Our Responsibility for the Environment and Climate

SMA Minerals products are essential in our lives and have a positive impact on the environment. At the same time, we consume natural resources, leave a footprint on land and biodiversity, and release environmentally impactful gases from our processes. To reduce our climate footprint, we work diligently and purposefully to optimize our use of materials and energy. Additionally, we have set an ambitious roadmap to significantly reduce emissions from the production of fired products.

Our environmental work is guided by an overarching business policy that includes environment, quality, health, and safety. SMA Mineral is environmentally certified according to ISO 14001. We continuously work to prevent environmental risks and minimize our impact on the climate and the environment.

Assessment According to EcoVadis

For several years, we have used EcoVadis, the world’s largest provider of sustainability ratings, to measure our sustainability efforts. SMA Mineral's long-term sustainability work has been recognized with EcoVadis' bronze medal. According to the award, our position is among the top 30 percent in our industry worldwide.

Environmental Permit

The operations are governed and regulated by environmental permits issued by national environmental authorities. The new permitting processes always include an assessment process as well as a review process. The environmental permit contains a description of the operations, conditions that must be met, as well as measurements, sampling, and monitoring requirements that the production facilities must follow.

Control Program

Based on the conditions in the environmental permit, a control program is established that outlines the measurements and sampling to be conducted. The company reports annually to the supervisory authority on how the conditions are being met, and these are also followed up during inspection visits.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

When carbonate minerals such as limestone and dolomite are processed into lime and burned dolomite, large amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, both from the raw stone material and from the fuels used in the process. Smaller CO2 emissions also come from vehicles and machinery used at our facilities. SMA Minerals has set a strategic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2027.

Minimization of Air Pollution

The firing of limestone and dolomite results, in addition to carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, in the release of air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and dioxins. Each facility has an environmental permit in which the emissions of air pollutants have been risk-assessed and compared to air quality standards.

Waste

The waste generated at the lime factories and quarries must not cause harm or pose a risk to human health or the environment. Therefore, our storage of chemicals and waste harmful to the environment is designed in such a way that the substances cannot be released into the environment, even in the event of an accident.

Increased Resource Efficiency

SMA Mineral aims to use the materials in the natural resources we extract as efficiently as possible. Topsoil, side stones, and other by-products are utilized to the greatest extent possible. The monitoring plan also includes extraction waste, which we strive to keep to a minimum by using it for, for example, road and land construction on-site and embankments around the mining area to prevent noise and dust.

Biodiversity

SMA Mineral currently operates in areas that are in close proximity to natural areas, including areas that are part of conservation programs and/or private nature reserves. In such cases, the company ensures the survival of rare and endangered species in and around these mining areas. To strengthen the survival of species, according to regional monitoring, observation, and management plans, we collaborate with professionals and environmental authorities. The effects of dust from mining are monitored through various air emission measurements and by monitoring vegetation.

Use of and Emissions to Water

In our quarries, there is an inflow of water that can be considered a water extraction in the operations, even though this is not the intention. The water is pumped out and released into nearby ponds. The impact it has on the surroundings is usually covered by the environmental permitting processes.

SMA Mineral AB
Box 329
682 27 Filipstad
SWEDEN

+46 590 - 164 00
sma@smamineral.se

Our Responsibility for the Environment and Climate

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