March 2022
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.