Boston, February 24, 2026 – Chemours has agreed to step up protocols to protect biodiversity near its mining operations. The global chemical company acted after Green Century Capital Management (Green Century), on behalf of the Felician Sisters of North America, filed a shareholder resolution and met with the company. After these negotiations and Chemours’ commitment, Green Century withdrew the resolution.
“Biodiversity risks are material risks that companies need to address and we’re glad to see Chemours taking this step,” said Leslie Samuelrich, president of Green Century. “We urge the company to take the next step by assuring investors it won’t mine near the Okefenokee Swamp, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nominee. The potential harm from mining near one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems has concerned investors for years.”
Chemours to update approach to biodiversity and responsible mining
Chemours, which DuPont spun off in 2015, mines and manufactures chemicals including titanium dioxide, a common whitener in products ranging from toothpaste to paint. The bulk of Chemours’ mining operations are in the North American Coastal Plain, a global biodiversity hotspot housing the Okefenokee Swamp. A recent study confirmed that impacts from mining at the Okefenokee, such as lowered groundwater levels and water pollution, would be devastating to the ecosystem, which is home to over 1,000 species of plants and animals including black bears and gopher tortoises.
Chemours agreed to regularly disclose new material topics, including both sustainability issues that affect the company’s financial performance and those that are impacted by its business. Chemours pledged that if biodiversity is identified as a material topic, Chemours will share steps it will take to mitigate impacts identified by its ongoing nature and biodiversity assessments. The company will also continue working with Green Century and the Felician Sisters to update its approach to responsible mining and manufacturing.
Chemours issued a position statement on responsible mining in 2022
Since 2021, Green Century and the Felician Sisters have urged Chemours to act on biodiversity issues, and in particular, on mining near sensitive ecosystems such as the Okefenokee. After the two investors filed a similar shareholder proposal in 2022, Chemours issued a Position Statement on Responsible Mining indicating it had no plans to open new mining locations on Trail Ridge in Georgia next to the Okefenokee. While the statement was widely viewed as a positive step, the company has since declined to make a permanent commitment to stay out of the Okefenokee despite strong public and bipartisan support for protecting the swamp.
“We sincerely appreciate Chemours for sitting at the table with us to discuss concerns about mining along the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp,” said Sister Jean Sliwinski, Provincial Sustainability Coordinator for the Felician Sisters of North America. “The research conducted by the University of Georgia underscores how closely the health of the swamp is tied to the Floridan Aquifer, and that groundwater pumping associated with mining will lower the swamp’s surface water levels. Because of that connection, we believe the most prudent and forward-looking course would be a permanent commitment to avoid having anything to do with mining at the swamp. Such clarity would strengthen trust, safeguard an irreplaceable ecosystem and ultimately serve the long-term interests of both the company and the broader community. We look forward to continuing this important dialogue.”
Mining at the Okefenokee would make biodiversity a material topic for Chemours
If Chemours mines or buys minerals excavated at the Okefenokee Swamp, biodiversity undoubtedly will become a material issue given the swamp’s status as a biodiversity hotspot and North America’s largest blackwater wetland.
“With the independent scientific community saying mining cannot be done safely at the Okefenokee, investors are questioning why Chemours would still consider it,” said Annie Sanders, director of shareholder advocacy at Green Century. “Given the high biodiversity risks and reputational concerns around mining in ecologically sensitive areas, the Okefenokee should clearly be off limits.”
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