Environmental and Economic Activities

Environment

Data gathering

The INSG is currently compiling data on nickel recycling to address the lack of reliable statistical data on this activity. As nickel is mainly re-used in alloy form (stainless steel, alloy steels), the Secretariat is cooperating closely with industry associations to collect data and to make reliable estimates of nickel recycling rates in its first -use industries.

Recycling rates

The INSG has developed together with other interested organisations and industry associations two rates to assess the recycling of non-ferrous metals:

Recycling Input Rate, indicates the fraction of current production generated from recycled metals,

The End-of-Life Recycling Efficiency Rate (RER)), measures the efficiency of metals recycling once the metal-containing product has reached the end of its life.

Environmental legislation

The Secretariat monitors existing as well as new legislation worldwide that might affect production, processing, trade, use and end-of-life treatment of nickel and nickel containing products. Summary reports are normally reviewed during the April meeting of the Environmental and Economics Committee.

Economic Issues

Market studies

The Secretariat intends to prepare on a regular basis a report on the main developments in the nickel market. The report will include an overview of recent trends in nickel production (mine and primary metal) and nickel use, on a regional basis and in the main first-use industries. Price trends and environmental policy developments will be considered as well. These proposed studies will be based on the statistical information gathered by the INSG, supplemented with information from specific studies on first-use of nickel, as well as information from industry.