The environment

 

ZIMETAL conducts its operations in completely controlled conditions and in full compliance with all relevant regulations. Our Environmental Management System is certified under UNI EN ISO Standard 14001.

 

Our hot galvanizing plant was designed and constructed in such a way as to contain any polluting emissions. It functions on a closed circuit and employs a tunnel-style extraction and abatement unit. It therefore does not discharge either industrial waste into outside waters or uncontrolled emissions into the air and ensures proper protection for its workers and for the environment.

 

The contribution that the process of hot galvanizing makes to the improvement of our environment is crucial to the sustainable development of our system, because this treatment makes it possible to save considerable amounts of raw materials and energy, thus allowing us to preserve our planet's natural resources.

 

Hot galvanized steel has a very limited environmental impact and stands out from other production systems or construction methods in terms of environmental sustainability, as highlighted in the EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) for the sector, published by the EGGA, the European General Galvanizers Association.

 

Steel protected using traditional painting methods, on the other hand, corrodes rapidly and must be replaced by foundries. This entails the use of enormous amounts of energy, resources and raw materials needed for the production of new steel and for the recycling of scrap.

 

Moreover, enormous quantities of paints and solvents are employed in the maintenance or restoration of fabricated articles. We know that a portion of these are discharged into the environment. This occurs less during treatment in painting plants and more on construction sites that are not up to code or in small workshops. The most frequent culprits, however – and the most difficult to control – are single individuals, operating in ignorance of the rules and with little regard for professionalism. How many times have we ourselves thrown away a can of leftover paint without a second thought?

 

Naturally, the use of zinc to protect steel also leads to small quantities of metal being released into the environment. However, since zinc is a natural material that comes from the earth itself, the environment remains unaltered.

 

All forms of animal and plant life require small amounts of zinc. It is a known fact that humans also require zinc to remain healthy.