Environment

At Etex, we want to be an active partner in finding solutions. In our ambition to reduce negative effects and scale up positive impacts, we look at where our activities can have the biggest leverage to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals related to the environment, such as Goal 13 ‘Climate Action’.
In 2020, we decided to prioritise decarbonisation, including the use of renewable energy, as well as circularity, with a first focus on waste management.

Transitioning to carbon neutrality

We support the European Green Deal and its commitment to reaching net zero carbon impacts by 2050 at the latest. While we strive to be an active partner that works closely with other players in our value chain to address climate issues, we are investigating the most impactful ways to reduce CO₂ emissions in our own operations. One major step in our energy management approach is the transition of our electricity supply from non-renewable sources to certified renewable sources. Today, 71.8% of our worldwide purchased electricity comes from renewable sources, while we have reached 100% in all our European sites as well as in Chile.

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% Green electricity produced and purchased vs
Total electricity consumption

The enthusiasm of our dedicated Green Team, together with our colleagues in charge of energy management and carbon accounting, made it possible for us to rapidly achieve 100% certified carbon-free and renewable electricity in 2020 everywhere in Europe and in Chile. In addition, we are actively working on having additional photovoltaic panels installed on our factory sites.
	Alain Bourgeois, Purchasing Category Manager Energy, Etex Brussels, Belgium

2020 CO₂ emissions

Scope 1

722,874.92
metric tonnes of CO₂e

Gross direct CO₂ emissions from use of energy in manufacturing (natural gas, liquid fuels, biomass) and use of fuels in our vehicles operating in the quarries and plants.

Scope 2

71,197.87
metric tonnes of CO₂e

Gross location based energy-indirect CO₂ emissions from purchased electricity.

Scope 3.png

Scope 3

Indirect emissions from all other activities, for example inbound and outbound transportation by our contractors, waste generated, purchased goods and services, and employee commuting and business travel.

Scope 3 emissions were not included in Etex's monitoring in 2020.

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GHG emission intensity -
scope 1 + 2

(metric tonnes of CO₂e/t)

Water management

Water is an important resource that we use, for example, in our production processes, as well as for cooling purposes. In 2020, our water withdrawal totalled 5,875.521 megalitres. The biggest portion of withdrawn water evaporates or is embedded in our finished products due to the crystallisation process of some raw materials.

Our sites are incentivised to recycle and reduce water discharge. This includes discharge to sewage and surface waters. We pre-treat or treat our wastewater prior to discharge, according to local requirements. Where applicable, we monitor relevant effluent parameters.

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Water withdrawal intensity
(megalitres/t)

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Total water discharge
(megalitres)

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Caring about biodiversity and ecosystems

Healthy ecosystems and biodiversity and the natural capital they provide are a wealth we all share. For instance through our mining activities, we inevitably change the land we use. Thoroughly restoring the landscape to the biggest extent possible immediately upon ceasing mining activities in a particular area minimises impact on the landscape. The completed restorations result in a zero-net loss of biodiversity, and in some cases even lead to a higher biodiversity value compared to the moment we acquired concessions to use the land.

We also work with other industry players in order to advance the methods used by the industry to address the topic of biodiversity. In addition, we follow biodiversity-related global challenges such as pollination loss through the reduction of populations of pollinating insects. In 2020, we designed eleven insect hotels that have been installed on selected sites across Europe.