OUR APPROACH

Acting sustainably is key to our strategy and integrated into how we do business. We believe that fostering a positive and lasting societal impact is not only good for our business but good for all our stakeholders. Operating a safe, responsible and profitable business that cares for and respects its employees, the environment and the communities that host us, is how we want to be known, measured and driven.

Our investment in finding innovative solutions to improve how we use energy, water and minimise waste is yielding results and delivering outcomes not only for Molycop but also for our customers and communities.

We believe in developing strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationships with the communities where we do business and contribute to their economic and social development. We strive to be an employer of choice and are committed to goal zero meaning our people go home to their families in the same state that they arrived at work.

We work hard at being good stewards of the environment, ensuring we do our bit to so that future generations are afforded the same opportunities to improve their quality of life.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Climate change is a global challenge that requires a collaborative market and policy response. We aim to avoid or, where this is not possible, minimise our impact, while contributing to lasting environmental benefits across the regions where we operate.

We are focused on reducing our carbon footprint with a number of initiatives currently underway. These include projects such as lighting changes to more efficient LED products, ongoing investments in operational efficiencies, the purchase of renewable energy, responsible water management and stewardship at our plants, improved waste management, our ongoing commitment to the circular economy and where possible, the use of recycled products.

All of these initiatives contribute to ensure we leave the world a better place for future generations.

The Circular Economy In Practice

The economy of the past, is built on single use “take, make and dispose” principles involving extracting resources, making products, using them once or only for a short time, then disposing of them.

A circular economy keeps products and raw materials in use for longer, through recycling, repairing, repurposing and reusing.

It is about changing the way we produce, assemble, sell and use products to minimise waste and to reduce our environmental impact. It is about valuing our resources, by getting as much use out of products and their raw materials as possible and reducing the amount of waste we generate.

Click play to see how we recycle 1000 cars a day in Our Newcastle operations to produce the world’s best grinding media

Landmark Sustainable Power Purchase Agreement

During its 100 years of operation Molycop has played an important role in the economic and social development of many of the countries in which it operates.  In Australia, Molycop manufactures and supplies high quality products and services to the mining and rail transport industries.  Molycop’s entry into an Electricity Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) represents a new chapter in this tradition, reflecting its support for the renewable energy investment that has been made in regional NSW.

Under the PPA, Molycop’s expected offtake of renewable energy is 100,000 MWh per year which covers more than half of its electricity consumption in NSW.   This will make Molycop one of the largest purchasers of renewable energy in Australia

Michael Parker, President Molycop Australasia, said “This agreement is an important milestone for Molycop. It provides strong support to Australia’s pipeline of renewable energy infrastructure projects that will also benefit the wider community.”

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AWARD WINNING SUSTAINABILITY

In recognition of our ongoing sustainability initiatives, Molycop’s efforts have been recognised across our international operations.

In Peru, we were presented with the ‘Green Seal’ award, along with only five other companies in Peru, in recognition of our efforts to power our manufacturing plants using renewable energy.

The national efficiency seal, in the gold category, granted by the Ministry and Sustainability of Chile which were awarded to our two plants in Chile for their ongoing efforts to reduce energy consumption.

Molycop’s Newcastle operations were awarded the Environmental Excellence Award at the 2019 Hunter Manufacturing Awards following their Sustainable Power Purchase Agreement with Flow Power, which has resulted in over 50% of their Newcastle plants electricity consumption now being backed by offtake agreements with the Bomen Solar and Sapphire Wind Farms.

Our partnership with UNSW was recognised by BHERT as a model example of private companies working with public research institutions.

In North America, our operations in Canada and America were recognised for their ongoing efforts to reduce energy consumption in their manufacturing plants.

LA JOYA WATER RECYCLING INITIATIVE

Molycop’s La Joya plant in southern Peru is situated in one of the driest places on earth.  With no onsite water supply, water had to be transported by trucks to the plant every day.

Water is crucial to the function of the plant, with the largest consumption occurring during the heat treatment process which generates hot water that needs to be cooled down in order to be recirculated.  Molycop plants traditionally use cooling towers to perform this function, however this technology does result in water losses due to evaporation.

Click on the link below to read about the innovative ways this facility is reducing water consumption.

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SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS

UNSW- AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL (ARC)

Coalition for Energy Efficient Comminution (CEEC)

Circular Economy Innovation Network (CEIN)

The CEIN is an initiative of the NSW Government through the Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer to bring together stakeholders from across governments, industry, universities and not-for-profit groups to reduce waste and enhance sustainability by developing a circular economy in which waste is valued as a resource.

Led by Scientia Professor, Veena Sahajwalla, director of the Centre for Sustainable materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) at UNSW, this group aims to bring together a multiplicity of stakeholders from industry, government, and academia.

Molycop is extremely honored to have been invited to join this innovation network and we look forward to lending our expertise and resources to such an important public initiative, particularly through our work with Professor Sahajwalla and UNSW to convert e-waste into materials for manufacturing.

The Network is aimed at better linking industry with government, local councils and researchers to provide an environment in NSW that is conducive to the adoption of new ways of tackling the challenges of the Circular Economy. It will create new revenue opportunities while maintaining a clear focus on sustainability and improved well being