Metals and electronics recycling firm Sims Metal Management has published an updated sustainability report tilted “One Sims Many Faces.” The report from the company, which has corporate offices in both Rye, New York, and in Australia, provides information on its environmental, social and corporate governance activity in its fiscal year 2018 (FY18) and progress toward Sims Metal Management’s 2020 global sustainability goals.
“At Sims, sustainability is, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of our corporate strategy,” says Alistair Field, CEO of the company. “Not only is it a guiding principle for our company, but it is also at the heart of our business model. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, and through our contributions to the circular economy we will continue to work toward shaping a more sustainable world,” he states.
Sims says it established its first set of long-term sustainability goals in FY09 with targets for energy, water and waste reduction. The company says it met and exceeded those targets as FY15 approached. The 2020 targets (normalized against production volume) include a 10 percent reduction in fuel consumption, a 10 percent reduction in the consumption of electricity, and a move toward five percent renewable energy. Other targets include a 10 percent reduction in water consumption, a 10 percent reduction in waste generation, and a 100 percent ban on the idling of mobile equipment in Sims yards.
Regarding its FY18 timeframe, Sims indicates it took the following steps:
- Circular Economy: Sims keeps resources in use for as long as possible by extracting their maximum value, and then recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their useful lives.
- Climate Change: The company says it is committed to continue reducing its carbon emissions and is “well on its way” to meet its 2020 goal of a 10 percent reduction from its FY14 baseline.
- Health and Safety: Sims says it continues to reduce the number of injured employees, with FY18 being “the safest in Sims’ history.” During the year, the company says more than 80 percent of Sims locations were free of reportable injuries, and the company has reduced its recordable injuries by 55 percent during the past five years.
- Community Engagement: Sims says it participated in more than 270 community projects and sponsorships globally in its FY18.
- Diversity and Talent: The company says it has seen 33 percent and 36 percent participation from women in its Trainee Management Programme in the U.K. and its Cadet and Graduate Programme in the Australasia region, respectively.
“Sustainability and corporate social responsibility are fully integrated into Sims’ business strategy and culture,” says Elise Gautier, group chief risk and compliance officer for Sims. “Our core business is the closed-loop circular flow of materials, and we are universally recognized as an international leader in the transformation of discarded consumer products into valuable secondary resources.”
Sims Metal Management operates more than 250 recycling facilities, with operations in 18 countries and more than 5,000 employees globally.
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