PDF DOCUMENTUnimin Sustainability

OUR
REPORT OUR
COMPANY OUR
APPROACH OUR
COMMUNITIES OUR
FOOTPRINT OUR
TEAM
Unimin Corporation Sustainability Report
PDF DOCUMENT
Unimin Sustainability
Welcome to our second sustainability report, "Value Beyond Minerals."
Sustainable development continues to be a guiding principle at Unimin,
LEARN MORE ABOUT
and one that we have integrated into our business practices and daily
Unimin Corporation
operations. We are always mindful of our environmental, social and
economic impacts, and regularly engage our internal and external
stakeholders to ensure we are operating responsibly and sustainably in
the communities in which we operate.
FOLLOW US
OUR
REPORT OUR
COMPANY OUR
APPROACH OUR
COMMUNITIES OUR
FOOTPRINT OUR
TEAM
Managing resources responsibly, efficiently utilizing water and energy
assets, and minimizing emissions and waters have always been an
integral part of our business strategy.
Our Report
Dear Valued Stakeholders,
Report Parameters
I'm proud to share with you our Company's accomplishments since publishing our
Organizational Profile
first report, "Value Beyond Minerals." Unimin remains committed to transparency and
Stakeholder Engagement and Materiality
sustainability, and serving as good neighbors to our operating communities. As we
raise the bar on our sustainability performance, Unimin gains efficiencies, competitive
advantages and the ongoing trust of our stakeholders.
Enduring community partnerships continue to play an integral role in shaping our
business decisions. Unimin's successful greenfield development project in Tunnel
City, Wisconsin reflects the emphasis we place on community outreach and
stakeholder engagement. Critical milestones that included accelerated prospecting,
planning and permitting programs were achieved in large part to the constructive
dialogue that exists between our Company, our employees and our stakeholders.
A signature strength of Unimin is our safety culture. Health, safety and personal
sustainability are top priorities at Unimin and we are proud to be recognized with
numerous national and regional awards citing our safe operating practices and
preventative programs. We are acutely aware of the importance of safety vigilance
and the need for frequent and repetitive safety training invested at all levels of our
organization.
Continuous improvement and innovation will continue to define Unimin as we strive
for operational excellence. As a privately held company Unimin is afforded a longer
term approach to business and our relationship with our many stakeholders. With this
important advantage, and the financial flexibility to continuously reinvest in plants,
processes and people, our objective is to be a valuable and sustainable partner by
our customers, shareholders, employees and communities.
Finally, I am excited to announce the establishment of our 2015 sustainability goals;
developed through a high­level assessment of Unimin's most material issues. The
assessment involved evaluating our most significant impacts and setting targets
related to our local communities, employees, safety and health, water, energy,
emissions, effluents and waste, economic impact, and innovation. We look forward to
reporting our progress in these key areas in the coming years.
Looking ahead, Unimin will continue delivering "Value Beyond Minerals" by investing
in our people, our communities, and in the growth and innovation of our diverse
businesses. By operating sustainably every day, we will effectively and efficiently
meet the needs of our customers while sustaining our future for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Luke Anderson
OUR
REPORT OUR
COMPANY OUR
APPROACH OUR
COMMUNITIES OUR
FOOTPRINT OUR
TEAM
OUR REPORT
Report Parameters
This is Unimin's second sustainability report providing data and stories from 2011
through 2013. Report content represents all wholly owned mining operations and
related facilities managed by Unimin Corporation including Unimin Specialty
Our Report
Report Parameters
Minerals Inc. and Southern Lime in the United States, Grupo Materias Primas in
Organizational Profile
Mexico and Unimin Canada. All of these entities report to our corporate
Stakeholder Engagement and Materiality
headquarters in New Canaan, Connecticut.
This report is prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
G3.1 guidelines and the Mining and Metals Sector Supplement. It is a GRI­Checked
Application Level C report, and GRI has verified that the report is completed in
accordance with Application Level C.
GRI Content Index
GRI Content Index
STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART I: Profile
Disclosures
1. Strategy and Analysis
PROFILE DISCLOSURE
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
1.1
Statement from the most senior
decision­maker of the organization.
Fully
Our Report
2. Organizational Profile
PROFILE DISCLOSURE
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
2.1
Name of the organization.
Fully
Unimin Corporation
2.2
Primary brands, products, and/or
services.
Fully
Unimin Corporation
is one of North
America's leading
producers of non­
metallic industrial
minerals including
silica sand, quartz,
feldspar, nepheline
syenite, olivine,
calcium carbonate,
clay, kaolin, resin
coated sand, lime
and limestone
products. We do
not outsource our
mining, processing
and production
services.
2.3
Operational structure of the
organization, including main
divisions, operating companies,
subsidiaries, and joint ventures.
Fully
Organization
Profile/Governance
2.4
Location of organization's
Fully
New Canaan,
headquarters.
2.5
Number of countries where the
Connecticut (USA)
Fully
organization operates, and names of
countries with either major
operations or that are specifically
relevant to the sustainability issues
covered in the report.
Canada, United
States, Mexico
2.6
Nature of ownership and legal form.
Fully
Privately Held
2.7
Markets served (including
Fully
Unimin is a
geographic breakdown, sectors
served, and types of
customers/beneficiaries).
worldwide supplier
to the glass,
ceramic and
lighting industries;
oil and natural gas
service companies;
and paint, plastic,
rubber and
composite
manufacturers. We
also supply to the
semiconductor and
solar photovoltaic
cell producers,
metallurgical, and
foundry industries,
and we participate
in a range of civil,
industrial,
environmental and
building­related
applications.
2.8
Scale of the reporting organization.
Fully
We employ
approximately
2400 people in our
U.S., Canadian
and Mexican
Operations. Our
2012 revenue
totaled over $1.4
billion. As a
privately­held
company we do
not disclose net
sales, total
capitalization, or
quantity of
products provided.
2.9
Significant changes during the
Fully
Since the last
reporting period regarding size,
structure, or ownership.
report, we have
closed these
plants: Aurora,
Green Mountain,
Hamilton, Ione and
Midland. We have
sold the following
plants: Badgeley
Island, ON and
Byron, CA. We
have established
two new plants:
Utica II, IL and
Tunnel City, MN.
2.10
Awards received in the reporting
period.
Fully
Our
Company/Awards
& Recognition
3. Report Parameters
PROFILE DISCLOSURE
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
3.1
Reporting period (e.g.,
Fully
The metrics reflect baseline
fiscal/calendar year) for
data collected from 2013.
information provided.
Narratives are from 2013
and 2014.
3.2
Date of most recent
previous report (if any).
Fully
The last report was
published in February 2014.
3.3
Reporting cycle (annual,
biennial, etc.)
Fully
Biennial
3.4
Contact point for questions
Fully
The point of contact for this
3.5
regarding the report or its
report is Craig Johnson
contents.
([email protected]).
Process for defining report
content.
Fully
Report Parameters;
Stakeholder Engagement,
Materiality and the GRI
Process; We conducted a
formal materiality
assessment with out
Executive Management
Group and key leaders in
the company to help inform
report content, as well as
identify bold goals.
3.6
Boundary of the report
(e.g., countries, divisions,
Fully
Report content is for
Unimin's mining operations
subsidiaries, leased
in the U.S., Canada and
facilities, joint ventures,
Mexico.
suppliers). See GRI
Boundary Protocol for
further guidance.
3.7
State any specific
limitations on the scope or
Fully
boundary of the report (see
Data for our railroad
subsidiary is not included in
this report.
completeness principle for
explanation of scope).
3.8
Basis for reporting on joint
Fully
Report content is for
ventures, subsidiaries,
Unimin’s North American
leased facilities, outsourced
operations, and other
operations, including all
wholly owned mining
entities that can
subsidiaries.
significantly affect
comparability from period
to period and/or between
organizations.
3.10
Explanation of the effect of
any re­statements of
Fully
We do not have any re­
statements of information.
Fully
We do not have significant
changes to scope, boundary
information provided in
earlier reports, and the
reasons for such re­
statement
(e.g.,mergers/acquisitions,
change of base
years/periods, nature of
business, measurement
methods).
3.11
Significant changes from
previous reporting periods
in the scope, boundary, or
or measurement methods.
measurement methods
applied in the report.
3.12
Table identifying the
location of the Standard
Disclosures in the report.
Fully
This page is the GRI
Content Index.
4. Governance, Commitments, and Engagement
PROFILE DISCLOSURE
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
4.1
Governance structure of the
Partially
Our Report ­
organization, including committees
Organization
under the highest governance body
Profile/Governance.
responsible for specific tasks, such
as setting strategy or organizational
Unimin is managed
by the Executive
oversight.
Management Group
(EMG) consisting of
10 executive
officers. The EMG
is responsible for
defining the
strategy and goals
for Unimin. There
are no other
committees
responsible for
these tasks.
4.2
Indicate whether the Chair of the
Fully
The highest
highest governance body is also an
governance body is
executive officer.
the Sibelco Group
Board of Directors
and the chair is an
executive officer.
4.3
4.4
For organizations that have a unitary
Fully
Sibelco Group is a
board structure, state the number
privately held
and gender of members of the
company and board
highest governance body that are
independent and/or non­executive
members are
elected by
members.
shareholders.
Mechanisms for shareholders and
Fully
While we do not
employees to provide
have a formal
recommendations or direction to the
mechanism for
highest governance body.
communicating with
executive
leadership, there is
no prohibition on
such
communication. For
employee
concerns, we have
a well­established
channel of
communication
through supervisors
and managers.
4.14
List of stakeholder groups engaged
Fully
by the organization.
Employees,
Communities
surrounding mining
operations,
Customers
4.15
Basis for identification and selection
Fully
of stakeholders with whom to
engage.
Unimin completed a
stakeholder
prioritization
exercise using an
influence/interest
matrix in order to
define its
stakeholder groups
for the first report.
We used this matrix
to engage
stakeholders for
this report.
STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART III: Performance
Indicators
Economic
INDICATOR
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
Partially
Our Company/History;
Economic performance
EC1COMM
Direct economic value generated and
distributed, including revenues,
operating costs, employee
compensation, donations and other
Our Community; Our
Employees/Employee
Profile
community investments, retained
earnings, and payments to capital
providers and governments.
Market presence
EC6
Policy, practices, and proportion of
spending on locally­based suppliers at
significant locations of operation.
Fully
Our
Community/Community
Engagement and Local
Investment
Environmental
INDICATOR
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
Direct energy consumption by primary
Fully
Our Footprint/Energy
Total water withdrawal by source.
Partially
Our Footprint/Water
Location and size of land owned, leased,
Fully
Our Footprint/Land
Energy
EN3
energy source.
Water
EN8
Biodiversity
EN11
managed in, or adjacent to, protected
areas and areas of high biodiversity
value outside protected areas.
EN12COMM
Description of significant impacts of
activities, products, and services on
and Biodiversity
Fully
Our
Footprint/Biodiversity
Fully
Our Footprint/Land
biodiversity in protected areas and areas
of high biodiversity value outside
protected areas.
MM1
Amount of land (owned or leased, and
managed for production activities or
extractive use) disturbed or rehabilitated.
EN13COMM
Habitats protected or restored.
Fully
Our Footprint/Land &
Biodiversity
EN14COMM
Strategies, current actions, and future
plans for managing impacts on
Partially
Our Footprint/Land &
Biodiversity
Fully
Our Footprint/Land &
biodiversity.
MM2
The number and percentage of total sites
identified as requiring biodiversity
management plans according to stated
criteria, and the number (percentage) of
Biodiversity
those sites with plans in place.
EN15
Number of IUCN Red List species and
Partially
Biodiversity; Unimin
national conservation list species with
habitats in areas affected by operations,
has worked closely
with Bat
by level of extinction risk.
Conservation
International, the
Illinois Department of
Natural Resources
and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service
to protect the Indiana
Bat, a species
endangered since
1967.
Emissions, effluents and waste
EN16
Total direct and indirect greenhouse gas
Partially
emissions by weight.
EN20COMM
NOx, SOx, and other significant air
Quality
Partially
emissions by type and weight.
MM3
Total amounts of overburden, rock,
Our Footprint/Air
Our Footprint/Air
Quality
Fully
Our Footprint/Land
tailings, and sludges and their associated
risks.
Social: Labor Practices and Decent Work
INDICATOR
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
Total workforce by employment type,
Partially
Our
Employment
LA1
employment contract, and region, broken
down by gender.
LA2
Total number and rate of new employee
hires and employee turnover by age
group, gender, and region.
Employees/Employee
Profile
Partially
Our
Employees/Employee
Profile
Fully
Unimin did not have
any lock­outs or
strikes.
Fully
Our Team/Safe
Workplaces
Fully
Unimin provides
employees and their
families with
Labor/management relations
MM4
Number of strikes and lock­outs
exceeding one week's duration, by
country.
Occupational health and safety
LA7COMM
Rates of injury, occupational diseases,
lost days, and absenteeism, and number
of work­related fatalities by region and by
gender.
LA8
Education, training, counseling,
prevention, and risk­control programs in
place to assist workforce members, their
families, or community members
regarding serious diseases.
information that helps
promote healthier
lifestyles, as well as
services such as
health risks
assessments, annual
health screenings and
family counseling
services.
Training and education
LA10
Average hours of training per year per
employee by gender, and by employee
Fully
Our
Employees/Training
Fully
Our
category.
LA11
Programs for skills management and
lifelong learning that support the
continued employability of employees
and assist them in managing career
Employees/Training
endings.
Diversity and equal opportunity
LA13
Composition of governance bodies and
Partially
Our
breakdown of employees per employee
category according to gender, age
Company/Organization
Profile and
group, minority group membership, and
other indicators of diversity.
Governance; Our
Employees/Employee
Profile
Social: Human Rights
INDICATOR
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
Operations and significant suppliers identified
Fully
In the United
Child labor
HR6
as having significant risk for incidents of child
labor, and measures taken to contribute to the
States, Canada
and Mexico we
effective abolition of child labor.
abide by all
applicable laws
and ordinances
that govern worker
eligibility and
prevent underage
child labor. We
have no operations
or significant
suppliers that have
significant risk for
incidents of child
labor.
Indigenous rights
HR9
Total number of incidents of violations involving
rights of indigenous people and actions taken.
Fully
We have no
incidents of
violations involving
the rights of
indigenous
populations.
Assessment
HR10
Percentage and total number of operations that
Fully
have been subject to human rights reviews
and/or impact assessments.
We have no
operations that
have been or are
pending human
rights reviews
and/or impact
assessments.
Remediation
HR11
"Number of grievances related to human rights
filed, addressed and resolved through formal
Fully
grievance mechanisms."
We have not been
subject to any
formal grievances
related to human
rights.
Social: Society
INDICATOR
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
Fully
Our
Community/Community
Engagement
Fully
Our
Community/Community
Local communities
SO1COMM
(MMSS)
Nature, scope, and effectiveness of any
programs and practices that assess and
manage the impacts of operations on
communities, including entering,
operating, and exiting.
SO1 (G3.1)
Percentage of operations with
implemented local community
engagement, impact assessments, and
development programs.
Social: Product Responsibility
Engagement
INDICATOR
DISCLOSURE
LEVEL OF REPORTING
DISCLOSURE
Fully
Unimin does not
have any incidents
Customer health and safety
PR2
Total number of incidents of non­compliance
with regulations and voluntary codes
concerning health and safety impacts of
products and services during their life cycle, by
or infractions
concerning
type of outcomes.
customer health
and safety impacts
of its products.
Product and service labelling
PR4
Total number of incidents of non­compliance
with regulations and voluntary codes
concerning product and service information and
Fully
labeling, by type of outcomes.
Unimin does not
have any incidents
or infractions
concerning product
labeling.
Marketing communications
PR7
Total number of incidents of non­compliance
with regulations and voluntary codes
concerning marketing communications,
Fully
including advertising, promotion, and
sponsorship by type of outcomes.
Unimin does not
have any incidents
or infractions
concerning the
advertising and
marketing of its
products.
Customer privacy
PR8
Total number of substantiated complaints
Fully
regarding breaches of customer privacy and
losses of customer data.
Unimin does not
have any incidents
or complaints
regarding breaches
of customer
privacy or cutomer
data.
Compliance
PR9
Monetary value of significant fines for non­
compliance with laws and regulations
concerning the provision and use of products
and services.
Fully
Unimin does not
have any fines or
pending violations
for non­compliance
related to laws and
regulations
concerning the use
of its products and
services.
OUR
REPORT OUR
COMPANY OUR
APPROACH OUR
COMMUNITIES OUR
FOOTPRINT OUR
TEAM
OUR REPORT
Organization Profile/Governance
Unimin's operations are managed by the Executive Management Group (EMG)
consisting of executive officers who are responsible for defining the strategy and
goals for the organization. The EMG reports to the Unimin CEO, who reports to the
Our Report
Report Parameters
Sibelco Group CEO and the Sibelco Group Executive Committee, which in turn
Organizational Profile
report to the SCR​
­Sibelco Group Board of Directors, the highest leadership body for
Stakeholder Engagement and Materiality
Unimin's operations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Our Vision
Unimin's "Vision Document" communicates the basic elements of our management
philosophy, our approach to managing our business and our commitment to our
stakeholders. The Document provides the framework and processes to look beyond
daily business challenges and develop longer­term and systematic solutions to
achieve our ultimate goal of Operational Excellence. Five guiding principles focus our
efforts and serve as benchmarks against which we measure our progress:
A Safe and Healthy Workplace
Long­Term Access to High Quality Mineral Reserves
Industry Leading Operations and Technology
People Performing at Their Best
The Customer at the Center of Everything We Do
OUR VISION:
•
•
OUR CULTURE AND VALUES:
Utilize our company strengths and core competencies as an industry leader
to create value for all of our stakeholders.
Be recognized by our customers, shareholders, employees and communities
for superior, safe and sustainable operations.
TRUST • DEDICATION • INTEGRITY • TRANSPARENCY • OBJECTIVITY • RESPECT
WHO WE ARE:
•
•
•
•
We are North America's leading producer of non-metallic industrial minerals
serving a wide range of global customers.
We are a part of the Sibelco Group, a worldwide industrial minerals
company with more than 220 operations in 41 countries on 5 continents.
We convert natural mineral resources, including high purity quartz,
nepheline syenite, feldspar, clay and silica sand, into engineered solutions
focused on customer requirements.
We operate more than 45 plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
In Mexico we operate as Grupo Materias Primas.
Safety
First
Agile and
Sense of Urgency
Customer
Focused
Driven by
Operational
Excellence
Team
Oriented
OUR APPROACH:
OUR MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY:
•
•
•
•
We take a long term perspective, emphasizing growth, diversification and
operational excellence.
We provide an environment in which people can perform at their best.
We consider an investment in our communities as an investment in Unimin.
We make decisions guided by respect, responsibility and sustainability.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Be application focused, customer oriented and technically proficient.
Deliver quality products that add functionality and value for our customers.
Partner with customers to continuously improve product quality and life cycle.
Demonstrate market leadership and operational excellence in our core businesses.
Maintain long term mineral resources and a diversified portfolio to be sustainable.
Invest in talented people and innovative ideas to secure our future.
OUR SAFETY & HEALTH PRINCIPLES:
OUR COMMITMENT:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Employee, visitor and contractor safety is our highest priority.
We operate in a safety-first culture to proactively minimize all risks through
a program to stop, look, analyze and manage (SLAM) risks.
We continuously improve and share our best safety practices.
We encourage personal well being through ongoing health and wellness programs.
•
To treat our employees and neighbors fairly and with respect.
To maintain strong and mutually beneficial customer relationships.
To responsibly develop resources without compromising the needs of
future generations.
To build enduring partnerships with our local communities.
Find out more about Unimin at www.unimin.com
OUR
REPORT OUR
COMPANY OUR
APPROACH OUR
COMMUNITIES OUR
FOOTPRINT OUR
TEAM
OUR REPORT
Stakeholder Engagement and Materiality
During 2012 and 2013 we saw an improved coordination of the Company's vision
Our Report
document and sustainability initiatives. Central to this effort was an expanded
Report Parameters
materiality exercise conducted with Unimin's Senior Management Team and their
direct reports. The exercise identified internal and external stakeholder priorities,
Organizational Profile
validated our most important areas of focus and established aspirational goals in
Stakeholder Engagement and Materiality
those areas.
A cross­functional sustainability team is focusing its energies in three key areas:
Cascade our sustainability message throughout the organization.
Document independent sustainability initiatives to multiply best practices.
Improve our internal sustainability reporting mechanisms.
In the coming year we will establish a baseline of quantitative and qualitative data
that will help improve our processes for a sustainable future.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Bold Goals
Community
We will be the leading corporate citizen in the communities in
which we work.
Employee Relations
We will champion ‘personal sustainability' through employee
safety, wellness and enrichment programs.
Occupational Health & Safety
We will be the safety and health leader in our industry.
Resource Management
We will optimize our natural resource utilization to ensure
sustainable performance for our stakeholders.
Environmental Responsibility
We will proactively manage our environmental impact to
advance our sustainable growth.
Economic Performance
We will sustain our economic growth and the prosperity of our
stakeholders through continuous improvement and innovation.
OUR
REPORT OUR
COMPANY OUR
APPROACH OUR
COMMUNITIES OUR
FOOTPRINT OUR
TEAM
Unimin will be the Safety and Health Leader in its Industry
Our Company
We pride ourselves on being a well­run and efficient organization. Central to that
success is a process­oriented, continuous improvement culture that aligns our core
values with our operating environment. A safe and productive work environment is
Unimin at a Glance
Markets and Applications
one of those core values, achieved through programs that encourage and reinforce
Applied Research
best practices for the health and safety of our employees and contractors.
Health and Safety Culture
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Sentinels of Safety Award
In October, representatives from Unimin's Schoolhouse Quartz plant traveled to
Washington, DC to receive the Sentinels of Safety award from the National Mining
Association. The award, established in 1925 by then U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Herbert Hoover, recognizes outstanding safety performance in the mining industry. This
is the second consecutive year (2012 and 2013) that the Schoolhouse plant has
received this coveted safety award. We are also extremely proud to note that this is the
third time in four years that a Unimin facility has been recognized with the Sentinels of
Safety award.
Safety at Unimin is truly a team effort. Engagement of the entire team in the overall
safety process, and especially the hourly workforce, is cited as the key to our safety
record. Their hands­on experience brings important practical insight to safety initiatives.
At Schoolhouse, hourly employees are increasingly taking ownership of the plant's
safety programs to establish the safety agenda, identify areas for improvement,
recommend corrective actions, and track deficiencies through to completion. Safety
programs collaboratively conceived and collectively implemented reflect the best
possible practice.
OUR
REPORT OUR
COMPANY OUR
APPROACH OUR
COMMUNITIES OUR
FOOTPRINT OUR
TEAM
OUR COMPANY
Unimin at a Glance
Unimin is an application­focused company drawing from a diversified product
portfolio and the worldwide production capabilities of Sibelco, its privately held
parent organization. In Mexico, Unimin operates as Grupo Materias Primas and in
Our Company
Unimin at a Glance
Canada as Unimin Canada Ltd/Ltee. The Unimin executive offices are located in
Markets and Applications
New Canaan, Connecticut with technology, analytical and sales service centers
Applied Research
situated throughout North America.
20,000,000
$1.6 Billion
2400
94%
44
Tons Shipped to Customers Worldwide
Annual Gross Revenue
Professionals Employed to Convert Natural
Resources into Engineered Solutions
Employee Retention Rate
Mining and Mineral Processing Plants in US, Canada
and Mexico
Industrial sand, high purity quartz, feldspar,
Our Portfolio
nepheline syenite, microcrystalline silica, ball clay,
kaolin, calcium carbonate and calcium quicklime and
hydrated lime
Health and Safety Culture
Unimin Locations in Canada, U.S. and Mexico
St.Canut
Emmett
Nephton Blue Mountain
Peterborough
Ottawa
Kasota North & South
Tunnel City
Mankato
Portage
Oregon
New Canaan
Pittsburgh
Troy Grove Ottawa
Utica I & II
Elco
Roff
Guion
Tamms
Brentwood Bakersville
Camden
Spruce Pine
Calera
Sibley
Cleburne
Troup
Voca
Canoitas
Tuscaloosa
Junction
City
Bridgeton
Winchester
Huntingburg
Pevely
Dividing Creek
Gore
Marston
Lugoff
Hephzibah
McIntyre
The Woodlands
Lampazos
Apodaca
Monterrey
Benito Juárez
San José Iturbide
PLANTS
Ahuazotepec
Tlaxcala
San Juan Evangelist
Jáltipan
OFFICES
OUR
REPORT OUR
COMPANY OUR
APPROACH OUR
COMMUNITIES OUR
FOOTPRINT OUR
TEAM
OUR COMPANY
Markets and Applications
Unimin is North America's leading industrial mineral producer and technology
Our Company
partner to a diverse customer and market base. The Company is the world's largest
producer of monocrystalline quartz proppants for oil and natural gas stimulation and
Unimin at a Glance
recovery, and the world's largest producer of low­iron nepheline syenite for glass,
Markets and Applications
ceramic, paint and plastic applications. Unimin is also the world's leading producer
Applied Research
of high purity quartz, a highly specialized product used in the fabrication of
Health and Safety Culture
integrated circuits, solar photovolaric cells and high intensity lighting.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Applications
Flat and architectural glass, glass containers, reinforcing
fiberglass and insulation, lighting, plasma and LCD displays
Sanitary ware, floor and wall tile, tableware and ornamental
tiles and brick
Foundry castings, precision and investment casting, steel
Oil and natural gas stimulation and recovery, geothermal heat
exchangers, solar energy collector panels and wind turbines
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Golf course construction, artificial sports surfaces, equestrian
asphaltic emulsions, roofing shingles
stabilization, flue gas desulphurization
phosphate and fertilizer production, refractory bricks, shapes and
spray­on linings
Water production and filtration, concrete and precast structural
Waste treatment and purification, soil remediation and
extruded and formed plastic parts
Paper and paperboard manufacturing, chemical processing,
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members, engineered stone/artificial marble, asphalt and
soft rubber goods, plastic packaging and agricultural film,
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Industrial, marine and maintenance coatings, architectural trade
clear coats and UV­cured systems
and refining
Tires and hard rubber wearing parts, flexible membranes and
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paints, OEM and powder coatings, adhesives, sealants, mastics,
making blast furnaces and sinter conditioners, metal conversion
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Crucibles and quartzware for computer chips manufacturing,
high intensity quartz lighting, solar photovoltaic cells
ceramics, porcelain and porcelanato, insulators, structural clay
and race tracks, agricultural amendments, animal feed
components, children's play sand
Personal care products, food supplements and processing aids,
pharmaceutical grade nutritional additives
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Applied Research
The minerals we mine and process have inherent physical and chemical qualities,
but it takes expertise and innovation to convert quarried rock into functional and
valuable products. Unimin engineers industrial minerals to isolate specific chemical,
Our Company
Unimin at a Glance
physical and performance properties and continuously refines and improves
Markets and Applications
product quality to deliver value to our customers. Depending on the application,
Applied Research
finished products can take the form of stones, aggregates, granules or powders,
with chemical purities and "critical to quality" elements statistically controlled for
superior performance.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Technical Affiliations
Unimin is proud to be aligned with numerous organizations that make significant
contributions to our industry and society. Unimin is an active participant in the
Industrial Minerals Association ­ North America (IMA­NA), the National Industrial Sand
Association (NISA), and other technical and advocacy organizations that promote
best practices, enhance industry reputation and foster sustainable development in
health, safety, operations and the environment.
Technical Affiliations include:
Adhesive and Sealant Council
American Board of Industrial Hygiene
American Ceramic Society
American Chemical Society
American Coatings Association
American Foundry Society
American Industrial Hygiene Association
American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers
American Society of Quality
American Society of Safety Engineers
Asociación Nacional de Transporte Privado, A.C. (ANTP)
ASTM International
Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
Board of Certified Safety Professionals
Cámara Minera de México (CAMIMEX)
Casting Industry Suppliers Association
Ejecutivos en Relaciones Industriales A.C. (ERIAC)
Glass Manufacturers Institute of America
Glass Packaging Institute
Glass Producers Transportation Council
Golf Course Superintendents Association
Industrial Minerals Association ­ North America (IMA­NA)
International Association of Mine Safety Engineers
International Standards Association
National Fire Protection Association
National Freight Transportation Association
National Industrial Sand Association
National Industrial Transportation League
National Institute of Ceramic Engineers
National Lime Association
National Safety Council
National Sanitation Foundation
North American Rail Shippers
Ontario Mining Association
Quebec Mining Association
Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
Society of Petroleum Engineers
Society of Plastics Engineers
Wildlife Habitat Council
Health and Safety Culture
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Health and Safety Culture
Unimin is a recognized leader in the mining and industrial minerals community, with
a long working relationship with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) that reflects our ongoing commitment to workplace safety. The
Our Company
Unimin at a Glance
Company has been singled out for its exemplary safety and health record with the
Markets and Applications
prestigious Sentinels of Safety award by the National Mining Association (NMA).
Applied Research
Health and Safety Culture
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Reinforcing Safety Awareness
Unimin further elevated the importance of safety consciousness with the introduction
of a Company­sponsored Award for Safety & Health Excellence. The award and
affiliated programs reflects the ongoing Executive Management Group's (EMG)
commitment to promote safe practices and raise awareness of the Company­wide
campaign for our fellow employee's welfare. Unimin's CEO and members of its senior
leadership team regularly travel to the Company's mines, plants and operating
terminals to encourage and reinforce safe work practices.
Plants are divided into small, intermediate and large categories and judged eligible by
their performance to satisfy the following minimum criteria:
Zero lost time incidents;
Zero modified duty incidents;
Zero regulator reportable incidents;
Achieved all applicable Dust Exposure Objectives; and
Zero regulator or Corporate Safety & Health housekeeping deficiencies.
Plants that meet and exceed these criteria are nominated and judged by an awards
committee. The award, recognition and incentives have proven to be a very effective
investment to help reinforce our Safety & Health culture.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Safety Awards & Recognition
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Unimin will Sustain its Economic Growth through Continuous
Improvement and Innovation
Our Approach
Unimin strives to be the best industrial minerals company in the world by
continuously improving the qualities of our products, customer services and
employee skills. We accomplish these goals through our Continuous Improvement
Process (CIP) employed in an environment that encourages and rewards innovative
thinking. Through continuous improvement and innovation we empower our
employees and entrust them with the sustainability of our company.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Responsible Mining Initiative
Unimin announced it will invest more than $50,000 per year in a new Responsible
Mining Initiative program established at the University of Wisconsin. Unimin's financial
commitment provides monies for student and educator internships, scholarships and
grants for the study of geology, hydrogeology, restorative ecology and regulatory policy.
The investment represents a major commitment on the part of Unimin to the University's
Responsible Mining program and an opportunity for Unimin to continuously improve and
innovate with the benefit of the University’s academic perspective. The initiative will
span a range of industry topics, including the economics of mineral recovery,
responsible mining practices and environmental stewardship.
"This is an incredible opportunity for our students to gain valuable professional
experience. The program will produce creative, scientifically literate graduates who can
make a positive difference in the mining industry", said Dr. Kent Syverson, Department
Chairman at the University. Unimin's investment in the University's Responsible Mining
Initiative is an investment in the next generation of mining, mineral processing and
environmental professionals.
Continuous Improvement
Customer Engagement
Innovation at Work
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Continuous Improvement
Unimin's Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) is a strategic program based
upon the recognition that every business process within our organization can be
defined, measured and improved by the people performing those tasks as part of
Our Approach
Continuous Improvement
the process. It is the Company's essential tool to benchmark, manage and improve
Customer Engagement
our operational and organizational performance, and as such is an important part of
Innovation at Work
our sustainability program. Major processes identified by individual departments as
key performance indicators regularly undergo a CIP review.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Continuous Improvement
With guidance and coordination by Unimin's General Manager of Continuous
Improvement and Innovation, departmental and cross­functional teams evaluate key
processes by looking at the range of process types required to meet a business
objective. Unimin identifies macro processes (such as mining or purchasing), major
processes (such as grinding or distribution) and micro processes (such as taking
samples or logging data) that need to run well in order for us to succeed. Unimin's
Executive Management Group oversees the process, establishes priorities for the CIP
application and regularly monitors progress. CIP teams have ownership and are
responsible for improving their assigned processes by following the five steps of CIP:
1. Define the Process
2. Determine Process Goal and Requirements
3. Develop and Implement the Process and Monitoring Systems
4. Measure, Control and Improve the Process
5. Assess the Process and Review with Management
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Customer Engagement
Customer requirements are frequently the genesis of new product development and
it takes a collaborative team effort to turn those requirements into commercially
viable products and services. Unimin research and development programs begin
Our Approach
Continuous Improvement
with strong customer and industry relationships, and processes that encourage
Customer Engagement
cooperative exchange. Stakeholder engagement that actively listens to the ‘voice of
Innovation at Work
the customer' is the foundation of Unimin's product and process improvement
initiatives.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Customer Driven Innovation
Unimin has embarked upon a formal Company­wide initiative that challenges its
employees to 'think outside the box' and share innovative ideas with their colleagues.
Leading this initiative and designated as the innovation process manager is the
General Manager Continuous Improvement and Innovation Services. The call for
innovative ideas is an important engagement tool that promotes a sense of
responsibility for and ownership of Unimin's future success.
One novel approach successfully launched is an "Innovation Tournament"; a
competition to encourage idea generation and to efficiently solicit and assess
innovative ideas in a ‘crowd sourcing' exercise. In 2013, an Innovation Tournament
sponsored by Unimin's Specialty Minerals Division brought together Company and
industry representatives to identify current and future functional filler requirements.
The brain storming session focused on improved product functionality, optimized
processes and the product development pipeline.
We use innovation and continuous improvement to focus and leverage company
strengths to create value for our customers. In 2013 that focus was recognized by
Halliburton Energy Services when it awarded Unimin it’s prestigious “Golden Hard
Hat” supplier award for Service, Quality and Operational Excellence. During the
award ceremony Unimin was cited as the first and only hydraulic fracturing proppant
supplier to ever receive Halliburton’s Golden Hard Hat award.
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Innovation at Work
Innovation is one of the guiding principles we employ to create value for our
stakeholders. Simply put, innovation is the novel solution to a need that creates
value. Our approach is to encourage and nurture innovative thinkers and implement
Our Approach
Continuous Improvement
innovative ideas that will make a positive social, economic or environmental impact
Customer Engagement
for our employees, customers, neighbors and communities.
Innovation at Work
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Innovation at Work
Unimin partnered with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) to develop Helmet­CAM, a hard hat mounted video monitor used to identify
hazardous work environments. The invention integrates two existing technologies in a
portable tool to help identify tasks or workplaces with elevated exposures to harmful
dust, gases or noise. The Helmet­CAM is particularly valuable to monitor the
environment of mobile workers who typically move from location to location in the
performance of their job function.
Unimin first conceived the Helmet­CAM as a small video camera with a data logging
monitor that could be worn on a safety belt or safety vest. NIOSH furthered the idea
with computer software that synchronized video and data to assess exposure in real
time and over a full work day. The ability to review exposure data in the context of real
time video helps identify specific environments for additional safety investments. A
number of mineral companies have participated in field testing and refinement, and
today's Helmet­CAM technology has been adopted by a variety of manufacturing and
industrial companies.
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Unimin will be a Leading Corporate Citizen in the Communities in Which
We Work
Our Communities
We are first and foremost citizens of our communities, and take great pride in the
places we work. Our desire to be good neighbors is not just a symbolic gesture; it
reflects our sincere outreach to local leaders, educators and civic organizations in
support of our communities. We express our genuine interest for the welfare of our
employees, friends and neighbors through donation, sponsorship and volunteerism.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
University of Sonora
In March 2012, Grupo Materias Primas (GMP) donated 21.5 hectares (53 acres) of land
at our Lampazos plant to the University of Sonora. The land is part of the Valle de los
Saguaros, an area where the indigenous Saguaros (giant cacti) grow to average age of
200 to 300 years. The valley is also habitat to large populations of birds, mammals and
reptiles, including at least 10 protected species listed in the NOM­059­SEMARNAT, the
environmental protection act published by the Official Journal of the Federation of
Mexico.
GMP weighed a number of alternate use proposals for its holdings in Valle de los
Saguaros before donating the land to the University. Citing University programs that
support and promote wildlife conservation, ecosystem management and land
restoration, GMP awarded the land to the University of Senora. The valley will be used
by the University´s Department of Scientific and Technological Research for teaching
and research projects.
Community Engagement
Lands for Learning
Local Investment
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OUR COMMUNITIES
Community Engagement
Unimin depends upon good community relations and a constructive partnership
between our Company, our neighbors and our many local stakeholders. We
promote local collaboration and encourage our employees to be active and
Our Communities
Community Engagement
contributing members of our communities. To this end, every Unimin plant
Lands for Learning
proactively develops a Community Action Plan (CAP) that reflects the needs of the
Local Investment
surrounding community. These plans can include financial participation, volunteer
programs and environmental initiatives in coordination with local government and
organizations to benefit all who live and work in our communities.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Good Neighbor
Unimin's greenfield project to produce hydraulic fracturing sands in the rural
community of Tunnel City, Wisconsin started with a community outreach effort to
ensure all stakeholders and opinions were heard. When concerns were voiced about
the operating practices of new­market entrants Unimin transported community
members to its sister plants in Minnesota for a first­hand inspection of its mining,
operating and land management practices. It was an important first step to build
community confidence and trust.
The constructive dialogue that ensued over many months helped Unimin formulate
operating agreement that dispelled the town's concerns. The Tunnel City plant is a
self­contained mining, processing and shipping operation, designed to unobtrusively
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­exist with the rolling countryside. More than 7 million cubic yards (5 million cubic
meters) of earth were excavated to locate the plant below grade and behind a
ridgeline built to conceal the operation and its rail infrastructure from the local country
road. From the first exploratory team, Unimin proactively engaged its many
stakeholders to prove itself a considerate and environmentally aware neighbor.
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Lands for Learning
Unimin actively supports the Wildlife Habitat Council's (WHC) Corporate Lands for
Learning (CLL) program, which involves the community in wildlife and biodiversity
educational opportunities. The program engages both employer and employees in
Our Communities
Community Engagement
the development and management of public access to Company property for
Lands for Learning
educational activities and wildlife observation. Unimin has six sites that are certified
Local Investment
CLL and has recertified its Spruce Pine Schoolhouse, North Carolina and
Tamm/Elco, Illinois, plants through the CLL program.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Prairie Ecology Center
The Prairie Ecology Bus Center (PEBC) provides environmental education programs
to pre­kindergarten through high school aged students in Minnesota and Iowa.
Sponsored by Unimin and the Save the Kasota Prairie coalition, as many as 10,000
students participate in these programs annually. PEBC field trips cover many
conservation and land management subjects; including prairie, forest, lake and
stream ecosystems, water and wetland science and wildlife management.
Access to the Minnesota prairie is facilitated by the Ecology Bus; a custom built,
mobile classroom that connects students and teachers with their natural environment.
Unimin's donation of $20,000 to the PEBC toward the purchase of a new Ecology Bus
reflects our commitment to preserve and protect the Kasota Prairie. These historic
prairie lands, which adjoin our mining and processing operations in Kasota, MN, stand
as proof that industry and environmental preservation can co­exist in harmony. We're
proud to play a small role in the education of next generation of ecologists and
environmental stewards.
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Local Investment
Unimin remains committed to the economic and social development of the
communities in which we operate. We encourage each of our facilities to spend
locally wherever feasible, and we're proud to report that 18 of our plants locally
Our Communities
Community Engagement
sourced approximately 80% of their operating and construction­related materials.
Lands for Learning
We approach community investment and local spending with the same long term
Local Investment
perspective that we operate our mining and processing operations. We believe that
an investment in our communities is an investment in our future.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Investing in Our Communities
Locally formulated Community Action Plans reflect our corporate commitment to
support the communities in which we work. Our objective is to support the hundreds
of volunteer driven initiatives that benefit our communities, our local schools, youth
sports and scouting programs, veterans and service associations, and health and
safety agencies.
In Utica, Illinois our employees actively support the Village fire department's firefighter
training programs and promote fire safety in the local schools. Unimin recently
underscored its support for community safety with donations of $35,000 and $75,000
to the Utica Fire Protection District toward the purchase of a new ambulance, fire
rescue truck and associated medical equipment. "Unimin has been a community
supporter for many years," said Fire Chief Gary Gbur, "and the new rescue truck
replaces an old van that wasn't safe, efficient or reliable to aid us in properly
responding to community needs."
Unimin’s financial and volunteer participation in its local communities ranges from
Adopt­A­Highway programs to funding for the Discovery Place Children’s Museum. In
North Carolina, Unimin was quick to respond when the Avery County Sheriff's police
dog Mikki sustained a spinal injury and could not return to work. Unimin responded
with a $8,000 donation to purchase and train Mikki's replacement.
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FOOTPRINT Unimin will Optimize its Natural Resource Utilization to Ensure
Sustainable Performance for its Stakeholders
Our Footprint
Since its inception, Unimin has been a conscientious steward of the environment.
Land
While compliance with all local, state and federal regulatory and statutory
Energy
requirements has always been a mandatory operating objective, our intention is to
Water
exceed these requirements and to optimize the use and recovery rates of natural
Air Quality
resources in our charge through our Continuous Improvement Process.
Biodiversity
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Greenfield Co­Existence
Experience gained over years of land and habitat management was particularly valuable
as Unimin opened a new mine in Tunnel City, Wisconsin. When the Company
discovered that its original Tunnel City site design might negatively impact a traditional
habitat of the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly, it revised the site plan and proactively
contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a long­​
term conservancy plan.
Unimin is the first mining company to partner with both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the Wisconsin Statewide Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat Conservation Plan.
The Company has set aside a total of 108 acres (44 hectares) at Tunnel City as habitat
for Karner Blue Butterfly and seeded the tract with a diverse mix that will support the
Karner Blue and other native pollinating species.
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Land
Land is one of the most important resources we manage, and we invest significant
financial and human effort to efficiently use this valuable commodity. Our objective
is to balance economic and environmental objectives in a manner that ultimately
Our Footprint
Land
returns mined land to an ecologically appropriate landscape. Three­dimensional
Energy
mine modeling maximizes the land's productive output while minimizing waste and
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specifying a reclamation strategy to be implemented throughout the mineral
extraction process.
Air Quality
Biodiversity
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Reclaimed for the Future
Unimin's Ottawa and Kasota operations collaborate with the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources and other conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited to
design and build reclaimed land and wetlands that complement the surrounding
landscape.
At Ottawa, MN Unimin is reclaiming the site to its pre­settlement 1890's prairie and
big woods ecosystems. The created landforms tie into the undulating bluffs of the
Minnesota River Valley and combine with newly planted native fauna to create a
natural habitat for wildlife. At Kasota, MN dolomite rock outcroppings and glacial
erratics are being strategically placed within the reclaimed areas to recreate glacial
landforms. Other geomorphic features including depressions, wetlands and hummock
features create diverse habitats for a wide range of wildlife.
In the broader Minnesota River Valley, Unimin’s $40,000 donation to Ducks Unlimited
is helping to restore and protect the water quality of shallow lakes and wetlands.
“Unimin has been an environmental steward for many years, and we’re proud to have
them as a partner”, said Minnesota State Chairman Tim Robie.
Through its reclamation and conservation initiatives, Unimin has been able to connect
public and private open spaces into one large greenspace corridor along the
Minnesota River Valley. The area is designated as one of Minnesota's most
significant and prolific locations for biodiversity.
2013 Overburden
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OUR FOOTPRINT
Energy
Consistent with our culture of continuous improvement, it is our objective to improve
our energy efficiency. Unimin plants operate with state­of­the­art technologies to
minimize energy consumption, including renewable energy sources such as
Our Footprint
Land
hydropower and bio­gas to help preserve finite hydrocarbon resources. Several
Energy
plants utilize exhaust gases to pre­heat dryer circuits for additional energy savings.
Water
A corporate environmental officer coordinates the activities of environmental
professionals to ensure operations are consistent with our commitment to
sustainability.
Air Quality
Biodiversity
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Focused on Energy Efficiency
Energy efficient LED lights have been part of Unimin's engineering standards and
best operating practices since 2009. While the initial acquisition cost is about 20% to
30% greater than sodium or metal halide lights, LED lights use approximately
40%­50% less electricity than the comparable sodium or metal halide alternatives.
The lower demand on local power generation resources and reduced operating costs
can represent as much as $25,000 annual savings. LED lights are also highly efficient
in Unimin's industrial environment. Their longer operating life also translates into
lower total maintenance and disposal costs.
Unimin recently completed another green energy investment with the installation of a
45 kilowatt solar system on the roof of its corporate office. The project employs 162
high efficiency mono crystalline photovoltaic cells produced with the Company’s IOTA
high purity quartz. The solar panels will produce 55,170 kilowatt hours of electricity
per year and are expected to offset that portion of the building’s annual electricity
consumption for the next 25 years. The Company’s solar energy project joins a
growing list of green and energy efficient projects underway throughout North
America.
Energy Usage (GJ/ton by plant)
2013 Total Energy
Consumed for U.S,
CANADA & MEXICO
(GJ per ton produced)
PLANT
Ahuazotepec
Apodaca
Benito Juarez
Blue Mountain
Calera
Camden
Canoitas
Cleburne
Dividing Creek
Elco
Emmett
Gore
Guion
Guion Resin
Hephzibah
Huntingburg
Jaltipan
Junction City
Kasota
Kasota South
Lampazos
Lugoff
Marston
McIntyre
Nephton
Ottawa
Oregon
Pevely
Portage
Roff
San Jose
San Juan
Sibley
Spruce Pine, Crystal
Spruce Pine, Hawkins
Spruce Pine, Quartz
Spruce Pine, Red Hill
Spruce Pine, Schoolhouse
St. Canut
Tamms
Tlaxcala
Troup
Troy Grove
Tuscaloosa
Utica
Utica II
Voca
TOTAL
0.49
0.45
0.11
0.62
5.02
0.34
0.30
0.28
0.38
1.73
0.37
0.25
0.25
0.39
0.94
0.32
0.47
0.32
0.31
0.22
0.60
0.12
0.25
1.11
0.47
0.25
0.22
0.30
0.26
0.25
1.01
0.07
0.52
0.12
0.16
14.65
5.31
0.08
0.32
1.08
0.18
0.05
0.23
0.17
0.29
0.22
0.53
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Water
Water is an essential component of our mining and mineral processing. We
understand the finite quality of this vital resource and work diligently to ensure that
water is managed in a way that is cost effective for the business as well as
Our Footprint
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sustainable for the environment. Unimin strives to optimize its water balance by
Energy
continuously recycling and reusing process water in closed loop systems. In
Water
addition to our conservation efforts, Unimin is equally diligent to control effluent
water quality, monitor permitted discharge and proactively manage storm water to
satisfy and exceed local regulations.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Engineering Water Conservation
Unimin's newest industrial sand plant in Tunnel City, Wisconsin produces 2 million
tons of hydraulic fracturing sand per year. That annual volume typically requires 2.5
billion gallons (9.5 billion liters) of water to wash and process the mined feedstock.
Process water would traditionally be supplemented either by drawing clean water
from surface sources or by tapping the underground aquifer.
An innovative pairing of water management technologies by Unimin’s engineering
team reduced the plant's expected make­up water requirement by 97%. The Tunnel
City design includes a stand­alone water filtration plant that employs vacuum belts,
thickener tanks and filter presses to clean and recycle approximately 9,700 gallons
(37,000 liters) of water per minute. Seven high capacity pumps operate in a closed­
loop circuit to replenish process water for the wash and hydrosizer plant with clean,
treated water from the filtration plant.
Air Quality
Biodiversity
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Air Quality
Unimin is committed to protecting the air quality of our surrounding communities by
minimizing emissions from our facilities. We accomplish this objective by identifying
and using cleaner alternate energy sources, installing state­of­the­art control
Our Footprint
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devices and practicing best management policies to minimize emissions from
Energy
mining, processes and related sources. Unimin plants undergo comprehensive and
Water
environmental audits to ensure our impacts are being minimized.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Air Quality
Biodiversity
Innovative Clean Air Solution
When fossil fuels are burned in industrial processes, nitrogen oxides are emitted into
the air, contributing to the production of ground level ozone. Unimin's Southern Lime
Company, in Calera, Alabama proactively installed a selective non­catalytic reduction
(SNCR) system to reduce nitrogen­oxide emissions at the cost of more than
$500,000. The new system injects a non­hazardous urea solution into the process
exhaust that reacts with the gasses to produce harmless forms of nitrogen and water.
As a result, total nitrogen­oxide emissions at the plant have been reduced by more
than 10%.
The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) recognized Unimin's voluntary installation of
a Selective Non­Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) system with the Governor's
Conservation Achievement Award: "Air Conservationist of the Year." The award is
presented for making "great contributions to the conservation of Alabama's wildlife
and related natural resources," in recognition of Unimin's voluntary installation of its
lime kiln at the Calera plant.
Emission Factors
GHG Emissions (by Product)
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Biodiversity
An essential component of Unimin's resource management program is our
commitment to preserve and enhance the diversity of animal and plant life on the
lands we manage. Since 1993, Unimin has been regularly recognized by the
Our Footprint
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Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for our preservation and restoration efforts. Unimin
Energy
sites have consistently been recognized for excellence in preserving and restoring
Water
habitats. By the end of 2013, the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) had certified 37 of
our sites through their Wildlife at Work program.
Air Quality
Biodiversity
HIGHLIGHT STORY
The Magazine Mine
Unimin received the Conservation Action Award from the Wildlife Habitat Council
(WHC) for its conservation efforts at its Jason and Magazine mines in southern
Illinois. Unimin is a long­time partner with state, federal and private organizations to
re­purpose its former underground mines as home to several bat species, including
the Indiana Bat, big brown bat and eastern pipstrelle. These night time predators
control the insect population, and their preservation is essential to our neighbors in
the local farming community.
The Magazine Mine is the largest underground silica mine in the region. Unimin
partnered with Bat Conservation International, the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources (IDNR), Southern Illinois University, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and
the US Forest Service to survey and stabilize the site as a hibernation cave for the bat
population. Unimin also worked with the US Forest Service to reclaim its Jason mine
and restore a 10 acre area adjoining the Shawnee National Forest to create a
successful wildlife food plot. Volunteers from our Tamms and Elco plants manage
approximately 275 acres on Unimin property as habitat for bats and other endangered
species. The team regularly visits local schools and conducts field trips to teach and
encourage wildlife conservation.
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Unimin will Champion "Personal Sustainability" through Employee
Safety, Wellness and Enrichment
Our Team
Energetic, intelligent and motivated people find professional fulfillment and life long
career opportunities at Unimin. We recruit and retain the best people by offering our
employees a work environment where their talents and energies are challenged.
Many have been with us for a decade or more and some have been with us their
entire working career. From highly trained equipment specialists to professional
engineers and research scientists, talented individuals work together as colleagues
with a shared vision and objectives.
Safe Workplaces
Health and Wellness Programs
Training
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Safe Workplaces
Unimin's SLAM RISKS program trains all employees to STOP, LOOK, ANALYZE,
and MANAGE potential RISKS encountered on the job and at home. If there is a
risk associated with a task, we remind each other to recognize, evaluate and safely
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Safe Workplaces
manage that risk. Originally developed by Mine Safety & Health Administration
Health and Wellness Programs
(MSHA), Unimin SLAMS RISKS programs have significantly reduced the number of
Training
reportable incidents. With very positive feedback, the program has been expanded
to all office locations and home­bound communications.
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Silver Helmet Award
Our Ahuazotepec, Puebla, Mexico plant has been honored in consecutive years by
the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX) with the Silver Helmet Award. The award
recognizes mining and metallurgical companies that have achieved superior safety
performance through industrial safety innovations. Ahuazotepec's achievement is
further distinguished by its record 1.5 million safe working hours without a lost time
incident.
The operation was cited for its advanced Respiratory Protection Program which
established a maximum permissible limit to dust exposure that was half of the
Maximum Permissible Limit authorized by the Official Mexican Standard of the
Ministry of Labor and Welfare. Engineering investments, innovative application of
personal protection equipment and best work practices were combined to achieve the
lower exposure levels. An expanded medical surveillance program and newly
implemented contractor pre­qualification program reinforces the Company's emphasis
on workplace safety.
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Health and Wellness Programs
Our wellness programs are designed to provide employees and their families with
information and opportunities that promote healthier lifestyles. Annual Health Risk
Assessments and Biennial Health Programs are designed to pro­actively monitor
and manage personal health and well being.
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Safe Workplaces
Health and Wellness Programs
Training
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Personal Sustainability
Unimin promotes Wellness Rocks!, a preventative wellness program that encourages
healthier choices and lifestyles for our employees and their families. The Wellness
Rocks! Program features Company paid biennial health exams and comprehensive
annual health screenings with biometric feedback. Unimin also sponsors Health &
Wellness Week with an emphasis on fitness challenges and home safety and
education.
We also support our employees in their individual wellness challenges. To overcome
the health risks associated with tobacco use, we offer employees and their spouses
full reimbursement for approved methods of tobacco cessation. The Company also
funds a confidential counseling program for employees and their immediate families.
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Training
We recognize the value of a skilled workforce and the need for ongoing training and
education to ensure that our employees perform their jobs to the best of their ability.
We also take responsibility for providing employees with professional development
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opportunities as well as enhancing their personal lives. Unimin University is the
Health and Wellness Programs
umbrella under which we organize these employee development initiatives.
Training
HIGHLIGHT STORY
Unimin University
Unimin University is our one­stop shop for all in­house training needs, whether online
or in­person. These initiatives encompass the enhanced development of training
plans for every employee, with greater focus on succession planning, management
development, and additional resources to train employees for leadership roles in the
company. All of these efforts are supported by our learning management system
(LMS) and performance review system, both of which are available to employees
online.
We are developing a broader curriculum that will include courses in wellness, ethics,
compliance and safety and health. The most unique element of Unimin University is
that it will be completely self­paced; aside from the required training courses,
employees can log in at their leisure and take any course they want. Further, we are
developing a skills assessment for each course that employees will be required to
take upon completion of a course to determine if they have adequately learned the
necessary skills or knowledge associated with the course.
Our Ahuazotepec, Mexico plant champions personal growth through a program that
teaches hourly employees how to read and write. This initiative is conducted in
conjunction with the National Institute for Adult Education (INEA) and enjoys a very
successful graduation rate. The Company also implemented a Learning Management
System (LMS in Mexico) to support the professional development with 20 online
courses ranging from Sustainability to Labor Relations, Troubleshooting and
Performance Management.