ILA - International Lead Association

Like most responsible industries nowadays the membership of the International Lead Association (ILA), which represents lead producers world-wide, considers sustainability and responsibility to be central to its business decisions and operations.

The reality of that commitment is embodied in the ILA’s Lead Action 21 Charter which was signed up to today by ILA’s Chairman, Neil Wardle, on behalf of the membership.

Neil, who also chairs the Association’s Responsible Care Steering Group said: “Together and independently Members share a common purpose of working towards a sustainable future for the industry by effectively managing the issues associated with the safe production, handling and use of lead.

“Aside from Member companies’ own published sustainability policies and stated goals, our Lead Action 21 programme, details of which can be found on our new website www.ila-lead.org, provides a focus for us to work collectively; sharing knowledge and expertise to proactively help safeguard human health and minimise operational impact on the natural environment.

“Lead Action 21 enables us to work proactively, often in conjunction with agencies such as UNEP and UNCTAD, providing specialist hands-on support in less developed countries with the clear objective of significantly improving the working conditions, health and environment of communities involved in lead production and recycling activities.”

More than EUR3M has been invested by ILA members since 2000 in independent research into the health and environmental impacts of lead. This has significantly added to the rich knowledge base of the industry and strengthened its commitment to ensuring that the benefits of this endlessly recyclable natural resource can continue to be used in applications that bring unrivalled benefits to modern society. Such uses include the development of lead-acid batteries for use in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and batteries suitable for remote area power supply (RAPS) for communities without connection to electricity grids.