ESG is becoming increasingly important for companies across all industries, and the mining sector is no exception.

Seth Forman, president of Socialsuite, explained why investors should care about ESG — which encompasses environmental, social and governance initiatives — and discussed what metrics companies in the resource sector can use in their reporting.

Forman believes mining companies of all sizes should be considering ESG, and said that the best thing to do is get started.

‘If you’re not thinking about sustainability and ESG, you potentially are missing out on 30 to 40 percent of the retail investors out there between the ages of 18 to 40, or 18 to 50, that deeply care about sustainability,’ he said. ‘They want to understand how management teams — even if you’re just starting out as an explorer — are thinking about these risks, are thinking about how you’re planning to handle things likes wildfires and environmental issues, and social issues and local communities.’

Watch the interview above for more of Forman’s thoughts on what investors and companies need to know about ESG in the mining industry. You can also click the the timestamps below to view specific parts of the interview:

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.