Circular economy & raw and other materials

The main axis of Metlens’ Environmental Policy is the application of Best Available Techniques in the production process regarding the control, continuous reduction and proper management of solid and liquid waste with recovery, reuse and recycling techniques, where feasible.

MYTILINEOS fully complies and operates in accordance with the licensing acts of the Region of Central Greece, the Regional Unit of Boeotia and the Environmental Terms Approval Decision regarding the management of specific types of waste, which is deposited in a special Bauxite Residues Disposal Site, which is calculated in the context of measuring the Company’s environmental footprint.

Also, the Company seeks the continuous improvement of certified Environmental Management systems ISO14001 and the implementation of ISO 14040 and 14044 guidelines as necessary for the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study as a factor that can effectively contribute to enhancing its competitiveness. Also, within 2023, the “Aluminium of Greece” plant proceeded with the preparation for the issuance Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for hydrated and anhydrous alumina, as well as aluminium.

The Metallurgy Sector of MYTILINEOS is responsible for 78% of the Company’s total waste, but the Company seeks the proper management of all solid and liquid waste.

• In each production unit, a wastewater collection network has been designed and operates, for processing and recycling, in accordance with the Company’s Environmental Policy, while an effort is made to separate waste at source.
• Regarding the management of wastewater discharges resulting from MYTILINEOS’ activity, this is fully controlled and is done through parameters defined by the environmental regulations and terms, according to which the environmental licenses of its industrial units (AEPO) have been obtained.
• Regarding the management of solid waste, as well as waste falling under alternative management systems, the company has a sorting system at source to achieve their reuse and recycling by third parties.

Impacts

• Production of secondary aluminium helps to minimize the environmental impact compared to primary aluminium production, while providing an alternative raw material for aluminium production.
• Enhancement of innovation in the utilization of bauxite residues resulting from the production of primary aluminium as a raw material for other activities, as well as for the extraction of rare earth elements, through the Company's participation in research projects.
• Responsible management of all hazardous and non-hazardous waste from all production activities, with emphasis on methods of rational collection, treatment, as well as reuse and recycling where feasible.

Major risks

A key environmental risk for the Company is the gradual reduction of available bauxite residue disposal sites, which may have social and economic negative effects on the Company.

Regarding the Company’s secondary aluminium business, a non-functional supply chain of aluminium for recycling (scrap aluminium), including the search, collection, transport and disposal stages, is a risk, as they play a key role and are a prerequisite for achieving the Corporate target of increasing secondary aluminium production and contributing to the targets for enhancing the circularity of the materials set in the as part of the European Green Deal.

• 10% decrease of total solid waste which was mainly due to the increase in the production of Excavation, Construction and Demolition Waste.
• 30,1% decrease of total solid waste which reused, recycled and recovered in various ways either by the Company itself or through third parties.
• 3,4% of solid waste sent to landfill.