ESG Data
For a bountiful future for all humanities, Korea Zinc refines today and prepares for tomorrow.
Environment
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) | 1,944 |
| 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 2.3 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 ~ Feb 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 to monitor, despite its own activities not being significantly water-intensive. Korea Zinc, on its part, upholds the right to water as a fundamental human right. Korea Zinc conducts an annual water risk assessment of its facilities using the WRI Aqueduct tool, which confirms that none of the sites managed by Korea Zinc are located in regions facing water risk area or in an area with high water stress. Nonetheless, Korea Zinc remains committed to enhancing water efficiency across its operations and will invest in innovative technologies and systems to further promote water and energy conservation. Additionally, Korea Zinc actively encourages its subsidiaries to implement water recycling practices within their operations.
| 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.
Society
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% |
| 2nd | 16 Jul | 3 | 100% |
Diversity Metric
The total number of employees in 2023 is 1,881, as noted on page 51 of our Sustainability Report. Among them, six positions are held by foreign nationals: five in management positions and one in a junior management position, which is held by a U.S. national.
| 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 | Male | Female | 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 range of products, including zinc, lead, copper ingots and alloys, as well as gold and silver bars, among others. The company employs chemical processes to extract pure target materials from concentrates or ores. However, with most of our products achieving over 99% purity, the inclusion of other chemicals or harmful substances is virtually impossible. Purity is a hallmark of our operations, and Korea Zinc takes great pride in this achievement. The company is registered with prestigious organizations such as the London Metal Exchange (LME), the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI).