Hindustan Zinc Limited has restored 1,105 hectares of land as part of its efforts to integrate ecological restoration with responsible mining. The rehabilitated area, equivalent to more than 1,500 football fields, covers mining and operational landscapes restored through reclamation, plantation, biodiversity enhancement and sustainable land-use practices.

The initiatives form part of Hindustan Zinc’s Sustainability Goals 2030 and its broader focus on creating long-term ecological value alongside business growth.

Amarendu Prakash, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, said: “The future of mining will increasingly be defined not only by the resources we produce, but by how responsibly we manage the natural resources entrusted to us. At Hindustan Zinc, rehabilitation, water stewardship and decarbonisation are integral to the way we operate and grow. As we scale our business, our focus is to ensure that growth and environmental responsibility move together, backed by measurable outcomes, technology and long-term action.”

The company has planted 850,000 saplings between 2020 and FY2026, including 114,000 during FY26. It has developed Miyawaki plantations across Rajpura Dariba, Chanderiya, Debari and Kayad, while its Green Zawar initiative extends afforestation and environmental awareness to surrounding communities.

Hindustan Zinc has also partnered with TERI on a 250-hectare ecological restoration project, which includes rehabilitation of a 22.5-hectare Jarofix yard and natural forest development at its Chanderiya Lead-Zinc Smelter Complex in Rajasthan.

Water stewardship is another component of the company’s sustainability strategy. Hindustan Zinc is certified as a 3.32x Water Positive organisation, improving from 2.41x, and follows Zero Liquid Discharge practices across its operations. More than 30 per cent of its water requirement is met through treated sewage.

Under its Sustainability Goals 2030, the company aims to reduce freshwater consumption by 50 per cent from its 2020 baseline and source 100 per cent low-quality water for its smelting operations.

Hindustan Zinc is also expanding renewable energy use across its operations. Renewable power accounted for around 18 per cent of its power mix in FY26, with the company targeting 70 per cent by FY28, supported by a 530 MW renewable Power Delivery Agreement.

Its climate roadmap includes Science Based Targets initiative-approved targets to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50 per cent and Scope 3 emissions by 25 per cent by 2030, compared with a 2020 baseline. The company is targeting Net Zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.

Hindustan Zinc has also launched EcoZen, which it describes as Asia’s first low-carbon zinc, with a 75 per cent lower carbon footprint compared with the global average.

A Vedanta Group company, Hindustan Zinc has been ranked as the world’s most sustainable metals and mining company in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment for three consecutive years. It is also the first Indian company to join the International Council on Mining and Metals.