Sustainability at Wolkem
At Wolkem, sustainability is at the core of our operations. We believe in responsible mineral extraction & Processing that not only meets industrial needs but also ensures minimal environmental impact. Our commitment to eco-friendly practices has transformed barren mining landscapes into thriving green spaces, fostering biodiversity and restoring ecological balance.
From extensive reforestation programs and dust control measures to self-sustained renewable energy generation and water conservation, we implement cutting-edge solutions to protect and nurture the environment. Our initiatives go beyond compliance, setting new benchmarks in sustainable mining and Manufacturing.
Explore how we integrate environmental responsibility into every aspect of our operations.
At Wolkem we practice Sustainable Business policies, as to achieve Sustainability. Our sustainable business policies address three pillars: Climate Resilience, Natural Capital Preservation, and Social Obligations
Climate Resilience
We are sensitive and conscious to mitigate the adverse impacts of inevitable climate changes on our business operations as well to our surroundings. By way of initiating and implementing both long and short term plans we have been successful in securing the interest of our all the stake holders that included our work force, customers, supply chain partners and surrounding population of our various operations spread over to different parts of the country. Our climate resilience initiatives include but not limited to:
Reducing Carbon Emissions Reduction of our carbon footprint by investing in energy-efficient driven technologies, usage of energy efficient machineries and transitioning to renewable energy sources is our regular and consistent endeavour.
Mining operations and mineral processing is quite sensitive to Climate changes. Adoption of all-weather mining methods provides us an edge to meet our social and economic obligations
Natural Capital Preservation
Biodiversity Conservation
Wolkem cares for management and restoration of Earth’s biodiversity, by implementing measures to protect, preserve and replenish plants, animals, ecosystems.
Conservation of water resources
Preserving water resources by way of reduced usage, reuse and effective control on wastewater disposal, monitoring through latest equipment, are a few to cite for ensuring conservation.
Reaching communities - Touching Lives
We can grow only if the Society is with us. For this we are conscious of our obligations to the society. A few of our milestones are:
Wolkem establishes and maintains a close relationship with the surrounding habitats to our business activities and care for their needs to a very great extent through our CSR and other developmental & promotional activities to cater to their educational, medical and other basic needs.
The pillars of Sustainability in Wolkem are Honest, Ethical and Result driven approach with full Commitment and Accountability to deliver services to all the Stakeholders and fulfilling our obligations to the Society and to the natural Eco System.
Reforestation of Waste Dumps
Wolkem works committedelly towards leaving the eco-balance undisturbed and its mining operations promotes natural restoration of flora & fauna. The overburden that covers our mines is moved to designated waste dump areas and are then covered with top soil and re-vegetated with appropriate afforestation. When Wolkem began work in the 1970s there were less than 131 trees in the entire mining lease area. Today there are over a 100,000 trees & flowering plants, many of which are rare species, because of our this mining project and our implanting awareness to the local habitants huge forest has come up around our mining area. The Vraksh Vardhak (tree plantation) award from the Department of Forests of Rajasthan Govt., is testimony to Wolkem’s commitment towards the protection of forest environment. These green land restoration efforts during the working of the mines ensure that, when the mines eventually close the mined out area converts into forest areas or parks. In fact, Wolkem’s mines were one of the first few industrial mineral mines in India to achieve ISO14001 certification.
Dust Emissions Control
Dust emissions are controlled using techniques like wetting the mine haul roads, covering stock piles to prevent wind blow. In the processing plants, dust is captured by high-efficiency filters. Continuous assessment and monitoring ensure dust levels are maintained below required levels. Noise levels are also regularly monitored. Wherever possible noisy machines are encased in a noise absorbing enclosure.
Water Spray System
High-Efficiency Filters
Noise Reduction Techniques
Energy
As our mining operations are located in the hilly terrain of country sides, we generate 100% power of our own. At Wolkem continuous research takes place to identify ways to increase the use of renewal energy and find ways to reduce the consumption of non renewal energy.
Water
Though the use of water is very little, but where ever in our mining and production process water is used, the water containing solids such as mineral particles is channeled into sedimentation ponds to remove suspended particles prior to discharge and this treated water is either recycled back into the production circuit wherever possible or used for plantation or is released back into the rivers after meeting all appropriate quality standards. We also implement and propagate rain water harvesting.
Mineral conservation
As Wolkem realizes mineral reserves are finite, mineral conservation programs are held and techniques which ensure maximum mineral recovery is practiced . The rejects of the plant process are upgraded into saleable products, the mineral rejects at the mines are stocked piled separately and not mixed with the over burden and efforts are made to find technologies which can upgrade the quality.
These initiatives are monitored by an In House Environment Management Cell.
