Our Environment | Kingfield Galvanizing

Sustainability

Kingfield’s plant features some of the most innovative technology in Australia’s hot dip galvanizing industry. Considered to be a benchmark for the industry, Kingfield uses automated materials handling systems to deliver greater processing consistency, therefore reducing consumption of chemicals and waste production. With a plant capacity of up to 30,000 tonnes per annum, a focus on sustainability and quadruple bottom line outcomes; the facility’s innovative systems reduce emissions, increase recycling, re-use outputs to minimise waste, improve workplace safety and create a cleaner working environment.

Environmental Product Declaration

Kingfield Galvanizing is the first galvanizer in Australia to achieve an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) registered with EPD Australasia, for galvanized steel. This EPD contributes to the GBCA’s Green Star credits for Green Star® rated commercial construction projects and communities. Kingfield Galvanizing was also a contributor to the Australian Galvanizing Association Industry EPD, registered with EPD Australasia, which contributes to ISCA’s IS Rating Scheme for infrastructure projects.

Download Kingfield EPD

Green Building Council of Australia

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is committed to developing buildings, cities and communities that are healthy, liveable, productive, resilient and sustainable. The GBCA’s Green Star rating tools assesses the sustainable design, construction and operation of buildings, fit outs and communities. Kingfield’s plant innovation and EPD can contribute to points in the GBCA’s Design & As Built rating tool; for Sustainable Products, Lifecycle Assessment and Indoor Air Pollutants.

Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia

ISCA is the peak industry body for advancing sustainability outcomes in infrastructure. ISCA’s IS Rating Scheme evaluates the sustainability performance of the quadruple bottom line (Governance, Economic, Environmental and Social) of infrastructure programs, projects, networks and assets; reviewing the planning, design, construction and operational phases. Kingfield’s plant innovation and the Whole of Life benefits of HDG can contribute to Design & As Built and Operations points of ISCA Rating Tool v1.2, along with Design & As built and Planning points of ISCA Rating Tool v2.0.

Product Health Declaration

Kingfield Galvanizing has also achieved a Global GreenTag® Product Health Declaration (PhD). This is the first certification tool of its kind in the world that recognises progressive manufacturers who fully disclose with 100% transparency, the toxicity information of their product. A PhD provides a clear understanding of any associated health hazards or risks associated with certified products. Kingfield’s Platinum rated PhD meets the Indoor Air Quality, VOC emission requirements for Green Star®, LEED® & BREEAM® and the WELL™ Building Standard: Enhanced Material Safety Feature.

Download PhD Certificate

Take 2

Take 2 is a Victorian Government initiative to fight climate change. Government bodies, businesses and individuals can take the pledge and commit to a range of initiatives to help our state achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Kingfield Galvanizing has taken the Take 2 pledge and is implementing a range of initiatives, based on our Environmental Management System to reduce waste, re-use resources and minimise emissions from our Somerton plant.

Our Pledge

Sustainability Policy

Kingfield’s investment in sustainable galvanizing was designed to deliver a commercially viable Australian benchmark for the future of galvanizing. To achieve this, we developed initiatives under three key sustainability criteria; Recycling, Reducing Environmental Impacts and Improved Workplace Safety. This commitment is outlined in our Sustainability Policy

View Sustainability Policy

Environmental Management System

The combination of automation, innovation and enclosed zones create process improvements to deliver a range of recycling benefits, reduce the emissions generated by traditional galvanizing and improve safety throughout the different processing zones of a galvanizing plant. Our ongoing commitment to sustainability and our annual continuous improvement objectives are detailed in our EMS. If you would like to access a copy of our Environmental Management System, please request a login here.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Kingfield is committed to making sustainable decisions across all aspects of our business operations. We follow the guidelines of ISO20400 with regard to workplace safety, human rights, fair operating practices and our choice of supply chain partners. Our 2018-19 Corporate Social Responsibility Report focuses on three pillars that are essential to our business success, to our selection of supply chain partners and our stakeholders. We take a quadruple bottom line approach to corporate governance and view sustainable prosperity as the persistent commitment to innovation in products, processes and business systems.

To view our commitment, download a copy of our CSR Report.

View CSR Report

Plant Development

Kingfield’s plant transformation creates a controlled, measured and reliable galvanizing environment, while delivering a range of sustainability benefits that are detailed below.

The enclosed Pre-Treatment area cleans acid from the air and re-uses it in Pre-Treatment tanks to reduce waste and minimise water use.
Heat from the furnace used to heat zinc in the HDG bath is recycled and re-used to heat Pre-Treatment chemicals.
The Baghouse collects Zinc Fume Emissions to reclaim zinc particulates.
All zinc ash and dross formed in the galvanizing process is recycled and re-used.
Water run-off is captured and re-used across the site.

The enclosed Pre-Treatment area captures acid emissions in the air. Once collected these corrosive emissions are treated via a Scrubber and exhaust clean air to the environment.
By heating and re-using chemicals, chemical usage and waste is reduced.
Demonstrable benefits to our supply chain on lower energy consumption, reduced chemical use & waste reduction.

Enclosed Pre-treatment zones, bunded areas and advanced plumbing systems minimise worker’s exposure to chemicals.
Superior materials handling systems include: 30 jigs, 6 lifting and lowering stations, distribution crane and monorail reduce manual handling.
Equipment operates in safety zones and removes manual handling on the galvanizing line to protect workers from injury.
Remote-control galvanizing system controls the angle and speed at which steel is dipped in the HDG bath for greater worker safety