Material Stewardship for Zinc
503
In addition, success of material stewardship initiatives relies on coordination by commodity associations for the sustainable long-term success of an industry sector. For
the global zinc industry, IZA is the home of material stewardship along the whole
zinc metal value chain.
The tools of material stewardship, e.g., life cycle assessment, mass flow analysis,
and the vast field of responsible sourcing are the basis for credible information and
analysis of the current position and developments as well as for strategical action
planning to ensure the sector’s sustainable development.
IZA is and has been the source of credible information on LCA data on global zinc
mining and production, mass flows, availability, and recycling rates. By design, the
zinc sector’s responsible sourcing activities are influenced by the various materials
stewardship activities.
The global zinc industry evaluated its current position in the “Zinc Sector SDG
Roadmap”. Impact opportunities and actions were agreed, that ensure a sustainable
development in the coming years that is in line with the goals defined by the United
Nations in 2015 (the UN SDGs). These focus on four themes including health and
wellbeing, energy and climate resilience, employment and operations, and sustainable cities and circular economy, reflecting the strengths of zinc as a critical raw
material along the global zinc industry value chain:
• Zinc is an essential element for human beings as well as for plants and animals;
• Zinc protects steel from corrosion, specifically in infrastructure and renewable
energy recovery;
• Innovative zinc uses contribute to climate resilience;
• Zinc mining and production sites impact on employment, communities and
reduced inequalities; and
• Zinc metal is recycled from its uses over and over again.
With the actions derived from the zinc sector SDG roadmap, the global zinc
industry ensures its continued and increased contributions to many of the UN SDGs.
Finally, IZA contributes to SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals” which is a pillar of
achieving all other SDGs, as these cannot be achieved in isolation. IZA coordinates
the global zinc industries’ joint activities linked to sustainable development and
ensures that the experts of the zinc world are connected with relevant networks of
other experts to enhance its positive impact.
References
1. Brundtland commission: report of the world commission on environment and development:
“our common future”. Oslo, 20 Mar 1987. Available online at http://www.un-documents.net/
our-common-future.pdf
2. Resolution by the United Nation General Assembly: “transforming our world: the 2030 agenda
for sustainable development”, adopted 21 Oct 2015. Available online at https://www.un.org/ga/
search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E, https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/
?menu=1300
503
In addition, success of material stewardship initiatives relies on coordination by commodity associations for the sustainable long-term success of an industry sector. For
the global zinc industry, IZA is the home of material stewardship along the whole
zinc metal value chain.
The tools of material stewardship, e.g., life cycle assessment, mass flow analysis,
and the vast field of responsible sourcing are the basis for credible information and
analysis of the current position and developments as well as for strategical action
planning to ensure the sector’s sustainable development.
IZA is and has been the source of credible information on LCA data on global zinc
mining and production, mass flows, availability, and recycling rates. By design, the
zinc sector’s responsible sourcing activities are influenced by the various materials
stewardship activities.
The global zinc industry evaluated its current position in the “Zinc Sector SDG
Roadmap”. Impact opportunities and actions were agreed, that ensure a sustainable
development in the coming years that is in line with the goals defined by the United
Nations in 2015 (the UN SDGs). These focus on four themes including health and
wellbeing, energy and climate resilience, employment and operations, and sustainable cities and circular economy, reflecting the strengths of zinc as a critical raw
material along the global zinc industry value chain:
• Zinc is an essential element for human beings as well as for plants and animals;
• Zinc protects steel from corrosion, specifically in infrastructure and renewable
energy recovery;
• Innovative zinc uses contribute to climate resilience;
• Zinc mining and production sites impact on employment, communities and
reduced inequalities; and
• Zinc metal is recycled from its uses over and over again.
With the actions derived from the zinc sector SDG roadmap, the global zinc
industry ensures its continued and increased contributions to many of the UN SDGs.
Finally, IZA contributes to SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals” which is a pillar of
achieving all other SDGs, as these cannot be achieved in isolation. IZA coordinates
the global zinc industries’ joint activities linked to sustainable development and
ensures that the experts of the zinc world are connected with relevant networks of
other experts to enhance its positive impact.
References
1. Brundtland commission: report of the world commission on environment and development:
“our common future”. Oslo, 20 Mar 1987. Available online at http://www.un-documents.net/
our-common-future.pdf
2. Resolution by the United Nation General Assembly: “transforming our world: the 2030 agenda
for sustainable development”, adopted 21 Oct 2015. Available online at https://www.un.org/ga/
search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E, https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/
?menu=1300