KGHM with the title of Climate Conscious Company 2023
KGHM awarded with the title of Climate Conscious Company 2023 in the prestigious Corporate Climate Awareness survey conducted by, among others, the Reporting Standards Foundation, the Association of Listed Companies and Bureau Veritas. The ranking is based on data from the company's annual reports. The title achieved marks the company's promotion to the Top Emitters reporting and communicating on climate and environmental issues to the highest standards and in the best quality.
The Companies' Climate Awareness survey considered, among other things, the organisation's management of climate issues, reporting on greenhouse gas emissions, climate risks and opportunities, Emitter strategies and policies or calculation standards, targets and action plans in this area.
- At KGHM, we are proving that the mining industry and sustainable development can coexist. We minimise our impact on the environment by investing in environmentally friendly technologies. In the actions we take, we look for solutions that contribute to our development, but also support global climate goals. We communicate and report our impacts and interactions with the surrounding and the environment in which we operate in a transparent manner, with the best quality, consciously and in accordance with the highest standards - said Tomasz Zdzikot, President of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.
Tomasz Zdzikot added that this year, for the first time ever, the Company has examined and presented the carbon and environmental footprint of its flagship products in an integrated report, which is an important notification, particularly for customers. In mid-2023, the copper giant commissioned the Post-Process Gas Treatment Plant at the Legnica smelter. The innovative solution cleans the gases almost completely of mercury and arsenic, leaving only mainly nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and a little sulphur dioxide. This is the first such investment in Poland and one of a few in the world.
KGHM has been proving for years that it treats ecology as one of its strategic areas. In 2022, the company spent nearly PLN 250 million on pro-environmental investment projects. The modernisation of production and technological solutions always takes environmental aspects into account. In 2022, the company also adopted a Climate and Environmental Policy, which compacts its environmental goals and commitments, including the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
This year, KGHM commissioned an environmental and carbon footprint analysis for its products: cathodes, wire rod and Cu-OFE wire - the Institute of Mineral and Energy Economy of the Polish Academy of Sciences performed the analyses in accordance with ISO standards and prepared environmental declarations. KGHM's copper products have a footprint lower than the global average.
The analyses carried out confirm that KGHM's smelters (Legnica smelter, Głogów smelter, Cedynia smelter) produce metals responsibly and to the highest standards. The mills have an Environmental Management System in place that complies with the requirements of ISO 14001. In addition, the branches hold the international Copper Mark certificate.
Over the next 7 years, the company will strive to meet 50% of the company's energy demand from own sources – including renewable energy sources. Thanks to its commitment and its own energy sources, KGHM was able to cover nearly 17 per cent of the company's overall electricity consumption this year. In September, KGHM has bought a portfolio of eight photovoltaic plants, with a total capacity of nearly 50 MW. The farms purchased by the copper company are located in the dolnośląskie, łódzkie, pomorskie and wielkopolskie Voivodeships. The purchased installations will provide approximately 2% of KGHM's electricity needs.
The copper company also operates PV power plant projects on its own sites at the Głogów smelter, the Cedynia smelter, the Hydrotechnical plant and the Obora sand pit area.
