Sustainability
Ruukki follows the principles of sustainability and ethics in its operations. The Group takes into account its corporate responsibility towards all of its stakeholders. One key driver is to meet every customer's expectations for the Group's products and services, since that will create the long-term economic viability.
Environmental issues
Since the Group operates in industrial refining, production and further processing of natural resources, its subsidiaries are, to significant extent, required to have environmental permits by local laws and other regulations covering e.g. waste management, air and water pollution, noise, chemicals and recycling. Moreover and in particular in the wood processing business, the certificates of the origin of wood, like PEFC and SMS, are commonly used.
In Ruukki's Wood Processing business, the side-products like bark are used for creating renewable energy, and there are ongoing studies aimed at utilising wood for new uses. The Group is also taking part in a consortium analysing and evaluating alternative uses of wood for bioenergy.
In its Minerals business, the Group has focused and invested on recycling of tailings dumps, the outcome of earlier years’ mining operations. By utilising on-ground tailings dumps, underground mining can be fully or to major extent avoided, and hence the production is based on recycled raw materials.
Social issues
In South Africa there is a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act that governs the operations of mining companies, and requires e.g. certain minimum ownership stakes for Historically Disadvantaged South Africans. Even though the Group's Mogale subsidiary does not have mining rights or operations, Ruukki has proactively promoted black ownership which currently is effectively at 14.9% in Mogale. Moreover, in the business operations the minorities are taken into account in the form of employment and further education.
The industrial operations, which more and more involve new technologies, software and equipment, require continuous training of the Group's employees. Attention is also paid to work safety issues.
Economic Issues
The Group’s operations contribute to the wellbeing of many stakeholders and provide direct and indirect financial support for a number of remote communities and municipalities in Northern Finland, Southern Europe and South Africa. Since the Group purchases large amounts of wooden and minerals raw materials, there are third party operators linked to Ruukki's economic performance. The jobs created by the Group have significance for local communities, in particular since the Group's production units typically are located in remote areas.