Sustainability Resources
Zinc…A Sustainable Material
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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Zinc Environmental Profile – Life Cycle Assessment – 2015 Update
Understanding the environmental footprint of zinc starts with documenting the resource requirements (energy and non-energy) and environmental releases associated with zinc mining and refining, but it also involves understanding the impacts and the benefits of using zinc during other stages in the product life cycle. These benefits can arise in use (extending the life of galvanized steel products) and through end-of-life recycling (by utilizing recycled zinc to create new products). This environmental profile was developed to provide updated information from the original Zinc Environmental Profile published in 2010 and life cycle data on primary zinc to stakeholders along the zinc value chain.
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Zinc Sheet Environmental Profile – Life Cycle Assessment
Zinc sheet has a number of attributes that make it desirable for use in a range of applications. It is durable; it is 100% recyclable, and for major applications such as roofing and wall claddings, the recycling rate reaches 95%. This high recycling rate significantly reduces the impacts of the production of the zinc used in zinc sheet. Zinc is also aesthetically pleasing, which means it is less likely to be replaced before needed.
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Guiding Principles
Recycling Fact Sheets
Zinc Recycling: Closing the Loop
This publication describes the recycling circuit for zinc, including: sources for recycled zinc, ends uses, methods for assessing recycling rates, and current recycling statistics.
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Zinc Recycling: Material Supply
This fact sheet explains the material supply for zinc metal, including how much zinc is currently in use, how much is in production, how much of the zinc in use is recycled, and estimates of world zinc reserves.
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Zinc Recycling: In Use Stocks
This fact sheet explains the concept of in-use stocks, how they compare to geologic stocks, how they have evolved over time, and what current trends can tell us about future use.
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Zinc Recycling: In Use Stocks
This fact sheet explains the stocks and flows of zinc on a global basis, providing a description of material flow analysis and brief examination of the zinc life cycle.
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