Guidelines and Environmental Management
Environmental protection is part of the Group strategy
As part of our sustainability strategy, we have set ourselves both Groupwide targets for environmental protection and specific targets for individual sites.
We are leaders in environmental protection and are constantly improving. Environmentally friendly multi-metal production from primary raw materials such as ore concentrates and recycling form the basis for responsible metal supply in line with demand. In this way we secure our sites and create the basis for future-oriented investments.
As a multi-metal group, Aurubis assumes responsibility for protecting the environment and the climate. The efficient use of natural resources and energy as well as saving CO₂ emissions are an important part of ecological and economic corporate responsibility and a long-standing component of our corporate culture. Aurubis takes a holistic view of the value chain with the goal of achieving a balance between the economy, the environment and people.
For all production sites and across all business processes, Aurubis relies on modern and energy-efficient plant technology that meets high environmental protection standards. To this end, we also develop innovative and energy-efficient techniques in environmental protection that set new standards worldwide and often form the basis for defining Best Available Techniques (BAT) at the European level.
Our Environmental Policy – Company Guidelines on Environmental Protection
In order to ensure that our environmental protection standards are safeguarded throughout the Group and continuously optimized, we have established the following principles as our company guidelines:
- The continuous improvement of environmental performance, in particular of water pollution control, soil protection, and immission control, is a key target of the Environmental Protection division.
- For reasons of accountability, environmental and climate protection should be developed in such a way as to conserve natural resources, protect nature and biodiversity and avoid strain on the environment and our employees and reduce it to the lowest level technically possible.
- Issues of environmental protection should be taken into account equally in the planning and development of new products and production processes.
- Processed raw materials and intermediate products should be brought into the economic cycle as completely as possible, and unavoidable waste should be properly recycled or harmlessly disposed of. Raw material suppliers are advised on issues related to environmental protection if needed.
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Technical and organizational measures to avoid accidents and operational disruptions are in place to prevent or minimize environmental hazards for our employees and neighbors, as well as effects on the environment.
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Our employees’ sense of responsibility in environmental protection should be strengthened, and objective, open, and respectful dialogue should take place with them, the relevant authorities, and the public.
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Our customers are appropriately informed about the features of our products and necessary safety measures and are advised on questions related to product disposal.
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External companies working for us must be selected, informed and advised in such a way as to ensure that laws and our environmental protection standards are observed.
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Compliance with legal regulations is the basis and minimum standard of our activities. Ongoing improvement in environmental protection is enshrined in our corporate strategy and is one of our key responsibilities.
The integrated management system (IMS) for the environment, energy, quality management, and occupational health and safety
In 2017, an integrated management system (IMS) was developed for Aurubis AG for the areas of environment, energy, quality management, and occupational health and safety, with the first three areas certified that same year. The IMS utilizes synergies, harmonizes processes, and improves management in these areas.
With the involvement of employees, plant managers/managing directors, and the Executive Board, uniform environmental protection standards were developed, established in a corporate policy, and implemented across the Group as part of the environmental management system (ISO 14001 or EMAS).
The annual external audit in the scope of the certifications offers us the opportunity to have the successful environmental protection measures confirmed by an independent third party and to recognize additional potential for improvement.
Site certifications
Standort |
EMAS |
ISO 14001 |
ISO 50001 |
ISO 45001 |
ISO 9001 |
IATF 16949 |
EfbV |
WEEELABEX3 |
Copper Mark |
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Hamburg, Zentrale (DE) |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
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x |
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Lünen (DE) |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
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x |
x |
x |
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Pirdop (BG) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
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x |
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Olen (BE) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
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Beerse (BE) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
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Berango (ES) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
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Emmerich, Deutsche Giessdraht (DE) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
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Avellino (IT) |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
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Hamburg, E.R.N. (DE) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
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x |
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Röthenbach, RETORTE (DE) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
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Hamburg, Peute Baustoff (DE) |
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x |
x |
x |
x2 |
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Buffalo (USA) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
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Pori (FI) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
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Stolberg (DE) |
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x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
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Stolberg, Schwermetall (DE)1 |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
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1 Not majority-owned by Aurubis (50 % stake).
2 For the sale of iron silicate granules used to produce blasting abrasives.
3 WEEE LABel of EXcellence.
Explanation
- EMAS: System of specifications for environmental management systems and environmental audits
- ISO 14001: Standard for environmental management systems
- ISO 50001: Standard for energy management systems
- ISO 45001: Standard for occupational safety management systems
- ISO 9001: Standard for quality management systems
- IATF 16949: Standard for quality management systems in the automotive industry, based on ISO 9001
- EfbV: Ordinance on Specialized Waste Management Companies (German certificate)
- WEEELABEX: Standards regarding the collection, sorting, storage, transport, treatment, processing, and disposal of electrical and electronic devices and their preparation for reuse
- Copper Mark: Quality seal for the copper sector for responsible copper production based on 32 internationally recognized sustainability criteria
Dr. Karin Hinrichs-Petersen
Head of Environmental Protection
Phone | +49 40 7883-3609 |