Impact and dependencies assessment
Hindalco Industries has demonstrated good efforts by providing evidence of conducting biodiversity screening activity at some of its sites which helps them in understanding the site biodiversity sensitivity at their operational locations. However, no evidence that the company assesses its biodiversity impact on its entire business model could be found. The company does not disclose any assessment of its impacts on nature, including biodiversity, in its supply chain. The company does not disclose any assessment of its dependencies on nature within its own operations. The company does not disclose any assessment of dependencies on nature of its upstream business relationships.
Key areas and species
The company states that two of its sites: Aditya Aluminium and Hirakud Complex are close to the protected areas or high biodiversity value. It further reports that it has identified 9 sites as high priority sites and 23 sites having medium exposure to proximity of critical biodiversity. However, location of all the sites isn’t given. The company does not disclose the locations of its suppliers that are in or adjacent to areas important for biodiversity. The company discloses information on species found at Kathautia Coal Mines, Muri, and Aditya Aluminium. However, no evidence that it discloses species population existing in or adjacent to all its locations could be found. The company does not disclose species populations existing in or adjacent to the locations of its suppliers. The company has reported that biodiversity management plans shall be developed and implemented for sites in the red category. It further reports that it prepares Biodiversity Management Plans for high priority sites in collaboration with IUCN. However, no evidence that the company discloses the status of species found in and adjacent to its own locations according to national and international conservation lists could be found.
Ecosystem conversion and restoration
The company does not disclose a commitment to ensure zero conversion. The company does not disclose activities to achieve conversion-free supply chains. The company does not disclose time-bound targets to achieve conversion-free supply chains. The company does not disclose a commitment to minimise ecosystem conversion. The company does not disclose activities to minimise ecosystem conversion. The company does not disclose a commitment to restore ecosystems. The company discloses details and outcomes of ecosystem restoration projects in areas affected by its own operations or by its suppliers.
Resource exploitation and circularity
The company does not report quantitatively on its group-wide circularity performance. The company discloses activities to improve soil health or agrobiodiversity in its production or sourcing practices. The company does not disclose a target to improve soil health in its production or sourcing practices.
Water
The company has reported a quantitative reduction in water withdrawal (million m3) from 88.45 in FY 20 to 87.01 in FY 21.The company has set a target of 20% reduction in specific freshwater consumption by FY 2024-25 from a FY 2018-19 baseline but does not specify targets across its operations. The company does not report how much water is withdrawn for its own operations in water-stressed areas. The company does not engage with suppliers to reduce water withdrawal. The company reports a decrease in water pollution. The company discloses certain steps it has taken to manage water discharge quality. However, they are not sufficient to translate into evidence that the company discloses its processes for managing and monitoring discharge water quality. The company has reported that they regularly monitor waste quality to ensure that water quality parameters such as pH, Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, colour, heavy metals, and Total Soluble Solids are kept within permissible limits. They further report that the effluent discharges from their Aluminium and Copper operations stood at 1,39,801 m3 and 1,82,589 m3 respectively during FY 2020-21. However, the company does not report provide a year-on-year reporting on any of the water quality parameters. The company does not disclose a commitment to respect the right to water. The company does not disclose its processes for implementing preventive and corrective action plans for identified specific risks to the right to water and sanitation in its own operations.
Solid and air pollution
The company has reported an increase in the production of hazardous waste (million MT) in its copper business from 0.12 in FY 20 to 0.20 in FY 21. The company is reducing plastic use and waste in its own operations. The company does not report on the amount of plastic waste generated and proportions directed from or to disposal. The company reports regularly on air quality parameters of emissions of harmful air pollutants. The company does not report time-bound targets to reduce air pollutants across the most material parts of its value chain.
GHG emissions
The company only discloses its scope 1 and 2 emissions for its aluminium and copper businesses. However, group level data could not be found. The company has committed to becoming net zero by 2050. However, no evidence of whether this commitment includes scope 1 and 2 emissions in its purview could be found. The company does not report progress against its scope 1 and 2 emissions target. No evidence that the company’s scope 1 and 2 emissions target is aligned with a 1.5-degree trajectory was found. No evidence that the company reduces its scope 3 emissions was found. The company does not disclose a time-bound target to reduce its scope 3 emissions. The company does not report progress against its scope 3 emissions target. No evidence that the company’s scope 3 emissions target is aligned with a 1.5-degree trajectory was found.
Invasive species
No evidence was found that the company identifies the activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive species in its own operations. No evidence was found that the company identifies the activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive species in its value chain.