Planet

We ensure our business activities are managed responsibly to maintain and improve environmental quality. We are striving to achieve leading industry practice.

Our commitment to the environment

At Rio Tinto Aluminium, our objective is to achieve a position of 'zero waste' and be recognised as an industry leader in land, water and waste management.

All Rio Tinto Aluminium operations, research facilities and offices are accredited to ISO 14001, an accepted international standard that sets out the requirements for an effective environmental management system. Operations proactively identify opportunities to mitigate the effects of activities. Rio Tinto Aluminium operations have the clear objective to continuously improve year-on-year environmental performance. Operations are regularly audited by independent accreditors to identify areas for potential development.

Click here to read Rio Tinto Aluminium's Health, Safety, Environment and Communities policy

Our commitment to improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Our strategy focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency; contributing towards public policy development; and investing in zero and low emission technology research, development and deployment. Working with partners is an integral part of our approach.

By the end of 2006, climate change teams were in place at all operations with the exception of Rio Tinto Aluminium Yarwun. These teams drive operational improvements onsite, and work to increase knowledge and understanding of climate change and energy efficiency amongst employees.

We completed energy management audits at Rio Tinto Aluminium Weipa, Rio Tinto Aluminium Bell and New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS) during 2006 to identify opportunities to improve the way we use energy. An audit for Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL) was completed in 2002. The outcomes from these reports will form the basis of future improvement plans.

Throughout the year, we also undertook a number of projects as part of our business improvement programme to save energy usage onsite. For example, in 2006 Rio Tinto Aluminium Weipa identified opportunities to reduce energy consumption by five per cent. This project is expected to reduce the electrical output of the power station in 2007 and save 2,520 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents.