Rusal adopts its first corporate biodiversity conservation policy

In an effort to conserve biodiversity, RUSAL, one of the world's eminent aluminium producers, approved its first corporate policy.

Rusal biodiversity conservation policy emphasizes the importance of conserving biological species, especially those under protection and their habitats. The new policy introduces a risk-based approach, where risk assessment is mandatory to preserve biodiversity when planning and implementing operational activities.

As part of the policy, the Company will assess how well its efforts affect ecosystem services, i.e. the benefits humanity derives from a healthy environment and functioning ecosystems. Responsible management of biodiversity is at the heart of the policy. Rusal's forestry projects, for example, have already positively impacted environmental, social and economic outcomes. These projects directly contribute to the growth of carbon dioxide absorption, the conservation of wildlife habitats, and the development of tourism; they offer the possibility to implement scientific research and educational projects, etc.

In addition to developing partnerships and collaborations with scientific, environmental, educational, government, and non-government organizations, Rusal plans to reach out to the local community. Throughout the region where the Company's production sites are located, eco-monitoring and research will take place, involving experts and the community, to assess the effectiveness of biodiversity preservation initiatives.

In particular, as part of the ecological modernization of the largest Siberian aluminium smelters in Krasnoyarsk, Bratsk, Shelekhov and Novokuznetsk, Rusal assessed the impact of all project stages on the local flora and fauna, an unprecedented effort for the Russian aluminium industry. An independent expert examination has confirmed that impact mitigation is ensured by reducing emissions of pollutants, flora and fauna. Due to on-site landscaping programmes being part of the ecological modernization programme, the total area of urban greening on the industrial sites in scope will increase from 10 to 37%.

Irina Bakhtina, the Chief Sustainability Officer of Rusal said, “According to the UN, over 1.75 million species of plants and animals are currently catalogued and described, while, according to certain scientists, the actual number of species exceeds 13 million. Even though the urgent need to preserve endangered species for future generations is obvious and widely recognized, the number of wild flora and fauna species continues to decline at an alarming pace.”

“For us, in Rusal, it is evident that economic factors have a direct influence on the planet’s biodiversity. We believe our biodiversity preservation projects should become more relevant for all Rusal stakeholders: residents of the territories where the Company operates, experts and scientists, our customers, employees, regulators and investors. This is what our biodiversity policy aims at: we have big plans, and we intend to implement them fully. This will help ensure sustainable living in the territories of our responsibility.”