Zircon Industry Association, 24 Old Bond Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4AP, UK
 

Sustainability

As our world faces increasing challenges from industrialisation, urbanisation and a rising global population, sustainable development has become the mantra of our times. Consumers are increasingly conscious of their environmental footprint when making decisions about everything from the cars they drive to the ceramic tiles that adorn their homes, the energy they use and the journeys they make. Architects and building specifiers continually strive to create structures using sustainable materials to minimise a building’s environmental footprint, while still affording stunning designs and high standards of living. Car and aircraft manufacturers use the latest technology to reduce the environmental impact of their vehicles, while still offering unrivalled performance. Zircon continues to play a crucial role in supporting a sustainable world.

Zircon supports a sustainable world

Sustainability is a mantra for our times. Find out how zircon and zirconia play crucial roles in supporting a sustainable world by helping to lower carbon emissions, reduce air pollution, support low carbon energy generation and offering sustainable living solutions.

Zircon’s sustainability credentials

Zircon and zirconia play crucial roles in supporting the quest for a sustainable world.

  • Zircon increases the solar reflectance of buildings when used in roof and façade tiles, combating the urban heat-island effect and lowering the internal cooling demand of buildings.
  • A recent, peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessment demonstrated that zircon has an overall low environmental footprint, and a significantly lower environmental impact than an alternative material when used in ceramic tile production.
  • Zirconia is one of the vital ingredients that allows jet engine turbine blades to run at higher temperatures, thereby operating more cleanly and efficiently.
  • Zirconium-based alloys are essential in the nuclear power industry, helping to generate low-carbon electricity.

It is clear that as the desire for sustainable living intensifies, zircon’s role in our modern world will continue to grow.

Sustainability

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Zircon Industry Reports

ZIA publishes annual ESG and Sustainability Performance Benchmarking reports. ZIA members from various locations and membership categories participate in the studies. In the first report, data were collected for 2018, 2019 and 2020 against 18 key performance indicators. For the second, were collected for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 against 20 key performance indicators.

These annual reports provide an independent and credible source of industry ESG data to use in response to queries from downstream customers, the investment community and other stakeholders. The reports enable ZIA and participating members to establish an ESG data collection system, assess ESG KPIs, benchmark performance against peers and support communication to different stakeholders. The full reports are available to those ZIA members that participated.

Download the 2021 Zircon Industry ESG Report summary

Download the 2022 Zircon Industry ESG Report summary

Download the 2023 Zircon Industry ESG Report summary

Sustainability

Credit: Photo - Smithbrook Building Products Ltd

Responsibility

ZIA and its members take our responsibilities seriously, not only in the way that we conduct our activities, strictly in accordance with our Code of Conduct but in the wider sense of good corporate citizenship.