Pioneering CSRD with purpose

Kenmare Resources plc isn’t just a leading global supplier of titanium feedstocks and zircon. It’s a company reshaping what responsible mining looks like in the 21st Century.

As one of the few mining companies that truly connects industrial global supply chains to community-led development, Kenmare operates with a vision that reaches far beyond extraction. Its minerals are the backbone of modern infrastructure: used in durable paints and coatings, high-performance ceramics and industrial refractories. But the real story lies in the purpose behind the production.

Kenmare’s ilmenite represents ~6% of global titanium feedstock production – a vital component for energy-efficient buildings, climate-resilient cities and lightweight materials that shape sustainable futures. Meanwhile, its zircon contributes to the ceramic tile industry across Asia and Europe, subtly transforming homes, workplaces and shared environments with both function and beauty.

Operating from northern Mozambique, Kenmare pairs its global market presence with strong local accountability. With a workforce made up mostly of Mozambican nationals, the company invests in education, healthcare and long-term economic resilience. From training technical talent to rehabilitating land and nurturing community partnerships, Kenmare’s approach centres on ecosystem-building, not just resource extraction.

In a world where mining is often under scrutiny, Kenmare stands out. It builds trust through transparency, commits to the communities it operates in and creates shared value that lasts well beyond the lifecycle of its mines. This is mining reimagined: globally relevant, locally rooted.

In 2024, Kenmare became one of the early adopters of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). While many saw this as a compliance hurdle, Kenmare saw it as a chance to lead.

But there was a real risk: that the power of their story would be buried beneath technical disclosures. CSRD’s depth, from double materiality to ESRS alignment, threatened to pull the company away from the clarity and connection it had worked hard to build.

Kenmare needed to meet the standard without losing its voice.

We made sure CSRD didn’t just sit beside the story… it became part of it.

Our approach avoided the common move of siloing sustainability into standalone sections. Instead, we wove CSRD requirements into the natural rhythm of Kenmare’s purpose, performance and strategy narrative.

We created a CSRD index system to guide readers intuitively, and redesigned their business model and value chain to meet double materiality and value creation requirements without compromising visual storytelling. This resulted in frictionless navigation for both skim readers and technical reviewers.

We introduced clear subheadings and a custom-designed double materiality heat map, using colour, quadrant layout and layered context to make the technical accessible without losing rigour.

To simplify a complex framework, we designed a smart CSRD index system: a set of discreet, yet powerful, visual markers built into the report’s structure. These icons acted as a roadmap, instantly showing readers which sections fulfilled CSRD Sustainability Statement disclosures.

For regulators, it meant zero guesswork. For investors and stakeholders, it meant a seamless, skimmable experience.

We introduced sub-headings such as “SBM-1” and “SBM-3” throughout key sections to improve cross-referencing and traceability. These concise labels signposted the link between the report’s content and ESRS indicators, ensuring clarity without clutter.

One of the most visible transformations was seen in Kenmare’s business model and value chain spreads. Traditionally narrative or diagrammatic in style, these were redesigned to fully align with CSRD expectations, particularly in relation to double materiality, value creation and sustainability impacts. Yet, rather than turning these sections into technical checklists, we built in interactive storytelling and vibrant visualisation, so the reader is informed, engaged and guided through complex ideas without friction.

By blending editorial discipline with infographic design, and placing emphasis on layout clarity, Kenmare’s CSRD-aligned sections not only met the regulatory bar, they elevated the experience of the report as a whole.

One of the most technically demanding aspects of CSRD compliance is the introduction of double materiality assessments (DMA) – a concept that requires companies to evaluate both the financial impact of sustainability issues and their broader environmental and social consequences. Translating this dual lens into a visual that stakeholders could interpret easily, without diluting its rigour, was no small task.

Our solution was a thoughtfully designed double materiality heat map, anchored on a clean, quadrant-style layout. We implemented a colour-coded strategy key that linked each material topic to one of Kenmare’s three sustainability pillars: A healthy natural environment, Thriving communities and a safe, engaged workforce, and Trusted business.

Each data point was plotted to reflect both impact and financial materiality, and the supporting key grouped the topics by their significance and classification (e.g. risk, impact, opportunity). This made it easier for readers to see the big picture at a glance, while allowing auditors and analysts to drill into the details. 

Kenmare’s 2024 Annual Report hasn’t just complied with CSRD. It has raised the bar.

• CSRD fully integrated without inflating the document or fragmenting the structure.

• Improved stakeholder experience – from regulators and analysts to local community readers.

• Narrative remained central – Kenmare’s purpose, people and principles remained visible and intact.

For Kenmare, this wasn’t just about ticking boxes. It was about proving that responsible mining deserves belief and that belief earns investment.

We helped Kenmare keep the story front and centre. Not just for compliance, but for conviction.

If you’re preparing or reporting for CSRD, or looking to elevate how you show your impact, we can help you build a report that works for both people, policy and regulation.

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