BUSINESS: 394 PRACTICES
IMERYS Group is the world leader in mineral-based industrial solutions, offering specialized solutions necessary for its customers. IMERYS INDUSTRIAL MINERALS GREECE SINGLE MEMBER SOCIETE ANONYME mines and processes industrial minerals, mainly bentonite and perlite.
Within its sustainable development strategy, Imerys recognizes the undeniable connection between ecosystem health and human well-being. Guided by responsible management of natural resources and environmental protection, targeted initiatives are implemented to reinforce this connection in practice.
Key goals and actions include:
Imerys’ approach is founded on the belief that there is no sustainable development without nature. By combining scientific knowledge, local action, and corporate responsibility, a framework is created that protects ecosystems, empowers communities, and secures a sustainable future for generations to come.
The Imerys initiative addresses a broad range of stakeholders, enhancing knowledge dissemination and active participation:
The initiative was launched in 2021 and continues to evolve and expand. Imerys is committed to the ongoing enhancement of its actions in order to achieve its sustainable development goals and to contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the global sustainability agenda. Continuous evaluation and revision of the programme ensures its effectiveness and adaptability to emerging needs and challenges.
The concept of biodiversity , the diversity of living organisms and their ecosystems, lies at the core of Imerys' environmental strategy. In a rapidly changing world, driven by population growth and overconsumption, the need to protect biodiversity has become more urgent than ever. Human activities have led to an alarming acceleration in biodiversity loss, at rates hundreds or even thousands of times higher than the natural extinction rate.
Imerys, recognizing the critical nature of this biodiversity loss, has made its preservation and restoration a top priority, integrating it into the company’s strategy through the Biodiversity Protocol and its environmental policy. The year 2020 marked a milestone, with the adoption of the Corporate Environmental Charter, signed by CEO Alessandro Dazza, officially stating the company's commitment to nature conservation. This commitment is implemented both strategically and operationally, through tools that integrate environmental considerations across all company functions.
Imerys' approach is reinforced by scientific collaborations. As part of this, the partnership with UMS-Patrinat, a unit of the French National Museum of Natural History, was renewed to monitor biodiversity in active and rehabilitated sites. The use of scientific data and evidence-based methodologies remains a key pillar for designing and evaluating environmental restoration measures.
As an active member of the international business community, Imerys signed the Act4nature initiative, promoting biodiversity as a core aspect of corporate responsibility. The company is committed to delivering awareness and educational actions in its industrial sites, aligned with its Corporate Social Responsibility framework, SustainAgility.
To fulfill these commitments, Imerys designed and implemented the "Caring for our Planet" initiative, a biodiversity-focused environmental awareness workshop. The event took place as part of International Biodiversity Day celebrations, hosted on company premises with the participation of students, employees, and local community members. Its objective was to foster understanding of biodiversity’s importance, the risks it faces, and the ways in which our daily behavior can contribute to nature conservation.
The initiative was grounded in experiential tools and participatory methodologies. Activities included creative workshops, local species mapping, artistic ecosystem representations, and species interdependence simulations — all offering direct engagement with the concept of ecological balance. Enhancing the experience were soundscape presentations from different ecosystems and the creation of group collages using natural materials. Special emphasis was placed on the notion of "ecological memory" and the responsibility of older generations to pass on the value of nature as a shared heritage.
This initiative was not limited to a one-time educational event. It marked the beginning of a series of actions aimed at gradually integrating environmental consciousness into the daily lives of employees and the surrounding community. Educational materials were created for further use in schools, short documentaries featuring employee testimonies about nature were produced, and field visits were organized to document local flora and fauna. Employees actively participated in species documentation near their workplaces, highlighting the tangible and human link between people and the environment.
Additionally, Imerys leveraged its "Biodiversity Communication Toolkit" to provide participants with accessible, clear messages and visual materials, fostering outreach and replication of these actions.
This initiative helped establish a shared vocabulary around key concepts such as sustainability, natural heritage, and environmental justice, laying the foundation for future collaborations and innovative actions.
Imerys remains steadfast in its ambition to operate with respect for nature, investing in innovation, collaboration, and scientific rigor. As CEO Alessandro Dazza has stated: "Operating across diverse environments and ecosystems, Imerys is accelerating its efforts to embed biodiversity preservation into all its operations and to take concrete action to conserve or restore biological diversity." This declaration clearly reflects the company’s strategic direction, emphasizing the responsibility every organization holds toward the ecosystems in which it operates.
https://www.imerys.com/public/2025-03/Imerys_Biodiversity_Report_DIGITAL.pdf
https://www.act4nature.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMERYS-VA.pdf
https://www.imerys.com/news/imerys-reaffirms-its-commitment-biodiversity-act4nature-international
https://www.imerys.com/news/restore-bringing-nature-back-through-land-rehabilitation-45
https://www.imerys.com/news/minimize-coexisting-nature-reducing-our-impact-biodiversity-35
https://www.imerys.com/news/anticipating-impacts-first-step-protecting-biodiversity-25
https://www.imerys.com/news/biodiversity-imerys-renews-its-partnership-patrinat
Imerys’ approach goes beyond words. Commitments become actions with clear and measurable goals:
Imerys Greece facilities in Milos and Kifisia
Imerys renewed its scientific partnership with UMS‑Patrinat of the French National Museum of Natural History to ensure ongoing, scientifically supported biodiversity monitoring and analysis at its operational and reclamation sites. The company also joined the international Act4nature business pledge led by Entreprises pour l’Environnement (EpE), strengthening biodiversity as a strategic corporate priority and underscoring Imerys’ role as a responsible environmental partner.
As part of internal engagement, Imerys organized a special event aimed at awakening and involving employees. The program included:
This initiative was not just an educational experience but a springboard for fostering a new culture of environmental responsibility and awareness within the company.
Under the SustainAgility program, Imerys' facilities in Greece benefit from multiple, measurable advantages that enhance operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability:
