53 Sustainability Report 2024 Fostering Action on Climate Change Fostering Responsible Supply Chain Fostering An Inclusive Workplace GRI Content Index To mitigate our environmental footprint, we employ best practices that focus on minimizing waste volumes and maximizing the potential for recycling. Hazardous waste is carefully managed and disposed of through certified vendors, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Non-hazardous waste is either recycled or disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. Gabon Benin Togo Rwanda Total Waste Generated (in MT) 8,104.02 7,242.58 3,546.02 9.51 18,902.42 Hazardous Waste 68.97 2,323.15 99.02 0.51 2,491.65 Non-Hazardous Waste 8,035.05 4,919.42 3,447 9.00 16,410.77 Each SEZ’s waste management plan aligns with our overarching companywide waste management strategy, designed to integrate sustainable practices across all operational levels. This holistic approach underscores our ongoing commitment to sustainability, resource efficiency, and a circular economy. We also encourage our partners to adopt innovative waste management systems and embrace circularity. We work closely with partners to integrate waste management strategies, supporting initiatives such as biochar utilization and other waste-to-value methods. As part of our commitment, we have embedded waste management strategies into the operational planning stages of all our SEZs. In line with our Circular Economy strategy, 50 hectares—five hectares per SEZ—have been allocated for integrated waste recycling facilities. Towards this, each SEZ has developed tailored waste management plans, which are actively implemented by our ESG teams. It is a strategic pillar that drives both management-level oversight and on-the-ground initiatives aimed at promoting recycling and reducing waste destined for disposal. In all our SEZs, various initiatives of circularity have been adopted. Cashew Nut Shells Waste (CNSW) is a valuable bio-resource for producing Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL) used in the production of paints, varnishes, surface coatings, agrochemicals, and ethnomedicine. The waste cashew nutshells are to be utilized as fuel at our operations or transformed into activated carbon for low-cost water purification filters. CNSW accounts for nearly 90% of waste generated from our cashew units. The CNSL and RCN processing plants repurpose 47,400 metric tons of cashew nut shells every year. GSEZ has launched an initiative to support our circular economy waste management philosophy by optimizing the amount of material that our timber business reuses and recycles. Currently, about 40% of the wood waste produced by the timber industries, which amounts to approximately 350 metric tons per day, has no practical use. However, it is feasible to use the particle board manufacturing process to consume all the generated wood waste. This presents an opportunity to further utilize and convert remaining waste into particle boards. As a result, 40% of timber waste is being reintegrated through scaled-up particle board production at GSEZ.
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