The Group's CSR roadmap defines three specific strategic focuses that will enable Eramet to improve its environmental impact over the coming years.
1. Cut our air emissions
Identifying and controlling its ecological footprint is a key expectation, both for Eramet and the stakeholders on each of its sites. By cutting its air emissions, the Group will help to improve the air quality nearby its facilities, thereby responding to one of local residents' key expectations. In particular, a working group of experts has been assigned to sharing best practices in cutting air emissions and producing engineering reports with a view to financing a program of investments on this subject.
To this end, Eramet is relying on a plan to invest in new pollution control equipment and improve its operational control. In the plants, multiple purification devices are installed: electrostatic precipitators, baghouses, scrubbers, washing towers, etc. While a 40% reduction was targeted for 2020, the objective was largely exceeded with a 56% reduction.
2023 objective: cut channeled dust emissions by 80% (versus 2018).
2. Protect water resources and accelerate the restoration of mining sites by fostering biodiversity
From New Caledonia to Gabon and Senegal, Eramet is carrying out mining rehabilitation actions, in particular by revegetating its sites (by hydroseeding and planting, by spreading topsoil, etc.). This is the most effective way to foster the return of biodiversity, as well as to combat erosion and thereby protect the quality of water resources around mining sites. In 2020, Eramet met its target for the 2019-2023 period with a ratio of 1.03: to rehabilitate at least as much land as the Group clears.
Objective over the 2019-2023 period: restore at least as much surface area as the Group impacts (excluding long-term infrastructures).
3. Reduce the energy and climate footprint
By choosing to develop its business on lower-carbon activities and take action to control emissions, Eramet has reduced its carbon intensity by more than 25% in two years. Building on this momentum, the Group has decided to further accelerate the process through a commitment to a Science Based Target: to reduce Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 40% in absolute terms by 2035 compared to 2019. In addition, the Group has set itself the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
2023 objective: cut the quantity of CO2 per outgoing product by 26% (versus 2018), 16.5% of which is linked to the activity mix effect, linked to the Group's strategic decision to grow its mining business, which produces fewer emissions than the Group's conversion business.
