SDG disclosure in the mining sector: Trends, regional differences, and sub-industry variation

Abstract

This study investigates the disclosure of alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by mining firms and assesses whether disclosure patterns differ over time, across regions, and among sub-industries. Drawing on 3,048 firm-year observations from global mining companies between 2019 and 2024, the analysis maps references to all 17 SDGs across seven mining sub-industries. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis tests, paired Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, two-way ANOVA, and correlation analysis are employed to identify patterns of SDG adoption and their association with selected firm characteristics. The results indicate that SDG disclosure in the mining sector is selective rather than comprehensive. SDG 8, SDG 13, SDG 3, and SDG 12 are most frequently referenced, while SDG 2 and SDG 14 are comparatively marginal. The most prominent trend is a substantial increase in SDG disclosure over time, reflecting the widespread adoption of SDG-related reporting across the sector. Although regional and sub-industry differences are present, they are generally less pronounced than the temporal trend. Significant interaction effects between region and sub-industry suggest that disclosure patterns are shaped by both institutional context and mining specialization. Larger firms are more likely to disclose a broader SDG profile. These findings provide evidence to help policymakers and managers benchmark disclosure practices and enhance the quality and comparability of SDG-related reporting in the mining sector.