Sustainability at Sherritt

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Supplying a Sustainable Future

Sherritt’s products have important roles to play in the transition to a low-carbon future and circular economy. Sherritt's primary business is focused on the production of nickel and cobalt for sale in the global market. Through our joint ventures, we produce electricity for the Cuban power grid using combined cycle technology, representing a cleaner alternative to electricity produced from the combustion of crude oil. In addition to our commitments to environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and responsible production of power and critical minerals, we are also developing technologies that offer process optimization solutions and carbon reduction opportunities.

A graphic illustrating an outline of Sherritt’s stated commitments as they relate to being environmentally responsible, seeking out non-conflict sourcing and finding innovative decarbonization solutions

Innovation

At Sherritt, innovation is part of our DNA. Our Technologies Division is working hard to find solutions to a number of industry needs, including:

  • Improve the purity of metals;
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
  • Extend the life of mines;
  • Reduce tailings;
  • Increase the recovery of high-value metals;
  • Reduce operating costs; and
  • Reduce capital investments for mining projects.

These are significant challenges that the mining industry has been grappling with for years, and our Technologies Division has already developed a number of innovative proprietary solutions, including:

  • Copper recovery processes from arsenic-bearing ores and concentrates
  • Artificial Intelligence for autoclave supervisory control
  • Bitumen upgrading (Dense Slurry Hydroprocessing)

More than 40 commercial operations on six continents successfully employ Sherritt technology for the recovery of non-ferrous (nickel, copper, cobalt, zinc, uranium and others) and precious metals (gold, silver and platinum group elements). Sherritt has provided technologies and expert services to most of the world’s major mining companies.

Learn more here about the exciting projects our Technologies Division is working on.

Critical Minerals

Sherritt recognizes the critical role businesses have to play in addressing global climate-related challenges. For Sherritt, this means both actively implementing measurable steps towards our net zero targets and bringing to market the materials and technologies needed for others to achieve similar aspirations. We remain sharply focused on reducing our carbon footprint while producing and supplying responsibly sourced green minerals and innovative solutions needed to enable global decarbonization efforts.

Transitioning to a low-carbon future implies a significant increase in demand for metals such as nickel and cobalt. These minerals are used in low-carbon and carbon neutral technologies, such as electric vehicle batteries, and in the production of stainless steel, which is essential to developing infrastructure needed for alternative energy sources.

Responsible Production and Supply

Sherritt is committed to producing and supplying minerals that meet industry best practices for sustainability and human rights, and to advancing that commitment with its joint venture partners, subsidiaries, and their suppliers and customers. Our responsible sourcing strategy encompasses all elements of the mineral supply chain from sourcing to production and the supply of our finished products. Sherritt’s Responsible Production and Supply Policy and Human Rights Policy identify our commitments, and our Mineral Supplier Code of Conduct identifies expectations for suppliers and due diligence processes to be followed to ensure any human rights risk in our mineral supply chain are identified and mitigated.

Sherritt has a robust management system in place to manage environmental and social risks and to meet or exceed performance targets.

Sherritt’s Responsible Production and Supply Due Diligence Approach

Sherritt’s approach follows this path: Establish clear policies, standards and management systems > Identify and assess risks in the supply chain > Develop plans to manage risks > Subsidiary and joint venture supply chain due diligence > Independent audit of due diligence systems > Public disclosure

Sherritt is committed to meeting the requirements of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. Additionally, we are actively engaged with the standards of the Mining Association of Canada, the Responsible Minerals Initiative, the London Metal Exchange, the Nickel Institute and the Cobalt Institute to ensure alignment with recognized responsible sourcing initiatives, standards and frameworks. Sherritt advocates for the adoption of all of these guidelines by its partners, subsidiaries and joint venture organizations.