Material Stewardship for Zinc
499
companies’ corporate sustainability reports. The findings allowed to identify priority
SDGs, which were grouped under four themes [35]:
1. Health and wellbeing;
2. Energy and climate resilience;
3. Employment and operations along the value chain;
4. Sustainable cities and circular economy.
Health and Wellbeing
Zinc is an essential element and plays a critical role in plant-, animal-, and human
health. Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiency problems
worldwide and affects not only humans, but also animals, soils, and crops. Almost
50% of wheat-cultivated soils in the world—often located in developing countries—
contain low amounts of zinc leading to crops poor in zinc and subsequently to zinc
deficiency among humans that depend on these crops in their diet. Zinc in fertilizers
can contribute to the realization of SDG 2 “Zero Hunger” by ensuring crops are
productive and have the appropriate nutrition to nourish the people that depend on
them.
Zinc is also an integral part of human health and the body’s ability to function
properly. It assists with producing new cells and enzymes, healing wounds, and
processing the nutrients in food. Zinc deficiency affects about a third of the global
population by weakening the immune system and leaving the body vulnerable to
infection and disease and is particularly affecting young children. Approximately,
half a million children die every year from causes related to zinc deficiency. Zinc
supplements have shown to improve growth in children in developing countries and
reduce total deaths in children under five years old by 18% [36].
The zinc sector initiates and supports initiatives in high-risk regions to address
zinc deficiency of people and in soils. Through improving nutrient content in soils
around the world and providing micronutrients needed to keep the population’s bodies
balanced and healthy, the zinc sector contributes to SDGs 2 “Zero Hunger” and 3
“Good health and Well-Being”. Consecutively, the zinc sector’s contributions to SDG
2 and 3 also contribute to SDG 1 “No Poverty” [35].
Impact opportunities linked to theme 1 aim at eliminating zinc deficiency worldwide. Actions, the zinc sector undertakes to reach this ambitious goal are, e.g., the
zinc saves kids program in cooperation with UNICEF and the recently started project
with wordbank in India.
With Theme 1, the zinc sector contributes to those SDGs that according to a study
by PWC matter most to citizens [37] (Fig. 7).
499
companies’ corporate sustainability reports. The findings allowed to identify priority
SDGs, which were grouped under four themes [35]:
1. Health and wellbeing;
2. Energy and climate resilience;
3. Employment and operations along the value chain;
4. Sustainable cities and circular economy.
Health and Wellbeing
Zinc is an essential element and plays a critical role in plant-, animal-, and human
health. Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiency problems
worldwide and affects not only humans, but also animals, soils, and crops. Almost
50% of wheat-cultivated soils in the world—often located in developing countries—
contain low amounts of zinc leading to crops poor in zinc and subsequently to zinc
deficiency among humans that depend on these crops in their diet. Zinc in fertilizers
can contribute to the realization of SDG 2 “Zero Hunger” by ensuring crops are
productive and have the appropriate nutrition to nourish the people that depend on
them.
Zinc is also an integral part of human health and the body’s ability to function
properly. It assists with producing new cells and enzymes, healing wounds, and
processing the nutrients in food. Zinc deficiency affects about a third of the global
population by weakening the immune system and leaving the body vulnerable to
infection and disease and is particularly affecting young children. Approximately,
half a million children die every year from causes related to zinc deficiency. Zinc
supplements have shown to improve growth in children in developing countries and
reduce total deaths in children under five years old by 18% [36].
The zinc sector initiates and supports initiatives in high-risk regions to address
zinc deficiency of people and in soils. Through improving nutrient content in soils
around the world and providing micronutrients needed to keep the population’s bodies
balanced and healthy, the zinc sector contributes to SDGs 2 “Zero Hunger” and 3
“Good health and Well-Being”. Consecutively, the zinc sector’s contributions to SDG
2 and 3 also contribute to SDG 1 “No Poverty” [35].
Impact opportunities linked to theme 1 aim at eliminating zinc deficiency worldwide. Actions, the zinc sector undertakes to reach this ambitious goal are, e.g., the
zinc saves kids program in cooperation with UNICEF and the recently started project
with wordbank in India.
With Theme 1, the zinc sector contributes to those SDGs that according to a study
by PWC matter most to citizens [37] (Fig. 7).