Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
We produce materials essential for human progress
We are the largest mining and metals company operating in Canada today
We work hard to leave a lasting, positive legacy everywhere we work
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Working in a way that delivers real, lasting benefits for our operations as well as the wider communities in which we work is essential to our sustainability approach. We strive to leave a lasting, positive legacy everywhere we operate.
We partner with local communities and continually work to develop more responsible ways to explore, mine, and process the minerals and metals essential to human progress, including the materials needed to build a low-carbon economy.
Our customers are paying increasing attention to the sustainability of the materials they use. The clean hydropower we use to produce aluminium in Canada makes our greenhouse gas footprint significantly lower than the global industry average.
We continue to invest in sustainable power. For example, building a tunnel in British Columbia that will enhance the long-term security of the renewable hydro power supply for the BC Works aluminium smelter in Kitimat.
At our Diavik diamond mine, the first large-scale wind farm in Canada's Northwest Territories is helping to offset the use of diesel power.
Our Elysis partnership with Alcoa, supported by Apple and the governments of Canada and Quebec, is further developing the world’s first aluminium smelting process that produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions. This revolutionary process produces an oxygen by-product instead of carbon emissions. In December 2019, the first ever commercial batch of aluminium made using this process was sold to Apple for use in their products.
We care about our environmental footprint and firmly believe our work to develop Canada’s rich resources can and must coexist with a healthy, thriving environment. That’s why we build partnerships with our communities, partners and environmental leaders, investing and innovating to make our operations among the cleanest, safest and most energy efficient in the world.
In 2019, we partnered with the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) to establish the NSERC/Rio Tinto Senior Industrial Research Chair in Climate Change and Water Security, advancing research programmes in the region and providing first-hand learning opportunities for students. As pioneers in the creation of flood monitoring technology at our hydroelectric facilities in Quebec, we can precisely anticipate which areas of the community will be impacted by potential floods events, and work with local residents to keep them informed and safe.
We continue to take steps to manage risks and build resilience to climate change, as well as to position ourselves for new opportunities. That’s good news for our employees, their families, and the communities in which we operate, as we work together to take care of the environment.
If we’re not sustainable, one day there won’t be anything left for the next generation.”
Doing right by the planet has always been a big part of Stéphane’s life. Growing up, he was taught to never let anything go to waste. Recycling and composting became second nature to him, and got him thinking, “if waste isn’t acceptable at home, why is it acceptable at work?”
Now, Stéphane brings his passion for sustainability to his role as a leader at our operations in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, QC, Canada. Alongside his team, he’s focused on finding ways to reduce industrial waste production or convert them into new uses, leading to breakthroughs like Alextra—a new product made from potlining waste that can be used to make cement with our partners Lafarge Canada and Geocycle Canada—and anhydrite valorisation, creating a fertiliser for local blueberry production.
Thanks to Stéphane and his team, the adage “waste not, want not” is coming to life. Just one way we’re creating some of the most responsible aluminium in the world, keeping sustainability at the heart of all we do.
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With the exception of the use of cookies, Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of our Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
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