Material Stewardship for Zinc
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supporting structures for solar panels and towers for off-shore windmills, ensuring a
maintenance-free service life over decades. Zinc based energy storage systems will
play a major role in providing constant energy supply from non-constant energy
sources (wind and solar power).
Zinc through the galvanization of steel will also play a role in climate resilience,
when this material is used instead of other, more vulnerable materials, such as wood,
e.g., for utility poles in North America. The use of galvanized steel in urban infrastructure, particularly in developed countries, will significantly contribute to infrastructural integrity facing more extreme weather patterns and make cities safer for
growing urban populations [35].
Employment and Operations Along the Value Chain
The zinc industry, through the entire value chain from mining operations to manufacturing, has the responsibility to make a positive contribution, to the communities
in which it operates, including job creation and investment in host countries. Within
this context, the diverse nature of zinc and its global sector footprint contribute significantly to the zinc sector’s importance as a source of employment and potential
to enhance the quality of life for people around the world. Through compliance
with labor standards and ensuring human rights throughout the sector and in all
geographies, the zinc sector can contribute to human development goals around the
world.
Through its enhanced activities linked to responsible sourcing, the zinc sector
focuses on upholding and respecting human rights throughout their operations. While
this is already high on the radar of mining companies, this is a crucial issue that warrants ongoing focus, as it is fundamental to protecting companies’, and the broader
mining sector’s social license to operate. Protecting human rights is also central to
achieving all the SDGs. The zinc sector’s role as a major employer and contributor
to the local economies of the regions it operates in contributes significantly to SDG
8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth” and can also contribute to SDGs 5 “Gender Equality” and 10 “Reduced Inequalities”, which focus on gender and broader
economic inequalities. Furthermore, the sector can also contribute to human development in the geographies in which it operates through company initiatives with
local communities.
Mining and its associated infrastructure by its nature have the potential to
adversely affect ecosystems, demonstrating clear links to SDG 15 “Life on Land”.
The mining sector has a strong potential role to play in the sustainable stewardship
of the land that it manages, and the people that rely on these natural resources.
Mining organizations are reducing their operation carbon footprint through partnerships with organizations such as ICMM. Overall, mining organizations are taking
steps to reduce their resource use along their value chains and steward the local environments in which they operate. These partnership efforts acknowledge that SDG 15
remains a key SDG of relevance to all mining operations [35].
501
supporting structures for solar panels and towers for off-shore windmills, ensuring a
maintenance-free service life over decades. Zinc based energy storage systems will
play a major role in providing constant energy supply from non-constant energy
sources (wind and solar power).
Zinc through the galvanization of steel will also play a role in climate resilience,
when this material is used instead of other, more vulnerable materials, such as wood,
e.g., for utility poles in North America. The use of galvanized steel in urban infrastructure, particularly in developed countries, will significantly contribute to infrastructural integrity facing more extreme weather patterns and make cities safer for
growing urban populations [35].
Employment and Operations Along the Value Chain
The zinc industry, through the entire value chain from mining operations to manufacturing, has the responsibility to make a positive contribution, to the communities
in which it operates, including job creation and investment in host countries. Within
this context, the diverse nature of zinc and its global sector footprint contribute significantly to the zinc sector’s importance as a source of employment and potential
to enhance the quality of life for people around the world. Through compliance
with labor standards and ensuring human rights throughout the sector and in all
geographies, the zinc sector can contribute to human development goals around the
world.
Through its enhanced activities linked to responsible sourcing, the zinc sector
focuses on upholding and respecting human rights throughout their operations. While
this is already high on the radar of mining companies, this is a crucial issue that warrants ongoing focus, as it is fundamental to protecting companies’, and the broader
mining sector’s social license to operate. Protecting human rights is also central to
achieving all the SDGs. The zinc sector’s role as a major employer and contributor
to the local economies of the regions it operates in contributes significantly to SDG
8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth” and can also contribute to SDGs 5 “Gender Equality” and 10 “Reduced Inequalities”, which focus on gender and broader
economic inequalities. Furthermore, the sector can also contribute to human development in the geographies in which it operates through company initiatives with
local communities.
Mining and its associated infrastructure by its nature have the potential to
adversely affect ecosystems, demonstrating clear links to SDG 15 “Life on Land”.
The mining sector has a strong potential role to play in the sustainable stewardship
of the land that it manages, and the people that rely on these natural resources.
Mining organizations are reducing their operation carbon footprint through partnerships with organizations such as ICMM. Overall, mining organizations are taking
steps to reduce their resource use along their value chains and steward the local environments in which they operate. These partnership efforts acknowledge that SDG 15
remains a key SDG of relevance to all mining operations [35].