Hindustan Zinc Limited, India's largest and the world's second-largest integrated zinc producer, has launched EcoZen, its low carbon ‘green' zinc brand. Recognised as the world's most sustainable metals and mining company according to the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), Hindustan Zinc has introduced Asia's first low carbon ‘green' zinc offering for its global customers. EcoZen has been certified as low-carbon zinc by a renowned global sustainability consulting firm through a life cycle assessment (LCA), boasting a carbon footprint of less than one tonne of carbon equivalent per tonne of zinc produced. Manufactured using renewable energy, EcoZen's carbon footprint is approximately 75 per cent lower than the global average.
The primary application of zinc is for galvanisation of steel to protect it from corrosion, making it a critical mineral essential for modern life. Zinc is vital in sectors such as steel, infrastructure, automotive, and emerging industries like renewable energy, electronics, high-tech manufacturing, energy storage, defence, and electric mobility. EcoZen exemplifies Hindustan Zinc's commitment to decarbonising its operations while providing its customers with a significant competitive advantage, allowing them to offer more sustainable choices to their own customers. This new product will lead to a total carbon emission avoidance of about 400 kilograms across their value chain when galvanising one tonne of steel with Hindustan Zinc's EcoZen.
EcoZen, Hindustan Zinc's latest offering, has been branded as low carbon ‘green' zinc. This eco-friendly zinc boasts one of the lowest global warming potential (GWP) values on the market, about 75 per cent lower than the global average. The product's certification process, based on a mass-balance approach, has been conducted using the cradle-to-gate method.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc and Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Group, said, "Sustainability continues to be at the core of all our business decisions. Hindustan Zinc being #1 in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment is a testament to our commitment to building a sustainable future. The recent launch of EcoZen is another leap in our journey of becoming Net Zero by 2050. By setting global benchmarks in the field of ESG, Vedanta's Hindustan Zinc is revolutionising the natural resources industry by creating safer, smarter, and more sustainable operations and products."
Speaking on the product launch, Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc Limited, expressed, "The launch of EcoZen marks a historic milestone in our journey to decarbonise our operations, also serving environmentally conscious customers who are discerning about the origin of the raw materials they use and aim to decarbonise their supply chain. This is a major milestone in our product strategy, in line with Hindustan Zinc's net-zero goals. Produced with a carbon footprint of less than one tonne of carbon equivalent, EcoZen represents one of the most sustainable low carbon zinc options on the market for its role in protecting infrastructure and technologies for the low carbon transition."
In alignment with its verified Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) targets of reducing carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, Hindustan Zinc is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint. To mitigate its carbon footprint, the company is increasing the proportion of renewable energy in its existing power mix and improving operational efficiency. Recently, Hindustan Zinc announced that it has started receiving the first flow of round-the-clock renewable energy as part of its 450 MW power delivery agreement. This is in addition to its existing 40.7 MW of captive solar power. These initiatives have helped Hindustan Zinc reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 14 per cent in FY24 compared to 2020.
Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, is the world's second-largest zinc producer and the third-largest silver producer globally. The company supplies to more than 40 countries and holds a market share of about 75 per cent of the primary zinc market in India. Hindustan Zinc is also a certified 2.41 times Water-Positive company and is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. As a world leader in the metals and mining industry, Hindustan Zinc plays a pivotal role in providing critical metals essential for the global energy transition towards a sustainable future.
