Our commitment to protect biodiversity
Biodiversity impacts in our own operations
Metso largely buys manufactured goods from suppliers, and Metso’s equipment manufacturing sites, assembly and service workshops are typically located in industrial parks zoned for industrial use. These areas have limited biodiversity sensitivity and compliance with environmental permits mitigate potential impacts on biodiversity and endangered species.
In 2024, we carried out an initial biodiversity assessment to gain a better understanding of the biodiversity impacts across the value chain. Biodiversity loss affects our value chain differently based on geographic locations, but, in general, the findings of the assessment were in line with our current sustainability approach – reducing greenhouse gas emissions, efficient water use and a sustainable Metso Plus product and services offering for customers are all useful ways to address biodiversity challenges.
For a more detailed site-by-site analysis, in 2024, we also assessed the potential biodiversity impacts of our sites through the Natura 2000 network, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and UNESCO natural heritage sites lists. Currently we have 15 manufacturing or office sites located 1-5 kilometers from biodiversity-sensitive areas. We understand that our activities may negatively affect these areas, and we are currently evaluating our activities related to issues where conclusions or necessary mitigation measures have not been implemented or are ongoing.
Supporting biodiversity in customer operations
The operations of our customers in the aggregates and mining industries typically have significant land footprints, often in environmentally sensitive areas, where land disturbance and pollution can impact habitats and species. Biodiversity management is therefore a high-priority issue for our mining and aggregates customers. Mining can have an impact on biodiversity across several dimensions and throughout the life of the mine, from exploration to closure via deforestation, pollution to air, water and soil, dust and noise, as well as water scarcity.
By providing solutions, products and services to our customers, we have the potential to minimize risks on biodiversity. Our technological focus is on several areas related to customer biodiversity impacts, e.g. closed water loops, raw material efficiency, tailings management, non-toxic processing options and emissions management systems as well as water conservation and noise and dust reduction. These technologies can have a positive impact on conserving natural habitats, reducing land-use impacts, preventing pollution, and reducing groundwater consumption. They also contribute to minimizing the number of raw materials needed as inputs in our customers’ operations.
We are currently identifying, in talks together with our customers, which products and services could help reduce the risk of biodiversity loss in our customers’ operations.