Sustainable Development as a guiding principle has become a societal, regulatory and market trend. The environmental and social attributes of materials and products are increasingly affecting design and purchasing decisions in key sectors such as building and construction and automotive manufacturing. There is a market shift toward high performance and environmentally responsible products.

In order to ensure market access and acceptance by decision-makers, and to develop innovative applications and grow markets, material suppliers need to adopt a systems approach: this means understanding the performance attributes of their materials and products throughout entire product chains; from the raw material to the use of the finished product and further to the end-of-life management.

Zinc in sustainable building and construction is an example. Sustainable development implies a careful balance of social, economic and environmental aspects as well as between present and future needs.

Today’s growth brings economic prosperity and welfare – but also a continuously growing demand for materials. Thus, a trade-off arises between societal benefits and the depletion of natural resources.

In order to make this growth sustainable, the materials used need to be either renewable or recyclable. Zinc building products like roofs, gutters and railings can last for generations, and after their useful life they can be recovered and re-used over and over again. Therefore, renewability and recyclability are complementary – and not conflicting – contributions to a sustainable future.

Courtesy of Industrieverband Feuerverzinken, Germany

Zinc's Sustainable Attributes

		Zinc is Natural Zinc, like all metals, is a natural component of the earth’s crust and an integral part of our environment. Zinc is present in rock and soil, air, water and the biosphere - plants, animals and humans.
		Zinc is Essential for the Environment All life on earth has evolved in the presence of zinc, which is used by nature for many biological processes. All living organisms - including man, animals, fish, plants and micro-organisms - need zinc for growth and development. Zinc intake is regulated by each organism’s natural processes.
		Zinc is Recyclable Zinc can be recycled infinitely without loss of properties and quality. While the recycling rate of zinc depends mainly on the collection rate of zinc-containing products at their end of life, at present over 90% of these collected products are recycled.
		Zinc is Durable One of zinc’s most remarkable characteristics is its ability to protect steel against corrosion. Corrosion is a drain on the economy, estimated to cost at least 4% of GDP in industrialized countries. By protecting steel against corrosion and prolonging its useful life, zinc helps save the energy that would otherwise be needed to frequently replace corroded steel structures and manufactured goods. It has been estimated, for example, that the use of zinc coated steel in Sweden saves the country the energy equivalent of one nuclear power plant each year. Life-cycle costing of public infrastructure shows how significant the savings are: longer service life, lower maintenance costs, longer payback on investment.
		Zinc is Sustainable Zinc contributes to a better quality of life in a multitude of ways. A natural element, it has been used extensively by mankind since the 13th century. Today, zinc is one of society’s most important materials, with over 10 million tonnes of primary and recycled zinc used each year. Zinc is mixed with copper to form brass. Zinc sheet is used in architectural applications and zinc oxide is used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and rubber. Zinc is needed in fertilizers that boost crop yields and so help feed the world’s growing population.
		Zinc Protects Human Health Zinc is an essential nutrient for human health. Ensuring adequate levels of zinc intake should be a key component in efforts to reduce child illness, enhance physical growth and decrease mortality in developing countries. In spite of the proven benefits of adequate zinc nutrition, zinc deficiency is the fifth leading risk factor for disease in developing countries with high mortality rates. Zinc supplementation is proving to be an effective and cheap intervention that can greatly improve the health status of groups at risk.
		Zinc Contributes to Food Security The high prevalence of zinc deficient soils in major agricultural zones severely limits agricultural productivity. Zinc fertilizers can make a significant contribution towards goals of higher crop yields in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.