Climate change and carbon emissions are the most prominent ESG issues facing the zinc industry, but there is also a strong focus on other environmental issues, including air and water pollution, waste management and water scarcity. Social issues include issues such as employment diversity and equal opportunity.
ESG (Environmental, Social and
Corporate Governance) is a non-financial evaluation of a company’s investment
and commitment to operating in a socially responsible manner. ESG is one of the
most important issues facing companies today across all industries.
Emissions Intensity in Zinc Production
Emissions intensity for zinc means
the amount of greenhouse gas emitted for every tonne of zinc produced. It has
become a critical measure in the race to achieve carbon neutrality.
On average, the production of
zinc produces around 3.0t of CO2 per tonne of zinc. This is comparable to the
production of copper, but the zinc industry is much smaller than the copper
industry. To further put this into perspective, the average passenger vehicle
emits around 4.5t of CO2 per year. Greenhouse gas emissions are categorised
into three groups: scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.