Archive for the 'Metals' Category

Stakeholder session participation on electronics supply chain

Published at November 20, 2008 in Electronics, Supply chain, Stakeholders, CSR, Sector - electronics, Events, Academic and Metals. Closed

New York, November 4, 2008

Washington, November 19, 2008

GHGm President Dr. Steven B. Young was invited to two stakeholder meetings related to social and environmental responsibility in the supply-chain of metals in electronics. The Extractives Stakeholders Sessions were organized by Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), leading electronics industry groups concerned about environmental and social issues in their supply-chains.  The meetings were attended by a cross-section of non-profit, governmental, mining industry and other stakeholders. Much of the focus is on the sustainability and human rights circumstances of mining and metal operations in developing countries.

 

The meeting objectives were:

  • To share progress made by EICC and GeSI and prospective goals on improving social and environmental conditions in the electronics supply chain, including summary feedback from Nov. 4th meeting;
  • To gather input from participants on current strategy in order to further refine goals and activities for 2009; and
  • To identify learnings from current initiatives and opportunities for collaboration

 

Steve presented GHGm’s study on Social and Environmental Responsibility in Metals Supply to the Electronic Industry. The study objectives were to understand  how:

 

  • aluminum (Al), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), gold (Au), palladium (Pd) and tin (Sn) are mined, recycled, purchased and used within the electronic industry
  • members of GeSI and EICC can effectively influence social and environmental issues associated with mining of metals used in electronic products.

Electronic industry metal supply-chain report released

Published at June 25, 2008 in Sector - mining & metals, CSR, Social factors, Sector - electronics, Metals and GHGm. Closed

A GHGm report, “Social and Environmental Responsibility in Metals Supply to the Electronic Industry,” has been published by two electronic industry associations.

The study considers the supply and use of metals by the electronics industry, looking at understanding of the sources, the
supply chain and the social and environmental circumstances around how metals are mined, processed and recycled. Tin, cobalt, palladium, gold, copper and aluminum are specifically considered.

The research was commissioned by the EICC and the GeSI supply chain working group, which is looking at improving working conditions in the global electronics supply chain.

Copies of the report are available through both:

- the Global e-Sustainability Initiative,  on the GeSI website under supply chain and

- the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition on the EICC website under resources

Metals industry publishes recycling declaration

Published at November 30, 2006 in Life cycle assessment (LCA), Recycling and Metals. 0 Comments

With the assistance of GHGm, the international metals industry has prepared, and released today, a position regarding the benefits and analysis of metals recycling. Published in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, it is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1065/lca2006.11.283

Assessing the sustainability of architectural metals

Published at July 26, 2006 in Buildings & construction, Life cycle assessment (LCA), Recycling and Metals. Closed

The latest edition of GreenClips highlights a recent paper in The Construction Specifier, by Catherine Houska and GHGm President, Steven B. Young. GreenClips highlights stories on sustainable design, particularly relevant to Green Buildings and LEED. The article reviews life cycle assessment (LCA) data covering issues like total primary energy,and pollution emissions (CO2, Particulates, Chemical Oxygen Demand) required to produce 1 kg of primary metals.

Emphasis is on the environmental benefit of recycling of materials and looking to high end of life (EOL) collection rates. Guidance for environmental improvement is towards good design that promotes EOL collection and high quality, high value scrap suitable for recycling.

The original article is in The Construction Specifier, Jul 06, p 80, by Catherine Houska and Steven B. Young.

Recycling and Greenhouse Gases

Published at December 21, 2005 in Life cycle assessment (LCA), Events, Recycling, Metals, GHG measurement and GHGm. Closed

GHGm is assisting Natural Resources Canada by facilitating a workshop on recycling and greenhouse gas emissions reductions in Canada Enhanced Recycling Program: Workshop “Lessons Learned and the Path Forward.”

Enhanced Recycling is a five-year (April 2001-March 2006), $3.4 million program under the Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change, Minerals and Metals Program (managed by the Minerals and Metals Sector of Natural Resources Canada – NRCan). The initial objective of the Enhanced Recycling Program is to increase the recycling of aluminum by 100 000 tonnes per year (t/y) by 2010, and of steel by 200 000 t/y by 2010, yielding total GHG reductions of 700 000 t/y of CO2 equivalent.

The Workshop objectives are to review results of the Enhanced Recycling Program followed by discussions on future directions, providing a series of recommendations that will lead to a national strategy on resource recovery and recycling.

GHGm to evaluate recycling projects for greenhouse gas benefits

Published at September 7, 2005 in Metals, GHG Validation & Verification, GHG measurement, Carbon footprint and GHGm. 0 Comments

Four “Enhanced Recycling” Projects will be reviewed by GreenhouseGasMeasurement.com under a new contract awarded by Natural Resources Canada.

GHGm will assess each project in terms of its impacts upon GHG emission reductions to date and will also develop a Measurement and Reporting Plan for each project to define and determine the GHG mitigation potential of each project to 2010. The projects to be reviewed concern metal recycling, recycling of computer electronic waste, and recycling and reuse of building construction and demolition waste. Locations include Ontario, Quebec and Canada’s North.

Enhanced Recycling is a five-year, $3.4 million program under the Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change, Minerals and Metals Program (managed by the Minerals and Metals Sector of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). The initial stated objective of the Enhanced Recycling Program is to increase the recycling of aluminum by 100,000 tonnes per year (t/y) by 2010, and of steel by 200,000 t/y by 2010, yielding total GHG Continue reading ‘GHGm to evaluate recycling projects for greenhouse gas benefits’