Global Standards Alignment
- Working towards aligning fully with the ICMM Mining Principles, Performance Expectations, and Position Statements
Our Approach: A Unified Framework to Sustainability
At Hindustan Zinc, guided by our ‘Zero Harm, Zero Waste, and Zero Discharge’ vision, we are tangibly progressing towards a sustainable future, aiming for the SBTi-validated Net Zero target by 2050 or sooner.
The Company has implemented an Integrated Management System (IMS) across all its operational units. Each site holds valid certifications to internationally recognised standards, including ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management), and ISO 50001 (Energy Management), reflecting a unified and robust approach to quality, safety, environmental protection, and energy efficiency across its mining, smelting, and refining operations.
Hindustan Zinc follows a Sustainability Framework adopted from its parent company, which is aligned with the guidelines from International Finance Corporation (IFC) and International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM). It provides a structured approach to embed sustainability in operations and decision-making through well-defined sustainability policies, standards, and guidance notes that support operational and social excellence.
Having come a long way in our sustainability efforts, from pioneering low-carbon innovations to championing biodiversity and social development, we are now embarking on the next, more profound chapter – Sustainability 2.0. We are embedding perseverance, accountability, and global benchmarking into our core strategy. This evolution reflects a transformational shift towards purpose-led, inclusive, and future-ready operations.
S&P Global ESG Leader
No. 1 globally in Metals and Mining for the third consecutive year, with an overall score of 90 (up from 77 in FY2021).
Featured for the ninth consecutive year in Sustainability Yearbook 2026 – among the top 1% of most sustainable organisations globally. Also, included in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class (DJBIC) Index (Emerging markets) for the first time.
Governance and Accountability
Three-Tiered Sustainability Governance Structure
Our three-tier governance structure enables us to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our decision-making from setting the vision at the top to driving its implementation on the ground.
Tier 1
Sustainability and ESG Committee of the Board
Committee details - Three Directors
Meeting frequency - Half-yearly
Mandate - Oversight of ESG matters and strategic direction
Read more on the Committee’s members and its role in Corporate Governance Report
Tier 2
Sustainability Committee at Executive Level & ICMM Steering Committee
Committee details -
Chairperson: Chief Executive Officer
Members: Entire Executive Committee and chairpersons of our 12 communities, including:
- Energy & Carbon Community
- Waste to Wealth Community
- Biodiversity Community
- Water Management Community
- Central Occupational Health & Safety Council
- People Community
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Community
- Supply Chain Community
- Communication Community
- Finance Community
- Social Performance Management Committee
- Tailings Community
Meeting frequency - Monthly
Mandate -
- Formulation of strategy, goals, and targets
- Resource allocation, tracking project status, and reviewing progress towards achieving goals
- ICMM Steering Committee tracks the project progress and implementation of ICMM Action Plan
Tier 3
IBU ESG Committee
Committee details - Chaired by CEOs of independent business units (IBUs) and includes the site-level community heads
Meeting frequency - Monthly
Mandate -
- Executes projects under Tier 1 and 2 committees’ guidance to achieve the sustainability vision
- Identification, impact analysis, mitigation, and monitoring of risks specific to the strategic business units (SBUs)
Sustainability Assurance Programme
Under our Sustainability Assurance Programme, each site is systematically assessed annually across 13 key pillars to measure implementation of the sustainability framework and assign site-specific sustainability scores. The outcomes of the assessment are discussed in the Executive-level Sustainability Committee, which in turn reports to the Board. The outcomes flow directly into corrective and preventive action plans, periodically reviewed, evaluated, and documented by the business units.
Incentive Linkage
10% of the annual performance bonus and incentives of the leadership and employees are linked to the Sustainability Assurance Score. Long-term incentives are also linked to the broader ESG performance of the Company, driving accountability across all levels.
Sustainability Assurance Programme Elements
Compliance
Leadership
Objectives, Targets & Performance
Safety
Competency & Training
New Projects
Process Safety & Management of Change
Incident Investigation
Assessment and Continual Improvement
Supplier & Contractor Management
Social Sustainability & Stakeholder Engagement
Environment
Occupational Health
In FY2026, Hindustan Zinc obtained reasonable assurance by independent third-party on ESG indicators, which
include BRSR Core. Limited assurance was obtained for the remaining BRSR and GRI Indicators. For the first
time, we have conducted an ICMM self-assessment and audit at priority locations, Rampura Agucha Mine (RAM),
and Chanderiya Lead-Zinc Smelter (CLZS).
Sustainability Beyond Operations: Customers and Supply Chain
Hindustan Zinc has consciously extended its sustainability culture to the customers and suppliers, key stakeholders for Hindustan Zinc. The customer service proposition is built around our wide portfolio of products and transparent disclosure of the environmental impact of our products.
LCA and EPD-Based Transparent Environmental Disclosures
Published an independently verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for our zinc products, assessing their environmental impacts, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) based on Cradle-to-Gate approach.
Our Zinc EPD is compliant with ISO 14025:2006 and EN 15804:2012+A2:2019, and benchmarked to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, enabling consistent comparison for global customers.
EcoZen: Low Carbon Innovation
Launched EcoZen in FY2025, Asia’s first low carbon zinc and expanded its adoption across the manufacturing industries through strategic partnerships in FY2026, addressing value chain emissions.
EcoZen has 75% lower carbon footprint vs the global average and is certified to have <1 tCO₂e per tonne of zinc produced.
Supply Chain Sustainability
- Introduced electric vehicles (EVs) and liquified natural gas (LNG) vehicles in our fleet to reduce our inter-unit transport-related GHG emission
- Driven business partner engagement and capacity building through initiatives such as ‘Business Partner ESG Connects’ and ‘Wednesdays for Transition’
- Launched Supply Chain Sustainability Programme in FY2026 for a comprehensive sustainability evaluation of critical suppliers
100% of our critical suppliers
were assessed
for ESG Risks
Sustainability 2.0: Scaling Ambition
Our sustainability ambition reset marks a decisive shift from the Sustainability Goals 2025 to the 2030 goals. It strengthens accountability, stakeholder integration, and global benchmarking to drive higher-impact outcomes across climate action, water stewardship, inclusive growth, and governance excellence.
Sustainability 2.0 Focus : Strengthening Governance, Accountability, and Global Alignment
Our Sustainability 2.0 vision is anchored in a strengthened governance framework, enhanced accountability, and a clear commitment to global best practices, ensuring sustainability is embedded across every layer of operations.
2030 Sustainability Goals
- Zero Harm | Zero Waste | Zero Discharge approach
- Supported by redesigned ESG KPIs, rigorous monitoring, and transparent disclosures
Social Performance & Human Rights
- Comprehensive social & human rights impact & risk assessments (SHIRA) across all sites, strengthening our commitments to indigenous and tribal people
Operational Excellence & Risk Management
- Targeting 100% conformance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM)
- Prioritising psychological safety, and updating our security risk frameworks at sites in line with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR)
Health, Safety, and Capability Building
- Strong leadership commitment towards a robust safety culture, and implementation of a critical risk management system
- Investing in capacity building for our workforce and partners to embed ICMM-aligned systems and behaviours
Transparency, Responsibility, and Ethical Conduct
- Alignment with Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and clear reporting of taxes and government payments
- Chanderiya Lead Zinc Smelter (CLZS) and Rampura Agucha Mine (RAM) received the Zinc Mark certification, strengthening our market leadership through verified, sustainable operations
Sustainability Goals 2030*
Climate Change
2030 targets
Reduction of Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% and Scope 3 emissions by 25%
FY2026 Status
- Absolute emissions (Scope 1+2): 5.02 million tCO₂e
- Absolute Scope 3 emissions: 1.47 million tCO₂e
UN SDGs
Circular economy and material stewardship
2030 targets
Achieve near to Zero waste to landfill by diverting all smelting process waste away from landfill through reuse, recycling, and recovery
FY2026 Status
- 29.43% of total waste reused/recycled/recovered
- 104% high-volume-low-toxic (HVLT) waste utilisation
UN SDGs
Water stewardship
2030 targets
- Achieve a 50% reduction in freshwater consumption in operations from the 2020 baseline
- Securing 100% municipal treated sewage water for smelting operations
FY2026 Status
- 13% reduction in freshwater consumption in operation from base year FY2020
- 47% municipal treated water used in smelting operation
- 49% water recycling rate
UN SDGs
Biodiversity conservation
2030 targets
- Halt and reverse biodiversity loss, through measurable gains in the health, abundance, diversity, and resilience of species, ecosystems, and natural processes
- Plan and strive to achieve no net loss of biodiversity at all mine sites by closure through applying mitigation hierarchy
FY2026 Status
- 1,13,500 plantations done in the year
- 1,105 hectares restored up to FY2026
UN SDGs
Ensuring zero harm
Year-on-Year targets
- Zero fatality and 100% elimination of high consequence work injuries
FY2026 Status
- 2 fatalities
- 1 high consequence work-related injury (excluding fatalities)
UN SDGs
Diversity and inclusion
2030 targets
- Increase gender diversity to 30%, with a strong focus on decision-making roles
FY2026 Status
- 26.4% gender diversity
- 30% in decision-making roles
UN SDGs
Responsible sourcing
2030 targets
- 100% active supplier evaluation on ESG and risk management
- 25% procurement from local business partners
- Transition to greener fuels for advancing Scope 3 emission reduction
FY2026 Status
- 100% suppliers evaluated
- 22% spend on local procurement
UN SDGs
Social performance
2030 targets
- Management plans basis Social & Human Rights Impact Assessment
- Impact 0.5 million lives through economic enhancement
- Make/develop 30,000 individuals with skilling & entrepreneurial opportunities
FY2026 Status
- 1.64 million lives impacted with economic enhancement
- 13,314 individuals made employable
UN SDGs
*Except Responsible sourcing (baseline FY2025), baseline for all others is FY2020