Towards Sustainable Nickel
Since 2008, The Natural Step (TNS) has been working with the Canada-based Nickel Institute (NI), a global body that represents the nickel industry worldwide, to develop a strategic framework for stewardship and management of nickel as a value-adding resource in society. TNS has undertaken a review of the NI’s strategic plan and provided input into their vision moving forward, to ensure that it is geared towards the achievement of lasting sustainability. >More
A workshop facilitated by TNS in Hong Kong brought together the NI and its senior members, in partnership with the International Stainless Steel Federation (ISSF) in April of this year.
Nickel has many important uses in modern society that can be a real asset for our global journey towards sustainability. Stainless steel is, by far, the biggest single use of nickel. It is highly recyclable and can therefore be kept in technical cycles. There are, however, many challenges that this industry faces, including price substitution pressure in the critical stainless steel market, greenhouse gas emissions intensity, as well as concerns regarding eco-toxicity and human health impacts.
Ultimately, there is no inherent property of nickel or any other mineral resource that makes it 'sustainable' or 'unsustainable'. What is most important is to see nickel as a resource in society that must be managed and used in appropriate applications, in order to maximise the value while we work to eliminate its overall impact on people and the planet.
This work with the Nickel Institute is ongoing and we look forward to future collaboration. This work has been led by The Natural Step in Australia which has an expertise in working with mining-related industries. For more about our work in Australia, visit www.thenaturalstep.org/australia.