Lithium Australia Ltd (ASX:LIT, OTC:LMMFF) has unveiled its Sustainability Report for the 2023 financial year, underscoring a continued commitment to a decarbonised, circular battery industry.
The company highlights three technology platforms through which it plans to promote its sustainability aspirations – lithium chemicals, battery materials and battery recycling.
ESG strides
The report aligns the company's core values to six themes encapsulated in the acronym SPARCS: Safety, People, Active, Respect, Creative and Sustainability.
The company has made noteworthy environmental, social and governance (ESG) strides by:
- establishing a Safety and Sustainability Leadership Council aimed at promoting and managing workplace safety and sustainable practices;
- introducing ‘Pause 4 Safety’, a comprehensive program that refocuses the organisation on safety standards; and
- launching an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to offer confidential counselling and wellness resources to employees.
On the environmental protection front, there was a 24% year-on-year increase in end-of-life batteries diverted from landfills and expanded availability of re-purposed materials for new batteries, underscoring the company's commitment to a circular economy.
What’s more, potential customers have initiated tests on Lithium Australia's LFP and LMFP cathode powders, which are expected to play a pivotal role in decarbonisation efforts through electrification.
Also during the reporting period, the company released its second Scope 2 carbon footprint analysis and developed an ESG Roadmap aimed at guiding sustainability efforts for the 2024 financial year and beyond.
With safety as a primary focus and a continued commitment to build partnerships – such as the one with Mineral Resources Ltd – for advancing Lithium Chemicals and Battery Materials towards commercialisation, Lithium Australia has laid down a strong framework for future ESG development, which will be overseen by its Audit and Risk Committee.