Abstract: Globalization and sustainable development have become agents of change for society at large, including the nonferrous metals industry. They bring both new investment opportunities and raised public expectations about the role of corporations in the economic and social fabric of society. This chapter situates the nonferrous metals industry in the context of recent international developments and describes changes in corporate culture that are taking place in response to new world circumstances and introduces the International Council on Metals and Environment (ICME).

Keywords: globalization, nonferrous metals, sustainable development, The International Council on Metals and Environment (ICME),