Sustainability | Valcambi

Health and Safety, Environment, Social and Risk Management

When it comes to safety issues Valcambi does all we can to be an industry innovator and leader, a world class operator, a corporate citizen, and a good employer.
We are working to improve safety and risk management, earn trust, and grow value. We are enhancing our systems, processes, and standards. We must earn everyone’s trust by being responsible and fair, by closely monitoring our performance, and by reporting in a transparent way. We are reorganising to become a simpler business, focusing on what we do best.

Our values, the core part of “how” we do business, our Code of Conduct, our sustainability strategy, and our development targets have been carefully aligned so that our employees can bring them to life every day.

Valcambi is committed to this strategy with the objective of creating a positive work environment, generating jobs, investment, infrastructure, and in maximising our socio-economic contribution.

A strong, safe Valcambi that operates in a responsible and sustainable manner will be a valuable contributor to growth and progress in the precious metals refining industry while also adding to the reputation and well-being of our country and our local community.

For our stakeholders’ benefit we concentrate on the following key elements of sustainability:

Protecting the planet is everyone's responsibility: future generations depend on our environmental legacy.

Simone Knobloch - COO

Health and Safety

Health and Safety
Environment
Social
Risk Management

Health and Safety

We work to reduce exposure to occupational risks, including allergic diseases, fatigue or stress, and other health issues. Our desire is to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all our employees and to prevent harm to the health of employees, contractors, visitors, and members of the local communities who may live or work near our operating site.

Valcambi focuses on safety performance as a core value and strives for superior performance in this, as well as in every area.

Safety is about efficiencies, rates of return on investment, and ensuring sustainability to achieve exceptional commercial outcomes. Most important, safety is about everyone taking personal responsibility.

We strive to identify risks before accidents occur and to integrate our Safety Management System into the way we do business.

We apply rigorous standards to all manufacturing processes that have any risk of serious accident.

Employees

We expect all our personnel to take personal responsibility for the safety and well-being of everyone around them. We do this by continuously reinforcing the importance of safe practices. Our leadership fosters a culture where everyone is focused on safety, on managing and reducing risk, and on safe, reliable, and compliant operations.

Customers and suppliers

We demonstrate to our customers how a sustainability strategy helps Valcambi provide innovative products and services.

We like to work in partnership with customers to develop innovative solutions and mitigate market and regulatory risks.

We aim to encourage our suppliers and customers to adapt to the values of sustainability which we uphold.

Communities

We engage with key stakeholders in our community. Where possible we minimise the local impact of new development through consultations with local authorities and communities.

As an employer, we have an important contribution to make to the economic development of our local community.

We add to the local economy through collaboration and investments – we allocate an annual budget to community investment activities and charities.

Environment

Responsible operations

Operating our processes with care and respect for the environment is a core value and target for Valcambi. We monitor and evaluate the environmental aspects of all our plant activities, products, and services so as to reduce environmental impact.

We are constantly challenged to find and source materials with the highest sustainability performances, while offering efficiency and maximising recyclability.

Energy, chemicals, and water

Energy: A diverse mix of fuels and technologies helps to meet the global energy challenge. For the time being gas will continue to play a significant part in meeting our energy demand in the plant.

Chemicals: All the chemicals we use are managed responsibly and we are constantly challenged to find chemicals with the least environmental footprint. Valcambi guarantees careful management of chemicals throughout the entire life cycle, and in this way minimises any adverse impact on human health and on the health of the environment. The chemicals we use at our site are all registered immediately and reported to the government which controls usage, consumption, and disposal of chemicals.

Water: Valcambi uses fresh water for steam generation and cooling. All waste water generated in the plant is treated and cleaned in our Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) before it is returned to the Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). We are working with specialist companies to further reduce our water consumption and to apply new technologies to waste water treatment.

Water based cooling systems is a closed loop: water is recycled and reused, and the system is designed to work in a “free-cooling” energy saving mode for the vast majority of the time.

Airborne emissions

We monitor air emissions and ambient air quality at our operating site. All potential sources of air pollution are equipped with the most up-to-date scrubbing systems. We fully comply with applicable legislation and aim to minimise any potential air emissions.

Noise pollution

All machinery, both outside and inside the plant, is strictly controlled for noise. Where required, silencers are installed and in areas where it is not possible to reach an ideal noise level, ear protectors must be used.

Waste

Across our operations we have introduced measures to either entirely avoid or reduce the amount of waste that is created and to increase the amount of recycling. It is in our interest as a business to minimise the waste we generate. The introduction of ISO 14001 is just one of the measures we have adopted to improve our performance in this area.

Obligations under REACH regulation

The REACH regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals entered into force on 1st June 2007. One of the main aims of REACH is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, involving the whole supply chain, i.e. producers, manufacturers, importers, users, and downstream users. REACH makes industry responsible for assessing and managing these risks and providing appropriate safety information to the users of chemicals.

To fulfill its regulatory obligations by the statutory deadlines, Valcambi is acting to comply with the requirements of the REACH regulation for all the substances we market in the EU. Our sustainability objectives are accordingly aligned with the principles set out in the REACH regulation.

Social

Our aim is to be recognised for how we do business, support our employees, and our local community.

HR and recruitment

We work to attract, motivate, develop, and retain the best people in the market. Our selection processes are rigid but fair. We aim to attract skilled, talented, and energetic professionals. A major part of our future success will be derived from the energy of our employees. For this reason, we aim to create an inclusive working environment where everyone is treated fairly, respectfully, and with dignity. Everyone has the opportunity to make a difference and to give of their best. We reward staff not only for what they deliver but also how their behaviour reflects Valcambi’s values.

Employee development

We provide career development opportunities for all our employees, including external and on-the-job training plus opportunities, such as language courses and in-house training.

We employ graduate trainees in all areas of our business for up to one year, offering them a chance to discover their strengths and interests.

We offer young people who are still attending school the opportunity to do one or two weeks of summer work in the administrative departments or to do a two-day job orientation.

Workforce structure and management

Valcambi treats all employees equally. We want to attract and choose the best people. We aim to employ those with technical skills to form a solid base for the structural changes we expect to come in the precious metals refining sector over the next few years.

We prefer permanent employment wherever possible, but fluctuations in demand for our services require us to sometimes employ temporary employees.

Women make up 15% of our global workforce, mainly employed in the administrative departments, and especially in key positions (both top and middle management).

Our employees work under collective wage agreements. Before the recent introduction (2013) of the minimum wage, our salaries were already higher.

Our employees can receive a variable bonus. Part of this bonus is based on the company’s performance, while the other part is determined by the individual’s job performance and the meeting of set targets.

Customer care

Transparency, excellent services, and high-quality products are the foundations for a long-lasting business relationship and a loyal customer-base. We can assure our clients that the material we source derives from ethical sources, and from suppliers who adhere to local and international environmental standards, who are fully compliant with international labour standards and employment legislation.

Relationships with suppliers

It is our aim to source goods and services from local or national suppliers wherever possible. We request three quotations for any procurement purchase over US$15,000, with at least one from a local or national supplier.

Interaction with the local community

Valcambi’s socio-economic contribution to the local economy is very important. Apart from the direct economic impact from employment, our activities also indirectly support a number of local businesses. By supporting and being supported by the local community we are an integral part of the local economy. Regular combined exercises, held at Valcambi, increase the good connections we have enjoyed for many years with the local Fire Brigade and Police.

Valcambi contributes directly to several local projects and institutions through sponsorship.

Risk Management

Risk Management and the mitigation of risk are a central part of Valcambi’s business strategy. The identification and assessment of risks associated with social, ethical, and environmental matters are managed together with all other business risks, and reviewed at regular meetings of the Board of Directors.

RSC Committee

Valcambi has established a Responsible Sourcing Committee (RSC) composed of the CEO, Compliance Officer, Head of Sales and AMS Manager. The RSC is responsible for the ongoing assessment, monitoring and approval of the risk level determined for each counterparty.

Compliance and safeguard reputation

A strong compliance policy is necessary to take the appropriate measures to meet all policies in regard to Conflict Gold, including the LBMA’s Responsible Gold Guidance and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT).

Our corporate, legal, and compliance policies combined with our strictly applied and controlled internal and external rules and the careful selection of our clients, protect us and our clients from reputational damage.

Internal control

The Executive Board and the management of Valcambi have taken all necessary measures to assure the efficiency of the Internal Control System according to the Swiss legal regulations, in particular with reference to Article 728a Code of Obligations. Valcambi is audited annually by KPMG.

Personnel Commission

The Personnel Commission consists of five elected workforce members. They represent the interests of both unionised and non-unionised personnel. Periodic meetings are held with the CEO and a Human Resources representative to discuss topic’s chosen by Commission members.