Environment

Aurubis always operates its facilities in accordance with applicable local legislation and environmental permits. In addition, we continue to invest in optimizing our processes and installations in order to further reduce our environmental impact.

To reduce diffuse emissions, a multi-year action plan has been developed. This plan includes both short-term measures and long-term initiatives. As a first step, additional road cleaning was introduced, along with spraying roads and open areas with water. A study was also carried out to investigate how diffuse emissions from the anode casting plant can be reduced. In addition, a broad package of measures has been planned. These measures include, among others, the installation of new extraction hoods and a new filtration system. In 2026, additional extraction points will be connected to the filter, and the filter capacity will be further expanded.

PM10 dust measurements

Recently, stricter air quality standards that will come into force in 2030 were approved. These standards establish new limits for metals in airborne particulate matter. These particles can remain suspended in the air for a certain period of time or settle on the ground. Metals that may enter the air through dust particles are therefore closely monitored in Olen.

For decades, the (metal) industry has been present as both an employer and a neighbor along the Bocholt–Herentals Canal in Olen. Despite continuous investments in production, the impact on the surrounding environment must be taken into account. To accurately assess and monitor this impact, measurement campaigns have been set up since the beginning of 2026 through close cooperation between the municipality, the companies Aurubis and Umicore, and the competent Flemish authorities. This contributes to a fact-based dialogue.

Measurements and analyses are carried out through cooperation between the authorities, the companies Aurubis and Umicore, and the municipality of Olen. More information about the air quality measurements, health impact, and further actions by Aurubis and the authorities can be found in the joint newsletter of May 8, 2026.

Expanding renewable energy and low-emission transport to reduce CO₂ and noise 

To reduce noise and CO₂ emissions, a new facility for unloading and loading barges, the Cu-Port, was constructed at the site in Olen, Belgium, in 2020. Transport that was previously done by truck is now carried out in an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly manner by waterway. This prevents a total of about 20,000 truck transports per year and thus over 230 t of CO₂ emissions annually. The project also reduces noise emissions at and around the site. By removing trucks from local roads, we also reduce traffic pressure for the residents living near our company.

In 2016, four 200-meter-high wind turbines were built and commissioned at the Olen plant. This € 20 million investment project is a cooperation with a partner from the energy sector and two industrial companies including Aurubis. Every unit has a capacity of 3.5 megawatts (14 megawatts in total). These wind turbines provide 30 million kWh of electricity annually, which is directly used at the sites of the industrial project partners and reduces the CO₂ emissions. 

In addition to on-site wind production, an off-site power purchase agreement was initiated in 2023 for 105,120 MWh to further reduce CO₂ emissions. In 2024, 375 kWh of solar panels were installed on the roofs. In 2025, additional solar panels with a combined capacity of 1,200 kWh were installed, increasing the annual output by around 1,260 MWh.

Environmental protection through improved water management and nature reserve bypass

Another focus of the site is the reduction of metal emissions to water and the impact of our production on bodies of water. In order to avoid the impact to the nature reserve Olens Broek from cleaned effluent from the site’s wastewater treatment plant, a new effluent pipeline was commissioned in 2015. The creek that runs through the nature reserve is no longer used for the cleaned effluent and the pipeline completely bypasses the nature reserve. In addition, the point of discharge was chosen in such a way that contact with the nature reserve is ruled out due to the direction of the river’s flow.

Wastewater emissions reduction

Over the past years, reduction of contaminants in the wastewater have been achieved by focusing on level of installations. In 2025 a study on wastewater reuse has been performed and will be further developed in 2026. Also, an impact study of the contaminants in the wastewater receiving body has been performed.

Next Steps:

• 2026 : BBT+ screening for the contaminants which exceed a certain threshold in the official Flemish impact tool assessment.
• 2026 : investigate option of installing larger buffer basin to prevent exceedance of maximum water flow emission.

Our company is located close to residential areas. Therefore, we place particular importance on limiting noise originating from our activities. We are aware that some activities may be audible. These may include temporary noises, for example during maintenance work, as well as more continuous sounds from process installations such as fans.

Within our operations, we continuously assess the potential noise impact and how any possible nuisance can be reduced.

2020: Installation Cu-Port

Until the beginning of 2020, all containers, mainly with copper scrap, came into the factory by road transport. Only some of the incoming blister and anodes were already transported into the site by train and water­way. In March 2020, a new quay and crane were commissioned. Now up to 10,000 containers per year can be moved in and out of Aurubis Olen, situated along the Bocholt-Herentals Canal, via barges. This relieves the access roads to the plant of 20,000 truck transports per year and facilitates an important transport shift. This modal shift once again reduces noise levels in the immediate surroundings of our company and also decreases traffic pressure for local residents.

2012: Installation noise reduction wall

In order to reduce the impact of noise from the scrap unloading, handling and baling activities, a noise reduction wall was installed alongside the main road near the plant in 2012, leading to a noise reduction of 20 dB(A) for the neighboring houses. The sound pressure level is halved with each 3 dB reduction.

Strengthening performance through certified environmental, energy and safety standards

The introduction of the environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 started at the rod production plant in 1998. Since 2006, the environmental management system for all activities of Aurubis Olen has been ISO 14001-certified. In 2020, the energy management system, which was until then part of the environmental management system, was extended, upgraded and certified in accordance with ISO 50001. Additionally, the quality management system is certified in accordance with ISO 9001 and since mid-2021, the health and safety management system has also been certified in accordance with ISO 45001.