GMA Sustainability Report: Key highlights in 2022

GMA is committed to developing a sustainable future for business, customers, employees, and the communities and environment we live and work in.

?In 2022, GMA completed its second annual sustainability report with pleasing progress made in the sustainability pillars of People, Community, Environment & Governance.

?In particular, there was good progress made in the Environmental pillar. An ongoing focus to reducing their environmental footprint through innovation and efficiency is seen through the active steps taken across all GMA operations, aiming to limit environmental impacts.

?2022 saw GMA continue to take large strides in the goal to reduce its carbon footprint through use of renewable energy and other emission reduction programs, with a 17.2% decline in CO2 emissions per tonne of garnet produced, already surpassing set five-year targets.

?GMA attributes this reduction to an increased volume with no material increase in emissions in the Americas, due to improved processing efficiency, and an increase in renewable energy generation from Port Gregory wind & solar project from 2021. Approximately 70% of GMA’s Port Gregory plant’s annual energy consumption in 2022 has been generated by the 2.5MW wind farm and 1.1MW solar farm with a 2MW / 0.6MWh battery.

“Besides the economic benefits of reducing energy costs by up to 50%, we will be able to lower our carbon emissions by at least 50,000 tonnes over the life of the 15-year power purchase agreement. Now we’ve reached our five year targets in year two, we need to set some new goals,” GMA CEO Grant Cox said.

In 2022, GMA also continued to rehabilitate mine sites in line with best practice, achieving infill planting of over 5,000 seedlings at the Port Gregory mine site. Currently the team are propagating over 8,000 seedlings for the 2023 rehabilitation program.

GMA continues to develop opportunities to repurpose garnet from customers, both reducing landfill and creating a longer lifespan for every grain of garnet mined. The waste management program has required reimagining and upgrading GMA’s processing facilities which started in 2022, with ongoing development in 2023 and beyond working towards a target of 60,000 tonnes per annum of landfill reduction.

As we look to the future, GMA continues in the endeavour to minimise environmental impacts by striving to engage in environmentally sustainable practices wherever possible.