The concept of Social License to Operate (SLO) originated in the mining industry but is now applied to many large-scale projects where a host community exists. Responding to public opposition, SLO is now viewed as an essential tool for understanding how to gain public trust, preventing social conflict, and ensuring that developments and operations contribute to corporation’s sustainability goals. This chapter discusses SLO’s history, theory, and current use in the European minerals and mining sector. It highlights findings from the Horizon Europe VECTOR project, focusing on the importance of integrating Creating Shared Value (CSV) and the Sustainable livelihoods approaches (SLA)Sustainable Livelihoods Approache (SLA), into business strategies to align corporate objectives with local priorities and enhance community resilience. Transparent, data-driven governance, robust Stakeholder engagementstakeholder engagement, and attention to regional socio-political factors are crucial. Drawing on Stakeholder Theory, the chapter addresses the challenges of treating SLO as a transformative tool rather than a compliance. Recognizing that SLO needs to be obtained and maintained within the specific social and political context, the authors stress the importance of companies being equipped to comprehend the context. It concludes by evaluating how double materiality principles from the UN Resource Management System (UNRMS) can integrate ESG considerations into resource extraction, particularly in the context of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). An inclusive, adaptive approach to obtaining and maintaining SLO is advocated, balancing economic growth, environmental sustainability and social equity, offering insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to enhance legitimacy and resilience through shared value frameworks and sustainable livelihoods approaches.