Non-ferrous metals are vital for the production of almost all manufactured products. For that reason they should be included in any overall consideration of sustainable development.

The non-ferrous metals industry in the United Kingdom is substantial but very heterogeneous. It includes the five major non-ferrous metals - aluminium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc. Its turnover is about 4.5bn Pounds Sterling and it employs about 36,000 people in some 330 firms.

A few of these are large national and international companies, but the majority are small or very small.

For the purposes of this report the industry includes companies involved with the five major metals at three stages, namely:

The Non Ferrous Alliance (NFA), an umbrella body for the trade associations serving the industry, has taken up the challenge posed by international declarations and UK government initiatives: it is taking a systematic approach to developing a sustainability strategy for the UK non-ferrous metals industry.

 

A reasoned approach to sustainability requires measurements - indicators - that can chart the progress of a company, an industry, or a nation towards sustainability. These indicators need to cover all aspects of sustainability - environmental, economic and social. Furthermore, not all indicators are appropriate for all industries. NFA - with assistance from DTI and in partnership with a unit of the Business School of the University of Warwick - has therefore worked to produce a framework of indicators for the industry that are relevant, practical and not too numerous, in order that the burden of collecting and reporting the required information is not too onerous.

 

A large number of sustainability issues were considered initially, together with potential indicators relating to those issues. After internal discussions and consultation with stakeholders, a framework of 35 indicators covering environmental, economic and social issues was chosen. This report details the indicators chosen and the rationale behind the choices made. A start has been made on collecting data on these indicators.

The establishment of the indicator framework and the start of the collection of data mark asignificant step in the development of a clear and practical sustainable development strategy for the UK non-ferrous metals sector.

 

The UK Sustainable Development Council has proposed a Self Assessment Methodology for the development of a strategy for any industry or sector. This methodology involves seven actions to be carried out. These actions - listed in the final section of this report - are congruent with those already under way within the NFA and which will be reinforced as the project gains momentum from mid-2002 onwards.

 

The NFA looks forward to building on the results of recent and current activities and to the development of a clear, soundly-based Sustainable Development Strategy for the UK nonferrous metals industry.
 
A full copy of this document can be downloaded from