ESG Data Center
For a bountiful future for all humanities,
Korea Zinc refines today and prepares for tomorrow.
Environment
Scope1
2.57M tCO2eq
Scope2
0.61M tCO2eq
Scope3
4.61M tCO2eq
Energy Consumption
44,425TJ
Renewable Energy Consumption
0.21TJ
NOx
716.6ton
SOx
966.9ton
TSP
130.9ton
TOC
17.9ton
SS
41.8ton
BOD
7.7ton
T-N
130.9ton
T-P
0.2ton
Environmental Management System
The Onsan Refinery, first acquired ISO 14001 certification in 2015. This certification, which serves as the international standard for environmental management systems, has been maintained through regular renewals. The refinery undergoes annual audits by accredited third-party institutions to assess and improve its environmental management system, ensuring its continued effectiveness.
| Metric | Site | Employee |
|---|---|---|
| Total Number | 2 (Headquaters, Onsan Refinery) | 1,969 |
| Number certified to ISO 14001 | 1 (Onsan Refinery) | 1,693* |
| Proportion | 50% | 86% |
*Number of employee at certified site
Net Zero Scenario
Korea Zinc reported our “Carbon Reduction Plan” during the regular board meeting held on November 8, 2024, and the agenda for this meeting is accessible on our website.
Fleet Fuel Carbon Emission and
Energy Usage
| Metric | FY 2024 |
|---|---|
| Carbon Emission (tCO₂eq) | 470 |
| Energy Usage (MJ) | 6,823,615 |
Energy Usage of
Hydrogen Forklift in 2024
Korea Zinc hosted an inauguration ceremony on August 28, 2024, to mark the completion of a hydrogen refueling station for hydrogen-powered forklifts at its Onsan Smelter in Ulsan. This facility is the first hydrogen refueling station in South Korea to be built within a national industrial complex. It was developed after Korea Zinc received regulatory approval in March 2023 under a sandbox program to construct and operate a station dedicated to hydrogen fuel cell forklifts. In addition to building the refueling station, Korea Zinc introduced five hydrogen-powered forklifts. Of these, four are 5-ton forklifts, and one is a 3.5-ton model. Looking ahead, the company plans to phase in an additional 25 forklifts, bringing the total fleet to 30 units
| Metric | FY2024 |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen (m³) | 2,321 |
| Electricity (kWh) | 43,427 |
Investment in Energy Conservation & Saving from energy Conservation programs
Since 2022, Korea Zinc has invested KRW 40.7 billion in a range of energy-saving initiatives. As a result, the company achieved energy cost savings of KRW 2.4 billion in 2023 and KRW 7.7 billion in 2024.
| No. | Energy Conservation Program | Duration | Investment (milion KRW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electricity Savings Through the Integrated Management of Aging Facilities | Feb 22 ~ Feb 24 | 27,281 |
| 2 | Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through the Transition of Forklift Fuel from Diesel to Hydrogen | Dec 22 ~ Aug 24 | 5,106 |
| 3 | Electricity Savings Through the Deployment of High-Efficiency Cooling Tower Fans (Phase 1, Units #2) | Sep 23~ Oct 23 | 144 |
| Electricity Savings Through the Deployment of High-Efficiency Cooling Tower Fans (Phase 2, Units #8) | Aug 24 ~ Mar 25 | 610 | |
| 4 | Electricity Savings Achieved by Replacing Aging Equipment with High-Efficiency, Large-Capacity Systems | Sep 24 ~ Jun 25 | 6,204 |
| 5 | Reducing LNG Consumption Through the Reutilization of Exhaust Gas Waste Heat | Dec 24 ~ Jul 25 | 599 |
| 6 | Comprehensive Evaluation of Energy Utilization Across All Facilities and Diagnosis for Energy Efficiency Improvement | Apr 24 ~ Nov 24 | 202 |
| 7 | Optimizing Energy Utilization Through the Implementation of an Advanced Energy Monitoring System | Oct 24 ~ May 25 | 523 |
| Total | 40,669 | ||
Water Resource Risk Management
Korea Zinc recognizes water consumption and water scarcity as critical global trends that require close monitoring. The company conducts an annual water risk assessment of its facilities using the WRI Aqueduct tool, which evaluates risks under short-, medium-, and long-term climate scenarios. Based on the results of this assessment, none of the sites operated by the company are located in regions categorized as areas facing high or extremely high water stress.
| Metric | Unit | FY2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater withdrawn | m3 | 14,725,920 |
| Percentage of fresh water withdrawn in regions with High or Extremely High Baseline Water Stress | Percentage(%) | 0 |
| Amount of water recycling* | m3 | 796,404 |
*Stormwater(rainwater) recycling and RO-treated recycled water
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Biodiversity
This is not applicable, as the Company operates from sites located in National Industrial Complex, far from ecologically sensitive regions. However, biodiversity initiatives are actively being pursued. For further details, please refer to the “Biodiversity Protection” section of this Sustainability Report on page 36.
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Disturbed Land
Korea Zinc operates within government-regulated National Industrial Complex, ensuring compliance with all land use and environmental regulations. The company employs Top Submerged Lance (TSL) technology, which efficiently recycles waste materials to maximize zinc recovery. This process eliminates the need for waste ponds, as residues are processed to extract valuable metals, resulting in minimal environmental disturbance.
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Spill
Korea Zinc reported zero spills at its operational sites in both 2023 and 2024. This achievement is supported by the company’s robust chemical substance management practices, which are disclosed on page 31 of the Sustainability Report.
Social
Employee
| Number of employees | Permanent employees | Number of female employees | Percentage of female manager | New Hires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,969 | 1,866 | 118 | 6.27 % | 195 |
Diversity Metric
The total number of employees with diverse national backgrounds is six, consisting of five in Senior Management and one in Junior Management.
| Metric | Unit | FY 2024 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management position | No. of people | 5 | Includes 3 Australians and 2 U.S. nationals |
| Junior management position | No. of people | 1 | Includes 1 U.S. national |
2024 Annual Average Education Hours Categorized by Gender
| Metric | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accumulated hours | 92,777 | 8,372 | 101,149 |
| No. of employee | 1,851 | 118 | 1,969 |
| Per capita hours | 50 | 71 | 51 |
2024 Annual Average Education Hours by Employee Category
| Metric | Managerial position | Non-managerial position | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accumulated hours | 5,740 | 95,409 | 101,149 |
| No. of employee | 123 | 1,846 | 1,969 |
| Per capita hours | 47 | 52 | 51 |
Promotion on mental health awareness
The company conducts an annual mental health assessment for all employees, including contractors working at operational sites. In 2024, the assessment took place from May 8th to June 28th, evaluating 43 key factors. These factors encompassed the physical work environment, interpersonal conflicts, corporate culture, work-related stress, and the level of autonomy employees have in their roles. Participants identified as experiencing high stress levels were provided with one-on-one counseling sessions, along with the option for more in-depth support if required. Additionally, employees who displayed healthy mental well-being received online educational materials to help sustain and enhance their mental resilience. Furthermore, the company provides all employees with access to free consultation programs each year to support both job satisfaction and emotional well-being.
Product Safety
Korea Zinc produces a diverse portfolio of metals, ranging from base metals to precious and minor metals. The company utilizes a variety of metallurgical processes to extract target metals from different raw materials and efficiently remove impurities, resulting in high-purity products.
The company’s products are registered with the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), demonstrating alignment with internationally recognized quality standards.
Talent Development and Capacity Building
Korea Zinc enhances its competitiveness by strengthening employees’ leadership and job-related competencies and providing language training. We also regularly assess employees’ training needs and conduct satisfaction surveys and training evaluations to support their career development and enhance their performance.
Governance
ESG Committee
Since 2022, Korea Zinc has operated the Sustainability Management Committee as an advisory body to the CEO. On December 23, 2024, we elevated it to the ESG Committee, a committee under the Board as defined by the Commercial Act, and simultaneously established the Sustainability Promotion Committee, as its implementation body. The ESG Committee is positioned as the core decision-making body for ESG management, overseeing the overall direction, performance and major issues of sustainable management across environmental, social and governance sectors.
| Session | Date | No. of Member | Committee Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 25 Feb | 3 | 100%(3/3) |
| 2nd | 16 Jul | 3 | 100%(3/3) |
| 3rd | 21 Nov | 4 | 100%(4/4) |
Sustainability Promotion Committee
The Sustainability Promotion Committee was established in February 2025 to succeed and expand upon the role of the Sustainability Management Committee, which had been in operation since 2022. With the launch of the ESG Committee under the Board in December 2024, the Sustainability Promotion Committee also assumed responsibility for reviewing agenda items to be submitted to the ESG Committee. With an aim to enhance its expertise, the committee appointed external advisors specializing in environmental, social, and governance area at its inaugural meeting in February 2025.
| Session | Date | No. of Member | Committee Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 25.02.20 | 12 | 92%(11/12) |
| 2nd | 25.04.30 | 12 | 92%(11/12) |
| 3rd | 25.10.02 | 13 | 100%(13/13) |
Code of Business Ethics
Korea Zinc conducts annual ethics management training, including anti-corruption programs, for all employees, members of the Board, and contract workers. Based on the Code of Ethics, all employees are also required to submit an annual ethical management pledge to reaffirm their understanding and commitment to ethical conduct.