11 September 2023
ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors are crucial to sustainable and transparent management, as they provide important guidance for strategic decision-making and risk management.
One of the aims of publishing the 2022 ESG report is to demonstrate Sayona’s commitment to building relationships of trust with the community and to pursuing its environmental, social, and governance commitments.
Without further ado, here are some of the highlights of 2022:
We are continuing to make every effort to ensure our growth is part of a lasting legacy.
Throughout 2022, we implemented our internal environmental management system (EMS). This system, mentioned in the 2021 CSR report, responds to the demand from partners, regulatory authorities, investors, customers, and the public, who are keeping a close eye on companies’ sustainable development commitments.
As a member of the Mining Association of Canada’s (MAC) Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative, our team is committed to the guiding principles of acting responsibly and adopting good social, economic, and environmental practices. In 2022, we carried out a gap analysis with the TSM initiative to achieve the MAC’s standards.
Our projects’ environmental report cards are based on the initiative’s eight protocols, which guide us in the development of our management systems.
The North American Lithium Complex has a positive environmental record. To build on this momentum in 2023, our team is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating a protocol for managing energy consumption and GHG emissions.
We are also aiming to continue our efficient use of water and to keep discussing the matter with the community. In 2022, 100% of the water used in ore processing was recycled.
Several studies were carried out for these projects in 2022. Further studies and consultations will also be carried out over the course of 2023, allowing Sayona to listen to the community and better reflect best practices in mining development.
We are in the process of obtaining the UL ECOLOGO® certification for mineral exploration. This certification validates the organization’s responsible practices in sustainable development.
We are currently involved in environmental actions, such as tree planting in collaboration with the Groupement forestier coopératif Abitibi and the Coopérative de solidarité de Pikogan to make our operations carbon neutral.
For our team, community involvement is a must. With our involvement, we hope to continue to have a positive impact on local populations through hiring, donations, and sponsorships. In 2022, economic spinoffs totalled $73.7 million.
At Sayona, it’s a priority for the team to collaborate with the Anishinaabe and Cree First Nations, since we work on their lands. We aim to work with members of these host communities well ahead of projects so that we can cocreate and idealize project design. What’s more, we make sure to post all our open positions in Indigenous communities.
The monitoring committee facilitates feedback and gives a voice to the different groups involved in the company’s projects. Additionally, a hotline has been set up to quickly answer questions from the community.
Our team supports diversity and promotes the values of integrity, respect, and excellence. As a company that advocates for transparency, sustainability, and harmony, these guiding principles form the foundation of our relationships with our stakeholders and are essential to ensuring our projects run smoothly.
At Sayona, we want to continue to create a fulfilling workplace. From ongoing training to team-building activities, we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.
We also pride ourselves on our diversity and representation; for instance, 30% of our team is made up of women, compared with an industry average of just 16–17%.
As a major player in the development of a North American lithium hub, we always need to be on the lookout for sustainable solutions.
The full ESG report highlights all the concrete actions Sayona has taken to minimize its impact on the environment and maintain excellent relationships with its community. It is our responsibility to put systems in place and uphold our commitments to ensure the sustainability of our environment.
Read the full report here.
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