Accelerating and maximising the recycling potential of zinc-containing materials is the IZA's (ZINC. International Zinc Association) for the next ten years, to help companies understand and quantify current zamak recycling activities and capabilities to further increase zinc circularity.
Zinc alloys are part of the collective effort to reduce the carbon footprint and position Zamak as an efficient and sustainable alternative to other materials.
ZAMAK INJECTION RECYCLING AT THE HEART OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Zinc die castings are all recyclable. Zamak castings are ideally recycled by remelting. Re-melting zinc requires only about 5% of the energy needed to produce primary zinc (extraction and melting). Die cast zinc are very durable and thus contribute to the circular economy.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Before zinc castings can be recycled, they must be collected and sorted. If this fails, the zinc castings end up in household waste. But even from incinerated household waste, zinc can be recycled, as the Swiss company KEBAG has successfully demonstrated (Closing the loop: How Swiss energy from waste plants recycles zinc - ZINC Sustainability).
Incremental changes in zinc circularity could be achieved through innovations in the collection and sorting of old waste, and through increased recycling of low-zinc steel mill dust.
ZINC SPEARHEADS CLIMATE ACTION
Over 85% of all zinc producers already report their greenhouse gas emissions (in published sustainability reports). This number has doubled, while the number of companies reporting their renewable energy consumption has tripled.
In 2021, IZA established a climate change working group of climate experts. This group has just launched the decarbonisation project for the global zinc industry. IZA is already submitting average life cycle assessment data for zinc, which is regularly updated on relevant databases such as GaBi. These figures are calculated from data provided by IZA member companies. Expérience Zamak has set up a similar working group to also compile energy consumption data from its members.
RESPONSIBLE ZINC SOURCING
For zinc companies, IZA, in collaboration with the Nickel Institute, the International Lead Association and Copper Mark, has developed the joint "Due Diligence" standard. This standard enables companies to provide credible evidence of responsible sourcing in line with OECD guidelines.
The agreement has now been signed between Copper Mark, the Nickel Institute and IZA to work towards a broader ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) standard, which will help companies to demonstrate compliance with a set of responsible sourcing principles.
JEGAN. HIGH PRESSURE DIE CASTING
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