude that the company invests in CSR to create lasting social bonds,
mechanisms of dependence, improvement of its image and reputation, in order to minimize
criticism and neutralize possible Corporate Social Risks.
