World Environment Day: Hindustan Zinc announces 14% decrease in GHG emission intensity in just 4 years
Pledged to plant over 100,000 saplings starting from World Environment Day across business units as a part of commitment to plant 1 million trees by 2025
Udaipur, June 5, 2024: Hindustan Zinc, a global leader in integrated zinc-lead-silver production, continues its strong commitment to environmental sustainability, achieving significant milestones in reducing its carbon footprint. Through the strategic use of advanced technology, the company has recorded a 14% decrease in GHG (greenhouse gas) emission intensity compared to the base year 2020, while increasing production each year. Hindustan Zinc, recognized as the world’s most sustainable company in the metals and mining sector, as per S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 continues to make significant strides in its journey towards decarbonisation & achieving SBTi (Science Based Targets Initiative) validated targets to become Net Zero by 2050.
Aligned with its overarching vision and Vedanta’s sustainability framework, the company strategically focuses on a two-pronged approach of mitigating and offsetting its carbon footprint. To mitigate its carbon footprint, Hindustan Zinc is increasing the quantum of renewable energy in its energy mix and improving its operational efficiency. For instance, its Pantnagar Metal Plant operates on 100% green power, and the company has signed a 450-MW renewable power delivery agreement (PDA) poised to mitigate around 2.7 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. Additionally, the company has deployed battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in underground mines, initiated the deployment of 180 LNG Vehicles & EV trucks in logistics for inter-unit transport and finished goods transport, as a step towards reducing Scope-3 emissions by 25% by 2030.
To offset its carbon footprint, Hindustan Zinc continues to conduct massive afforestation drives to create carbon sinks and has pledged to plant 1 million saplings by 2025 compared to FY20 across its operational units in alignment with Vedanta’s pledge to plant 7 million trees as part of World Economic Forum’s 1 Trillion trees movement.
“Sustainable practices and good business sense are two sides of the same coin. At Hindustan Zinc, sustainability is a core tenet that underpins all our business decisions, and we recognize the urgency of addressing climate change and its far-reaching impacts,” stated CEO Arun Misra. “As part of our climate action strategy, we have implemented a comprehensive approach towards reducing our carbon footprint, promoting sustainable practices across our operations and supply chain. Our water positivity strides have enabled us to achieve 2.41 times water positivity and are aiming for 5 times water positivity by 2025. World Environment Day is a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our planet. By making small changes in our daily lives, such as reducing plastic consumption, conserving water, and using energy efficiently, we can collectively make a significant difference.”
Commemorating World Environment Day, Hindustan Zinc kicked off a mass plantation drive and pledged to plant over 100,000 saplings across its business units, reinforcing its commitment to fostering environmental stewardship across its operations and beyond. The company orchestrated a week-long series of engaging activities such as environment quizzes, sapling distribution and competitions like fireless cooking, resources revival challenge, ecofriendly cricket tournaments, aimed to foster environmental awareness and action among its stakeholders across its operational areas.
Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta group company, has also received a prestigious Leadership Band (A-) designation by CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) for its exemplary efforts in water security and climate change.
About Hindustan Zinc:
Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company in Zinc-Lead and Silver business is world’s 2nd largest integrated Zinc producer and now the 3rd largest Silver producer. The company has a market share of ~75% of the growing Zinc market in India with its headquarters at Zinc City, Udaipur along with Zinc-Lead mines and smelting complexes spread across the state of Rajasthan.
Hindustan Zinc is self-sufficient in power with captive thermal power plants and has ventured into green energy by setting-up wind power plants. The company ranked first in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment in 2023 amongst Metals & Mining companies reflecting & reaffirming its constant commitment towards sustainable and responsible mining practices. Hindustan Zinc is a certified Water Positive company and is the only Indian company to be recognized at the S&P Global Platts Metal Award 2022 winning two prestigious awards for ‘Industry Leadership Award – Base, Precious & Specialty Metals’ Award and ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ Award. Hindustan Zinc is also the only Indian company in Mining sector with validated & approved SBTi targets in alignment with 1.5 °C target.
The company takes pride in having some of the best-in-class people practices and employee-centric initiatives, which have certified Hindustan Zinc as – ‘Great Place to Work 2023’, ‘Company with Great Managers 2022’ by People Business and the ‘People-first HR Excellence Award’. Along with that, Hindustan Zinc has been recognized with the coveted CII HR Excellence Award, leading in HR innovation with a 600+score.
As a socially responsible corporate, Hindustan Zinc has been relentlessly working towards transforming lives of 1.9 million people in 3,685 villages in the states of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand with a spend base of INR 269.3 crores in FY24 for various community development initiatives and is amongst the Top 10 CSR Companies in India.