Zinc for Life
The Role of Zinc in a Sustainable Society
Sustainable Development as a guiding principle has become a societal, regulatory and market trend. The environmental and social
attributes of materials and products are increasingly affecting design and purchasing decisions in key sectors such as building and construction and automotive manufacturing. There is a market shift toward high performance and environmentally responsible products.
In order to ensure market access and acceptance by decision-makers, and to develop innovative applications and grow markets, material suppliers need to adopt a systems approach: this means understanding the performance attributes of their materials and products throughout entire product chains; from the raw material to the use of the finished product and further to the end-of-life management.
Zinc in sustainable building and construction is an example. Sustainable development implies a careful balance of social, economic and environmental aspects as well as between present and future needs.
Today’s growth brings economic prosperity and welfare – but also a continuously growing demand for materials. Thus, a trade-off arises between societal benefits and the depletion of natural resources.
In order to make this growth sustainable, the materials used need to be either renewable or recyclable. Zinc building products like roofs, gutters and railings can last for generations, and after their useful life they can be recovered and re-used over and over again. Therefore, renewability and recyclability are complementary – and not conflicting – contributions to a sustainable future.
Zinc for Life Publications
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This publication outlines zinc's essentiality for sustainable development through nine sections - natural, essentiality for the environment, durability, recyclability, essentiality for human health, essentiality for crops, a sustainable source of energy. |
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The zinc industry understands that to properly demonstrate the sustainability attributes of zinc, data and information is needed that enables users of zinc to evaluate its impacts and benefits across the lifecycle. To this end, IZA has developed two new Environmental Profiles. The first provides information and life cycle data on primary zinc to actors along the zinc value chain. |
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The second provides information and life cycle data on zinc sheet, and can be used to understand, and where appropriate, improve the life cycle impacts of zinc sheet products. These Environmental Profiles are available for download by clicking on the images to the left. |
Sustainability Charter
Members of the International Zinc Association produce, distribute, use and recycle zinc to satisfy human needs for shelter, transportation, infrastructure, consumer products and food production. Zinc is a sustainable material that is necessary for modern society and is essential to human, animal and crop health and well-being. The International Zinc Association works to enhance zinc’s contribution to society and to ensure that its production and use are in harmony with the natural environment and the needs of society, now and in the future. In order to contribute to the betterment of society and build value for our shareholders, our business decisions and activities are guided by the following principles:
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We recognize society’s desire for economic prosperity, environmental protection and social progress. We will balance and align our activities in keeping with society’s goals.
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We believe that our activities can create opportunities to raise people’s standards of living and improve their quality of life, enabling communities to prevent or reduce environmental degradation and alleviate poverty.
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We are committed to ethical business practices and conduct our affairs in ways that demonstrate respect for human rights.We are committed to respect and support children's rights in the workplace, marketplace and community.
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We are committed to developing, implementing and promoting the production and use of zinc in ways that help address climate change, including the reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs).
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We acknowledge that neither our products nor our operations should present unacceptable risks to people or the environment. We advocate the safe use and responsible management of zinc and products that contain zinc.
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We obey all applicable laws and regulations and when local standards do not exist or are inadequate, we will establish and meet standards that protect human health and the environment.
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We believe that decision-making should be based on scientific information and we therefore support research and monitoring to advance understanding of the impacts of the production, use and recycling or disposal of our products.
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We encourage and support waste minimization through recycling and the recovery of zinc from the waste stream.
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We value public consultation and citizen participation, and promote transparency and openness in our relationships. We treat our workers, business partners and communities in a fair and respectful manner, recognizing that cultures, priorities and working conditions differ from country to country.
Second revision, adopted by IZA members during the Annual General Meeting, London, U.K., October 2011.
Guiding Principles
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