|
Vale Inco's commitment to product stewardship reflects the ongoing and innovative development of new uses for nickel by society. We have demonstrated a standard of care by doing our best to ensure the health and safety of people and the environment where our products are made, shipped, used, re-used, recycled and disposed. Vale Inco's product stewardship model is understood as the management of the quality and safety, health and environmental aspects of our products from our shipping gate onward.
Vale Inco's Product Stewardship programs are guided by our understanding of the properties found in nickel, including the following:
- Nickel is a naturally occurring metal. Our role as a nickel producer is to take that nickel from its natural environment and concentrate it into practical products for our customers and society.
- Nickel is recyclable and can be used and re-used without degradation or loss of its intrinsic properties - an important consideration for sustainable development. Vale Inco is an active participant in the recycling of nickel.
- There are significant environmental and societal benefits from products and processes using nickel.
- Vale Inco is committed to producing and distributing quality products in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
Vale Inco has embraced sustainable development and product stewardship as an integral part of our business and corporate culture. We are spending millions of dollars supporting research on safe production and use of nickel both in the workplace and in applications used by society. We ensure that we are packaging and shipping our products properly and have the right answers to our customers' questions on the content of Material Safety Data Sheets, and to the application of regulations around the world.
Click here for our Material Safety Data Sheets.
Click here for Vale Inco Nickel & Compliance to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive
Stewardship in Practice
Vale Inco has consistently moved forward in its responsibility and care for safely distributing our products. In 1997, our product stewardship processes and procedures became more formalized.
More and more customers are pursuing the path of environmental sustainability and are examining the practices and policies of their suppliers. They want to do business with companies that are also interested in protecting the environment. Vale Inco has responded and has become a leader in product stewardship in the metals business. We are firmly committed to minimizing potentially adverse impacts of the company's operations and products on employees, customers, communities and the environment.
Public Education and Research
A key function of product stewardship is to ensure that we have the means to inform our customers and the public about recycling and the safe use of nickel products.
At the same time, we work in cooperation with other nickel producers through The Nickel Institute organizations such to support research and promote public education in a variety of areas, including nickel and its uses, human health and the environment, and recycling and sustainable development.
Packaging
Product stewardship begins with ensuring that our products are shipped as safely and efficiently as possible. That means packaging is a priority. Over the past five years, the company has developed packaging standards that promote safety such as utilizing double linings to prevent spills and ensuring that our products are appropriately labelled.
In the interests of the environment, we additionally utilize pallets made from treated wood to eliminate the international spread of pests. We have also developed reusable packaging, which is more environmentally friendly and satisfies demands from customers that products be free of wasteful packaging.
© Vale 2010
Last Updated: Thursday, May 27, 2010
|