Environment | Product stewardship

We assess the health, safety and environmental impacts of our products at each stage of their life cycle, including:

  • Development of product concept;
  • Research and development;
  • Manufacturing and production;
  • Storage, distribution and supply;
  • Product use; and
  • Disposal, reuse, or recycling.

Xstrata’s operations aim to minimise any adverse health, safety, environmental and social impacts of operations and products and promote technologies that are efficient in energy, resources and materials usage. Responsibility for product stewardship is devolved to the commodity business level. Xstrata has a specific HSEC Management Standard which requires operations to assess potential impacts and benefits of products and to maximise potential reuse and recycling opportunities. All managed operations are independently audited against this standard at a minimum of once every three years. We require all operations to achieve or exceed our 65% satisfactory target. In 2006 the average score for this standard was 69%.

We are active participants in industry associations and participate in life cycle assessments for each product through these associations. These include:

  • International Lead Zinc Research Organisation (ILZO);
  • International Zinc Association (IZA);
  • Green Lead initiative;
  • International Copper Association (ICA);
  • International Canadian Chemical Producer’s Association;
  • Vanadium International Technical Committee (Vanitec);
  • Lead Development Association International (LDAI);
  • Nickel Institute;
  • European Association of Non-ferrous Metals (EUROMETAUX);
  • International Chromium Development Association (ICDA);
  • International Lead Zinc Research Organisation (ILZRO);
  • European Sulphuric Acid Association (ESA) and;
  • Cobalt Development Institute (CDI).

Xstrata Coal’s activities focus on interaction with the power generation industry, scientific organisations and government to advance the development of clean coal technologies (see pages 71 to 72), together with the capture and use of coal seam methane for power generation.

Photo: Nickel from the Nikkelverk refinery in Kristiansand, Norway

Nickel from the Nikkelverk refinery in Kristiansand, Norway

Xstrata Nickel and Xstrata Zinc continue to work closely with industry associations and customers to assess, manage and respond to the requirements of the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) legislation.

Material Safety Data Sheets are provided for products and intermediates and made available to stakeholders. These sheets include information on product composition, any risks to human health and first aid, fire and explosion data, identify physical and chemical characteristics, handling, storage and exposure control, spill and waste disposal, stability/reactivity, eco-toxicology and transportation information.