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Our Report

Our Company
Our Approach
Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

Welcome to our first sustainability report: "Value Beyond Minerals". Sustainable


development is the guiding principle behind Unimin Corporation's record of growth
and success. With disciplined application, our sustainability programs facilitate the
pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and social commitment.
We take pride in our mineral products portfolio and in our Company philosophy to
create value beyond our minerals for our many stakeholders.

READ ABOUT OUR VISION,

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VALUES AND COMMITMENT.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Value Beyond Minerals meanstransparency.

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FACT

Dear Valued Stakeholders,

UNIMIN CORPORATION'S MANAGEMENT

Thank you for taking time to explore our first sustainability report. Unimin

PHILOSOPHY EMPHASIZES GROWTH,

Corporation has been mining and processing industrial minerals for more

DIVERSIFICATION AND SUSTAINABLE


DEVELOPMENT.

than 40 years. Our organization is a responsible and sustainable company,


and now it is time to share our story.
The title of this inaugural report, "Value Beyond Minerals", is indicative of
our business philosophy to always add value to our industrial mineral
products. Unimin has evolved from a raw material supplier to a technologydriven company, providing engineered solutions to diverse customers
whose applications range from traditional glass and ceramics, to
hydrocarbon and solar energy production, to semi-conductor computer
chips.
"Value Beyond Minerals" also reflects the emphasis we place on our role
as a community member and environmental steward. Unimin is proof that
sound operating practices and good community relations can allow a
mining company and the surrounding community to prosper together. We
take a holistic approach to our business, including our active participation
in the sustainability of our communities. Through constructive engagement,
local investment and responsible management, we work hard to be a good
corporate citizen and a good neighbor.
Resource management is the cornerstone of our sustainability initiatives.
Unlike real estate development projects that forever change the land,
mining is a transitional process that ultimately returns the land to a
landscape that is environmentally harmonious with its surroundings. As
custodians of land, energy, water and air resources, our goal is to balance
economic and environmental objectives in a manner that conserves and
optimizes these valuable assets. Our efforts to preserve and propagate the
biodiversity on lands under our management have been recognized with
numerous awards.
Sustainability and the Global Reporting Initiative are also consistent with
the culture of continuous improvement at Unimin. We have created an
environment where our people are part of the decision-making processes
and encouraged to continually improve our Company. We work with a
sense of urgency, in short and flexible decision lines, and with a
transparency designed to create value for our many stakeholders.
Our employees are our most important asset and our number-one priority.
Talented, energetic and motivated people find professional fulfillment and
career-long opportunities at Unimin. Unimin is an industry leader in
promoting best health and safety practices, an advocate for sustainable
economic development and employment, and a champion of employee
wellness at work, at home and in the community.
"Value Beyond Minerals" speaks to our strengths as a company and our
vision for the future. We embrace tomorrow's opportunities with a legacy of
responsible behavior and sustainable performance.
Sincerely,

Kevin Crawford

Our Report

Report Parameters

Our Company

This is Unimin Corporation's first sustainability report and is intended to look back at the milestones and

Our Approach

accomplishments of the last 40 years. While the stories in this report contain retrospective information, the

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

metrics reflect baseline data collected from the year 2010. Report content is for all wholly owned mining
operations and related facilities managed by Unimin. They include Unimin Corporation, Unimin Specialty
Minerals Inc. and Southern Lime in the United States, Grupo Materias Primas in Mexico and Unimin Canada,
all of which report to our corporate headquarters in New Canaan, Connecticut.

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VIEW MAP OF
UNIMIN'S OPERATIONS

This report was produced in accordance with the Global Reporting


Initiative (GRI) G3.1 guidelines and GRI's Mining and Metals Sector
Supplement. This report is a GRI Checked Application Level C
report. The Application Level C designation is an indication of the
number of disclosures in the report and is not a measure of quality.
This report emulates GRI's content and quality principles:
Materiality, Stakeholder Inclusiveness, Sustainability Context,
Completeness, Balance, Comparability, Timeliness and Accuracy,
Clarity and Reliability.
To produce this report, we engaged our Executive Management
Group (EMG) and a team of management-level employees to
identify and prioritize Unimin's material issues. We used GRI's
"Technical Protocol - Applying the Report Content Principles" to
select the following material topics:
Local Community
Environment
Emissions, Effluents and Waste
Water
Occupational Health and Safety
Labor Management Relations
Training and Education
Employment
Economic Performance
Materials Stewardship
Our report team also managed the data gathering and all other
processes necessary to produce this report. We engaged
employees at a variety of levels, sites and countries to incorporate
a range of perspectives into the report.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

GRI Content Index

Our Company
Our Approach
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Our Employees

STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART I: Profile Disclosures


1. Strategy and Analysis
PROFILE
DISCLOSURE

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

1.1

Statement from the most senior decision maker of the

fully

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organization.

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GRI Content Index

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STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART I: Profile Disclosures


2. Organizational Profile
PROFILE
DISCLOSURE

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

2.1

Name of the organization.

fully

Unimin Corporation

2.2

Primary brands, products, and/or services.

fully

Unimin Corporation
produces non-metallic
industrial minerals,
including quartz, feldspar,
nepheline syenite, calcium
carbonate, clay, kaolin,
lime and limestone
products.

2.3

Operational structure of the organization, including main


divisions, operating companies, subsidiaries, and joint ventures.

fully

Organization
Profile/Governance

2.4

Location of organization's headquarters.

fully

New Canaan, Connecticut

2.5

Number of countries where the organization operates, and


names of countries with either major operations or that are
specifically relevant to the sustainability issues covered in the
report.

fully

Canada, United States,


Mexico

2.6

Nature of ownership and legal form.

fully

privately held

2.7

Markets served (including geographic breakdown, sectors


served, and types of customers/beneficiaries).

fully

2.8

Scale of the reporting organization.

fully

We employ about 2400


people in our U.S.,
Canadian and Mexican
Operations. Our 2010
revenue totaled
$863million. As a
privately-held company
we do not disclose net
sales, total capitalization,
or quantity of products
provided.

2.9

Significant changes during the reporting period regarding size,


structure, or ownership.

fully

We have had no major


change in size in recent
years.

2.10

Awards received in the reporting period.

fully

Awards & Recognition

Unimin provides the


essential raw materials of
nearly every
manufacturing process.

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GRI Content Index

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STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART I: Profile Disclosures


3. Report Parameters
PROFILE
DISCLOSURE

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

3.1

Reporting period (e.g., fiscal/calendar year) for information

fully

Data is from 2010.

3.2

Date of most recent previous report (if any).

fully

This is Unimin's first report.

3.3

Reporting cycle (annual, biennial, etc.)

fully

biennial

3.4

Contact point for questions regarding the report or its contents.

fully

The contact point for this


report is Craig Johnson
(sustainability@unimin.com).

3.5

Process for defining report content.

fully

Report Parameters

3.6

Boundary of the report (e.g., countries, divisions, subsidiaries,


leased facilities, joint ventures, suppliers).

fully

Report content is for


Unimin's mining operations
in the U.S., Canada &
Mexico.

3.7

State any specific limitations on the scope or boundary of the


report (see completeness principle for explanation of scope).

fully

Data for our railroad


subsidiary is not included in
this report.

3.8

Basis for reporting on joint ventures, subsidiaries, leased


facilities, outsourced operations, and other entities that can
significantly affect comparability from period to period and/or
between organizations.

fully

Report content is for


Unimin's North American
operations, including all
wholly owned mining
subsidiaries.

3.10

Explanation of the effect of any re-statements of information


provided in earlier reports, and the reasons for such restatement (e.g.,mergers/acquisitions, change of base
years/periods, nature of business, measurement methods).

fully

This is Unimin's first report.

3.11

Significant changes from previous reporting periods in the


scope, boundary, or measurement methods applied in the
report.

fully

This is Unimin's first report.

3.12

Table identifying the location of the Standard Disclosures in


the report.

fully

This page is the GRI


Content Index.

provided.

Narratives are from


company history.

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GRI Content Index

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STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART I: Profile Disclosures


4. Governance, Commitments, and Engagement
PROFILE
DISCLOSURE

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

4.1

Governance structure of the organization, including committees

fully

4.2

Indicate whether the Chair of the highest governance body is


also an executive officer.

fully

The highest governance


body is the Sibelco Group
Board of Directors and the
chair is not an executive
officer.

4.3

For organizations that have a unitary board structure, state the


number of members of the highest governance body that are
independent and/or non-executive members.

fully

Sibelco Group is a
privately held company
and board members are
elected by shareholders.

4.4

Mechanisms for shareholders and employees to provide


recommendations or direction to the highest governance body.

fully

While we do not have a


formal mechanism for
communicating with
executive leadership,
there is no prohibition on
such communication. For
employee concerns, we

under the highest governance body responsible for specific


tasks, such as setting strategy or organizational oversight.

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

Organization
Profile/Governance

have a well-established
channel of communication
through supervisors and
managers.

4.13

Memberships in associations (such as industry associations)


and/or national/international advocacy organizations in which the
organization: has positions in governance bodies; participates in
projects or committees; provides substantive funding beyond
routine membership dues; or views membership as strategic.

fully

Technical Affiliations

4.14

List of stakeholder groups engaged by the organization.

fully

Communites surrounding
mining operations,
customers

4.15

Basis for identification and selection of stakeholders with whom


to engage.

fully

Unimin did a stakeholder


prioritization exercise
using an influence/interest
matrix in order to define its
stakeholder groups.
Unimin will formalize a
process to determine
which stakeholder groups
to engage during the next
reporting cycle.

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STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART III: Performance Indicators


Economic
PERFORMANCE
INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

EC1

Direct economic value generated and distributed, including

partially

EC6

Policy, practices, and proportion of spending on locally-based


suppliers at significant locations of operation.

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revenues, operating costs, employee compensation, donations


and other community investments, retained earnings, and
payments to capital providers and governments.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

Our Company &


Charitable Donations

fully

Local Investment

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STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART III: Performance Indicators


Environmental
PERFORMANCE
INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

EN3

Direct energy consumption by primary energy source.

fully

Energy

EN8

Total water withdrawal by source.

partially

Water

EN13

Habitats protected or restored.

partially

Biodiversity

EN16

Total direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight.

partially

Air Quality

EN20

NOx, SOx, and other significant air emissions by type and


weight.

partially

Air Quality

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

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STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART III: Performance Indicators


Social: Labor Practices and Decent Work
PERFORMANCE
INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

LA1

Total workforce by employment type, employment contract,

partially

Employee Profile

LA2

Total number and rate of employee turnover by age group,


gender, and region.

partially

Employee Profile

LA7

Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and


absenteeism, and number of work-related fatalities by region.

fully

Safe Workplace

LA8

Education, training, counseling, prevention, and risk-control


programs in place to assist workforce members, their families,
or community members regarding serious diseases.

fully

Preventative and
Wellness Programs

LA10

Average hours of training per year per employee by employee


category.

fully

Training

LA13

Composition of governance bodies and breakdown of


employees per category according to gender, age group,

partially

Employee Profile

and region.

minority group membership, and other indicators of diversity.

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STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART III: Performance Indicators


Social: Human Rights
PERFORMANCE
INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

HR6

Operations identified as having significant risk for incidents of

fully

In the United States,

HR9

Total number of incidents of violations involving rights of


indigenous people and actions taken.

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child labor, and measures taken to contribute to the elimination


of child labor.

Canada and Mexico we


abide by all applicable
laws and regulations that
govern worker eligibility
and prevent underage
child labor.
fully

We have no operations on
or adjacent to Indigenous
Peoples' territories. We
have no formal or informal
agreements, nor any
record of violation
involving the rights of
indigenous populations.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

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STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART III: Performance Indicators


Social: Society
PERFORMANCE
INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

SO1

Nature, scope, and effectiveness of any programs and

fully

Community Engagement

SO8

Monetary value of significant fines and total number of nonmonetary sanctions for non-compliance with laws and
regulations.

partially

Safe Workplace

practices that assess and manage the impacts of operations


on communities, including entering, operating, and exiting.

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STANDARD DISCLOSURES PART III: Performance Indicators


Mining & Metals Sector Supplement
PERFORMANCE
INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

REPORTED

CROSS-REFERENCE/
DIRECT ANSWER

MM1

Amount of land (owned or leased, and managed for

fully

Land

MM2

The number and percentage of total sites identified as


requiring biodiversity management plans according to stated
criteria, and the number (percentage) of those sites with
plans in place.

fully

Biodiversity

MM3

Total amounts of overburden, rock, tailings, and sludges


and their associated risks.

fully

Land

MM4

Number of strikes and lock-outs exceeding one week's


duration, by country.

fully

Employee Profile

MM11

Programs and progress relating to materials stewardship.

fully

Applied Research

production activities or extractive use) disturbed or


rehabilitated.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Value Beyond Minerals meansintegrity.

Our Company

Unimin Corporation was founded in 1970 with the acquisition of local silica sand companies in Virginia and

Our Approach

Minnesota. In 1973, SCR-Sibelco of Belgium became a major investor in Unimin, the majority shareholder in

Our Communities

1984 and the sole shareholder in 2006. The Sibelco Group is a privately held mineral mining and processing

Our Footprint
Our Employees

company with a long-range perspective that has guided the business for nearly 140 years. Unimin has
inherited this rich history of longer-term strategic planning. As a privately held company, Unimin is afforded the
luxury of looking beyond the quarterly demands and short-term trends for real opportunities for sustainable
growth.

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Unimin's operations are headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut and we have 57 locations in the United States, Canada and
Mexico, including 46 mining and mineral processing sites and 11 offices.

Unimin's history is defined by extensive growth and product diversification. Unimin established long term relationships with the
glass and energy services industries, which marked the beginning of a strategic campaign of acquisition, capital improvement
and new construction that still continues today. In 1983, Unimin acquired Martin Marietta's industrial sand division, and in 1986,
diversified further with acquisitions of high purity quartz, microcrystalline silica and feldspar.
In 1990, Unimin expanded into Canada with the acquisition of the nepheline syenite and silica sand operations, making it a
global supplier to the glass, ceramic, paint and plastics industries. In 1997, Unimin acquired silica sand, feldspar and calcium
carbonate operations in Mexico to form Grupo Materias Primas and in 1999 and 2000, added kaolin and ball clay to its product
portfolio. Unimin further diversified its product offering in 2006 with the addition of calcined lime in the southeastern United
States.
Today, Unimin is an application-focused company drawing from its deeply diversified product portfolio and the worldwide
production capabilities of the Sibelco Group. Unimin continues to be a solutions provider for the global industrial minerals
industry.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Organization Profile/Governance

Our Company

Unimin's operations are managed by the Executive Management Group (EMG) consisting of nine executive

Our Approach

officers who are responsible for defining the strategy and goals for the organization. The EMG reports to the

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

Sibelco Group CEO and the Sibelco Group Executive Committee, which in turn reports to the SCR-Sibelco
Group Board of Directors, the highest leadership body for Unimin's operations in the U.S., Canada and
Mexico.

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Unimin strives to be the best industrial minerals company in the


world by working hard to continuously improve our product quality,
customer services and employee skills. We accomplish these goals
through our Continuous Improvement Process (CIP). CIP is a
strategic initiative based upon the recognition that every task within
our organization can be defined, measured and improved by the
people performing those tasks. Through continuous improvement
we empower our employees and entrust to them the sustainability
of our company.
The major processes that undergo the CIP are identified by
individual departments. Our EMG decides which processes will be
selected for the CIP application and regularly assesses its
progress. Teams are assembled to evaluate company processes
by looking at the range of process types required to meet a
business objective. We identify the macro processes (such as
mining or purchasing), major processes (such as grinding or
distributing) and micro processes (such as taking samples or
logging data) that need to run well in order for us to succeed. For
each, the team is responsible for improving the selected processes
by following the five steps in the CIP:
1. Define the Process
2. Determine Process Goal and Requirements
3. Develop and Implement the Process and Monitoring
Systems
4. Measure, Control and Improve the Process
5. Assess the Process and Review with Management
We pride ourselves on being a well-structured, well-organized and
well-run organization. Unimin's Continuous Improvement programs
provide the framework and processes to look beyond daily
business challenges and develop longer term and systematic
solutions that efficiently achieve both internal and external
customer objectives. Continuous Improvement is an essential tool
to measure key GRI criteria, and as such is an important part of our
sustainability programs.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Technical Affiliations

Our Company

Unimin is proud to be aligned with numerous organizations that work to make significant contributions to

Our Approach

society. Unimin is an active participant in the Industrial Minerals Association - North America (IMA-NA), the

Our Communities

National Industrial Sand Association (NISA), and other technical and advocacy organizations that promote

Our Footprint
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best practices, enhance industry reputation and foster sustainable development in health, safety, operations
and the environment.

Technical Affiliations include:


Adhesive and Sealant Council
American Ceramic Society
American Chemical Society
American Coatings Association
American Conference of Industrial Hygienists
American Foundry Society
American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum
Engineers
American Society of Quality
American Society of Safety Engineers
Asociacin Nacional de Transporte Privado, A.C. (ANTP)
ASTM International
Board of Certified Safety Professionals
Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
Camara Minera de Mxico (CAMIMEX)
Casting Industry Suppliers Association
Ejecutivos en Relaciones Industriales A.C. (ERIAC)
Glass Manufacturers Institute of America
Glass Packaging Institute
Glass Producers Transportation Council
Golf Course Superintendents Association
Industrial Minerals Association - North America (IMA-NA)
International Association of Mine Safety Engineers
International Standards Association
National Fire Protection Association
National Freight Transportation Association
National Industrial Sand Association
National Industrial Transportation League
National Institute of Ceramic Engineers
National Lime Association
National Safety Council
National Sanitation Foundation
North American Rail Shippers
Ontario Mining Association
Quebec Mining Association
Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
Society of Petroleum Engineers
Society of Plastics Engineers
Wildlife Habitat Council

Our Report

Awards & Recognition

Our Company

Unimin strives to support our neighboring communities and to satisfy our customers while operating in a

Our Approach

responsible and conscientious manner. Consequently, our operations have been recognized by numerous

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organizations.

Our Report

Value Beyond Minerals meansinnovation.

Our Company

The minerals we mine and process have inherent physical and chemical qualities, but it takes expertise and

Our Approach

innovation to convert quarried rock into functional and valuable products. Unimin engineers industrial minerals

Our Communities
Our Footprint

to isolate specific chemical, physical and performance properties and continuously refines and improves our
product qualities to deliver value to our customers.

Our Employees
FACT
UNIMIN CORPORATION OPERATES ONE OF

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THE WORLD'S LARGEST INDUSTRIAL


MINERAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS.

Over the course of a lifetime, each of us will consume and use products
made with millions of pounds of industrial minerals. Oil and natural gas
production, ceramic floor tile, plastic film and solar energy panels all share
a common starting point by being manufactured with industrial minerals.
We build and decorate our homes, filter our water, operate businesses and
factories and enjoy leisure time using Unimin products. Depending upon
the application, finished products can take the form of powders, granules,
aggregates or stones with chemical purities and "critical to quality"
elements statistically controlled for predictable performance. Ultimately, our
products represent solutions for our customers' many manufacturing and
formulation challenges.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Industrial Minerals

Our Company

The importance of industrial minerals can easily be overlooked, but the quality of our daily lives wouldn't be

Our Approach

the same without them. Each time you turn on the computer, watch television or drive down the street, you are

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

using Unimin industrial minerals. From the food and beverages we consume to the energy that powers our
lives, Unimin plays an important role in the production, preparation and delivery of life's necessities and
luxuries.

Unimin's industrial minerals are used in the following applications and industries:

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Driving Innovation

Our Company

Good ideas come from every corner of our business. While our customers' requirements are the primary

Our Approach

catalyst for change, it is the expertise of our employees that turn those requirements into new products and

Our Communities
Our Footprint

process improvements. Unimin's culture of innovation is built upon strong customer and industry relationships,
proven technical expertise and processes that encourage and reward creative and critical thinking.

Our Employees

Our technical and sales resources are organized to respond to our


customers' requirements. The group performs experimentation and
analysis with the latest application-specific instrumentation. Our
sales and production organizations work closely with customers to
support formulation changes, facilitate process improvements and
develop new products to meet continually evolving needs.

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Each year our Corporate Research and Development Department


issues a call for research project ideas. All Unimin employees are
encouraged to participate. Ideas with commercial merit are
elevated and given rigorous technical and business review that may
lead to a new product development, process optimization, improved
testing method, or alternative use for existing products. The call for
research ideas has proven to be an important engagement point
with employees and promotes a sense of responsibility for and
ownership of Unimin's future success.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Applied Research

Our Company

Unimin operates one of the largest industrial minerals research and process development organizations in the

Our Approach

world. Unimin's application-focused research centers and technical service laboratories respond to continually

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

changing market requirements with innovative industry solutions. Committed to both basic and applied
research, these facilities support our process engineers, research scientists and technical service teams to
develop solutions for our customers. As a solutions provider, we work to increase the value of our customers'
end product. In the end, we don't just mine a product, we engineer a solution. Unimin's product innovations
often enable our customers to operate more efficiently and sustainably.

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One product innovation that came out of our applied research


laboratories is MINBLOC, a mineral additive designed specifically
for plastic film systems. MINBLOC was originally developed in
response to industry needs for antiblocking properties in high clarity
plastic packaging film. Experimentation with particle size
distribution and mineral morphology yielded a patented product that
prevents film layers from sticking together and still preserve the
clarity and see-through properties of packaging film.
A technical exchange between Unimin engineers and plastic film
customers took MINBLOC to the next level. By applying
proprietary refining and classification techniques, Unimin created
the next generation MINBLOC grades to increase food production
in extreme climates. These engineered thermal fillers improve the
efficiency of greenhouse films while reducing heating, cooling and
irrigation costs. The societal impact for those living in extreme
temperature zones is more affordable and locally available fresh
produce.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Value Beyond Minerals meanscommitment.

Our Company

We are first and foremost citizens of our communities, so our standing as a good corporate citizen and

Our Approach

neighbor is not just a symbolic gesture. It is an important component of our standard operating practices that

Our Communities

shapes our business decisions. Whether it is in the form of charitable donations, supporting local businesses

Our Footprint

or simply reaching out to have a conversation, Unimin endeavors to be a good neighbor.

Our Employees
FACT
EVERY UNIMIN PLANT DEVELOPS AN

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ANNUAL COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN TO


ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN AND
CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

Unimin established the Native Prairie Restoration Project in 1982 to work


with local residents and advocacy groups to preserve the natural state of
the Minnesota prairie. At a project site located about 2 miles southwest of
Kasota, Unimin has restored 140 acres of native cool season grasses,
forbs, juniper and oak trees along the Minnesota River. As a part of this
project, we also set aside a bed of ancient dolomite outcroppings found in
this area. The ancient rock formations have remained untouched as a
preserved prairie ecosystem since 1984. Other areas that have been
damaged by overgrazing are routinely returned to their natural state
through restoration techniques and in some cases, Unimin has created
additional prairie through the reclamation process.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Community Engagement

Our Company

Unimin operations depend upon good community relations and a constructive partnership that encourages

Our Approach

communication among our company, our employees and our community. To this end, every Unimin plant

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

proactively develops a Community Action Plan (CAP) that is tailored to address local issues. Our Community
Action Plans reflect the needs of the surrounding community and our desire to establish ongoing dialogue and
rapport with local governments, civic organizations and environmental groups.

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Unimin encourages positive engagement and open communication


through annual meetings with local environmental and educational
groups. In Kasota, Minnesota, community action plans include an
open house and field trips for local schools and groups such as the
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Prairie Ecology Bus Center and Prairie
Restoration. Our efforts in Kasota have been acknowledged with
the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for outstanding
service to the community.
The Community Action Plan at Nephton/Blue Mountain focuses on
people of the community:
Unimin offers tours, workshops and field trips to school
groups, area residents and a local children's group, the
Kassh Kids Club. Activities include tours of the mine site,
bee and bat habitat workshops and the construction of loon
nesting rafts.
We engage our neighbors and encourage them to ask us
questions. Unimin shares information about best
management practices we have implemented to reduce
noise and dust and to ensure the community's air quality.
We made a five year commitment to donate to the
Campbellford Memorial Hospital CT Scan Fundraising
Drive.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Local Investment

Our Company

Unimin is committed to the economic development of the communities in which we work. Stimulating the local

Our Approach

economy makes all of us stronger, and that is why each Unimin facility is encouraged to purchase from local

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

vendors whenever possible. For example, we support local commerce in Ottawa, Minnesota through a
longstanding relationship with a local cooperative that provides Unimin with diesel fuel, gasoline, industrial
lubricants and other operating products. Thirty-seven percent of total expenditures at Unimin's seven largest
facilities are transacted with vendors within 100 miles of our facilities. We are members of our communities, so
an investment in the community is seen as an investment in Unimin.

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This year, Unimin announced a multi-million dollar expansion of our


mining and processing operations in the village of Utica, Illinois.
With consent of the townspeople, Unimin will construct five new
structures and expand its production and commercial activities in
Utica. The project will create 30 to 40 new jobs, generate more than
$100,000 in building permit fees and increase the municipal tax
base by $25,000. In addition, the Village's equalized assessed
value will increase by more than $10 million.
Unimin and the Utica Village government engaged the public before
beginning the expansion to make sure the perspectives of local
residents had been effectively considered. Through an annexation
and rezoning agreement with the Village, Unimin also transferred
1,700 acres of Company-owned farmland and mining space to the
village. Utica's Mayor Fred Esmond commended Unimin for its
responsible approach to the expansion, saying, "I'd like to thank
Unimin for being a good neighbor."

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Charitable Donations

Our Company

One tangible way Unimin shows its commitment to the welfare of our local communities is through donation.

Our Approach

We recognize that volunteered time and money can change lives, and we are fortunate to be able to share

Our Communities

both in times of despair or need. Unimin contributes to support the American Red Cross, United Way and

Our Footprint

cancer research. We also make special efforts in the communities in which we work and have donated an

Our Employees

ambulance, tornado warning system, fire department apparatus and street maintenance equipment. We are
quick to respond when natural disaster strikes. When a fatal tornado devastated the Tuscaloosa region of
Alabama, Unimin presented The Salvation Army with a check to help affected residents.

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ADVANCING EDUCATION
ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE

In Jltipan, Veracruz, Mexico our commitment to family and


community takes the form of a new elementary school. The need
for elementary schooling options for our employee's children was
first recognized in 1986 when GMP funded a private kindergarten.
The original population of 23 children grew rapidly as local
residents who also sought better education for their children were
invited to join the GMP school. Enrollment has since grown to more
than 200 children. The school has been recognized for its high
quality of education and has received several regional awards for
its athletics, spelling contests and 'Knowledge Games'. Since its
founding, the school has been recognized across the region for the
value it adds to the Jltipan community.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Charitable Donations

Our Company

One tangible way Unimin shows its commitment to the welfare of our local communities is through monetary

Our Approach

donation. We recognize that volunteered time and money can change lives, and we're fortunate to be able to

Our Communities

share both in times of despair or need. Unimin contributes to support the American Red Cross, United Way

Our Footprint

and cancer research. We also make special efforts in the communities in which we work, and have donated

Our Employees

an ambulance, tornado warning system, fire department apparatus and street maintenance equipment. We
are quick to respond when natural disaster strikes. When a fatal tornado devastated the Tuscaloosa region of
Alabama Unimin presented The Salvation Army with a check to help affected residents.

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READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORIES
ADVANCING EDUCATION

ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE

Our operations in Ahuazotepec, Puebla, Mexico are in a


municipality of just over 10,000 mostly low-income residents with
very limited access to healthcare. In 2003, Grupo Materias Primas
(GMP) signed a support agreement with the city of Ahuazotepec to
donate 1,500,000 Mexican pesos for the construction of a
rehabilitation clinic for people with disabilities. Before this facility
was constructed, residents had to travel 170 kilometers (over 105
miles) to the nearest city for treatment. The construction was
completed in 2004 and currently serves the families and residents
of Ahuazotepec.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Value Beyond Minerals meansrespect.

Our Company

Unimin has made environmental stewardship a cornerstone of its management philosophy since its inception

Our Approach

in 1970. While compliance with all local, state and federal regulatory and statutory requirements has always

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

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been a mandatory operating objective, our intention is to exceed these requirements through our Continuous
Improvement Process (CIP). Environmental stewardship is a corporate sustainability initiative intended to
"take demonstrable steps worldwide to improve Unimin's overall environmental performance".

FACT
74% OF UNIMIN'S MINE SITES ARE
CERTIFIED BY THE WILDLIFE HABITAT
COUNCIL AND 14% ARE CERTIFIED
CORPORATE LANDS FOR LEARNING.

Managing resources responsibly, efficiently utilizing water and energy


assets, and minimizing emissions and wastes have always been an
integral part of our business strategy. We view resource management, and
especially land utilization, as the long term sustainability plan for company
and community natural assets. In stark contrast to alternate development
projects, mining is a transitional process that ultimately returns the land
and associated environmental assets to an ecologically appropriate
landscape. Unimin applies its continuous improvement process to all
aspects of resource management and utilization; tailoring our best
practices to plan, manage and restore mining operations.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Land

Our Company

Land is arguably the most important asset we manage so we invest significant financial and human effort to

Our Approach

efficiently use these most valuable resources. Our objective is to balance economic and environmental

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

objectives in a manner that ultimately returns the land to an ecologically appropriate landscape. Three
dimensional mine modeling maximizes the land's productive output while minimizing waste. With the
assistance of a staff botanist and environmental engineers, Unimin proactively designs a reclamation strategy
as part of every mine development plan and implements that strategy throughout the mineral extraction
process.

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READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORY


GLEASON, TENNESSEE

Our Report

Land

Our Company

Land is arguably the most important asset we manage so we invest significant financial and human effort to

Our Approach

efficiently use these most valuable resources. Our objective is to balance economic and environmental

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

objectives in a manner that ultimately returns the land to an ecologically appropriate landscape. Three
dimensional mine modeling maximizes the land's productive output while minimizing waste. With the
assistance of a staff botanist and environmental engineers, Unimin proactively designs and funds a
reclamation strategy as part of every mine development plan and implements that strategy throughout the
mineral extraction process.

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READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORY
GLEASON, TENNESSEE

Active mining and restoration projects are concurrently managed at


Unimin's Gleason, TN plant since 1999, where Unimin has set
aside 494 acres for land and wildlife habitat enhancement projects.
In partnership with the University of Tennessee, our Gleason team
participates in a Native Grass Habitat project to recreate farmland
and rolling landscapes that incorporate native grasses and
wildflowers. Through this innovative and ongoing program,
graduate and undergraduate students conduct soils and seed pods
research on the sprawling property. Unimin volunteers also sponsor
field study outings for Gleason area elementary and middle school
students. "Try It" teaching activities are regularly scheduled in
conjunction with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the
Weakly County Health Department, Frog Haven Camp and local
Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Energy

Our Company

Consistent with our continuous improvement culture, it is our objective to improve our energy efficiency and

Our Approach

reduce consumption to conserve energy. Unimin plants operate with state-of-the-art technologies to minimize

Our Communities

energy consumption and some locations employ renewable energy sources including hydropower and biogas

Our Footprint
Our Employees

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to help preserve limited natural resources. A corporate environmental officer coordinates the activities of
environmental professionals to ensure operations are consistent with our commitment to sustainability.

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NEPHTON/BLUE MOUNTAIN

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Efforts to improve our environmental impact will continue for years to


come. The data below will provide a baseline for measuring our
performance.

Our Report

Energy

Our Company

Consistent with our continuous improvement culture, it is our objective to improve our energy efficiency and

Our Approach

reduce consumption to conserve energy. Unimin plants operate with state-of-the-art technologies to minimize

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

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energy consumption and some locations employ renewable energy sources including hydro-power and biogas to help preserve limited natural resources. A corporate environmental officer coordinates the activities of
environmental professionals to ensure operations are consistent with our commitment to sustainability.

READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORY


NEPHTON/BLUE MOUNTAIN

In 2010, our Nephton and Blue Mountain plants joined the Ontario
Power Authority's Demand Response Program (DR3) in partnership
with Direct Energy. When the generation system is operating at
capacity, the utility will ask member companies to curtail their
power demand during peak demand periods. When called upon,
Unimin shuts down equipment, selectively operates equipment or
takes other steps to reduce electricity consumption. The Nephton
and Blue Mountain operations have historically been able to make
reductions from 8 megawatts to 4.5 megawatts. This benefits
energy suppliers because they use less electricity when it is most
expensive, and the utility preserves the reliability of the electric grid
without the expense of expanded utility infrastructure. In 2010, our
Ontario operations were able to comply with all 12 curtailment
requests.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Water

Our Company

Water is an essential component of our mining and mineral beneficiation processes. We understand the finite

Our Approach

quality of this vital resource, and work diligently to ensure that water is managed in a way that is profitable for

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

the business as well as sustainable for the environment. Unimin strives to optimize its water balance by
continuously recycling and reusing process water in closed loop systems. In addition to our conservation
efforts, Unimin is equally diligent to control effluent water quality, monitor permitted discharge and proactively
manage for upsets caused by excessive storm waters.

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READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORY


WATER CONSERVATION IN MEXICO

Unimin monitors suspended solids, pH and several other


parameters to ensure conformance with water quality permits.
Several locations employ video surveillance and pH monitoring
systems to supply historical trending of pH data, visual turbidity
information and alarms for "upsets" in real time. Other initiatives
include variable frequency drives on freshwater and by-product
discharge pumps at Blue Mountain, Ontario. Installation of these
drives has reduced overall water demand with a corresponding
reduction in process waters to be treated and discharged.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Water

Our Company

Water is an essential component of our mining and mineral beneficiation processes. We understand the finite

Our Approach

quality of this vital resource, and work diligently to ensure that water is managed in a way that is profitable for

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

the business as well as sustainable for the environment. Unimin strives to optimize its water balance by
continuously recycling and reusing process water in closed loop systems. In addition to our conservation
efforts, Unimin is equally diligent to control effluent water quality, monitor permitted discharge and proactively
manage for upsets caused by excessive storm waters.

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WATER CONSERVATION IN MEXICO

Our plant in San Jos, Guanajuato, Mexico, is located in a semiarid, water stressed area, so we've gone to great lengths to
manage our water consumption. In 2009, we designed and installed
a new system to capture and use rainwater collected in the byproduct impoundments. This simple innovation dramatically
reduced water loss due to evaporation or seepage, making more
surface water available for plant processes and decreasing the
demand for produced groundwater. The sustainable advantage to
our local community is more groundwater availability for local
agriculture.
All plants in the Grupo Materias Primas operations have made
improvements to existing water practices, such as replacing lowerefficiency pump motors with more efficient and soft-start motor
types when feasible. A computer-based electrical monitoring
system successfully reduced peak rate water usage at Lampazos,
Nuevo Len.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Air Quality

Our Company

Unimin is committed to protecting the ecological and social welfare of our surrounding communities by

Our Approach

minimizing emissions from our facilities. We accomplish this objective by identifying and using cleaner

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

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alternate energy sources and by installing control devices that reduce air pollution at our operations. Unimin
plants undergo comprehensive environmental audits, as well as comparative impact studies, as prerequisites
for operating permits.

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HEPHZIBAH, GEORGIA

Our Report

Air Quality

Our Company

Unimin is committed to protecting the ecological and social welfare of our surrounding communities by

Our Approach

minimizing emissions from our facilities. We accomplish this objective by identifying and using cleaner

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

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alternate energy sources and by installing control devises that reduce air pollution at our operations. Each
Unimin plant undergoes a comprehensive environmental audit, as well as comparative impact studies, as a
prerequisite for operating permits.

READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORY


HEPHZIBAH, GEORGIA

Our Hephzibah, Georgia plant has an agreement with the


Richmond County municipal landfill to channel its methane gas
emissions to burn in our mills and flash dryers. All landfills generate
methane gas, one of the most potent sources of CO2. This
cooperation significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions by
using the methane generated by the landfill. To maintain operations
during times of low methane emission from the landfill, Unimin
installed a system that supplements pipeline natural gas. Over time,
the ratio of landfill gas versus total gas has increased from 50.7% in
2001 to an average of 86.5% from 2004 through 2010.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Biodiversity

Our Company

An essential component of Unimin's resource management program is our commitment to preserve and

Our Approach

propagate the diversity of animal and plant life on the lands we manage. Since 1993, Unimin has been

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

regularly recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for our preservation and restoration efforts. The
WHC is a nonprofit conservation organization that acknowledges corporate efforts to enhance wildlife habitats
through a certification process known as Wildlife at Work. These certifications are reviewed and reissued
every two to three years in order to ensure that habitat development efforts are ongoing.

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READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORIES


WILDLIFE HABITAT COUNCIL
ENHANCING HABITATS
THE INDIANA BAT

As early as 2003, 75% of our U.S. locations were certified or recertified as Wildlife at Work sites. Unimin's facilities establish WHC
objectives as part of their annual community action plan and
complete WHC's recertification process every three years. The
Wildlife at Work program presents an annual award called the
Corporate Habitat of the Year, which recognizes one corporate land
annually for outstanding environmental stewardship and employee
volunteer efforts. Our Tamms/Elco mining and mineral processing
operations won this prestigious award in both 2002 and 2005.
Other WHC Awards include:
Community Partner of the Year - 2006
Presented to Dr. Timothy C. Carter, Ph.D. of Ball State
University in conjunction with the Tamms/Elco plant for
establishing and maintaining an exceptional bat habitat
restoration and conservation program.
Signatures of Sustainability - 2008
Awarded to Tamms/Elco as one of 20 companies who
exemplify the highest standards for a WHC program,
making the communities around them a better place for
both biodiversity and learners of all ages.
Prairies for Tomorrow - 2009
Presented to the Portage, Wisconsin plant and its dedicated
team who manage the wildlife habitat projects.
Unimin also supports and participates in the WHC initiative
Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL). CLL is a certification program
intended to foster innovative teaching methods and provide the
community with an opportunity to be involved in corporate
conservation efforts. CLL certification provides third party
recognition for educational programs, as well as guidance on
building, expanding and evaluating subsequent initiatives.
Seven Unimin sites are certified Corporate Lands for Learning,
including our plant in Gleason, Tennessee. This year Gleason plant
employees sponsored a 4th grade field trip to Unimin's
Environmental Education Pavilion on the site of a reclaimed clay
mine. The site has a wildlife viewing tower, wildlife food plots and
ponds where students did hands-on experiments to learn about soil
erosion in their area.

Our Report

Biodiversity

Our Company

An essential component of Unimin's resource management program is our commitment to preserve and

Our Approach

propagate the diversity of animal and plant life on the lands we manage. Since 1996, Unimin has been

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

regularly recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for our preservation and restoration efforts. The
WHC is a nonprofit conservation organization that acknowledges corporate efforts to enhance wildlife habitats
through a certification process known as Wildlife at Work. To ensure that habitat development efforts are
ongoing these certifications are reviewed and reissued every three years.

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WILDLIFE HABITAT COUNCIL

ENHANCING HABITATS
THE INDIANA BAT

Our Tamms/Elco wildlife management team initiated a two-year


project to address issues of food scarcity and shelter for native
songbirds and butterflies. The project involves planting wildflowers,
native grasses and prairie plants in an open field and installing
protective hedges of blackberry and barberry around the field
perimeter. The project will provide food and shelter for the existing
animals and increase the population and diversity of these species.
Employees at Tamms and Elco also partner with the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources to construct a breeding pond for
the Alligator Snapping Turtle, nesting boxes for Bluebirds and
ponds for several species of pan fish. The team is actively involved
in projects to protect threatened species in the area, including the
Timber Rattlesnake. Project 9-1-1 is a program that rescues snakes
from the roadways and backyards of local residents. Snakes are
transported to a nine acre field on Unimin grounds where we plant
and maintain ground cover for the snakes throughout the growing
season.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Biodiversity

Our Company

An essential component of Unimin's resource management program is our commitment to preserve and

Our Approach

propagate the diversity of animal and plant life on the lands we manage. Since 1996, Unimin has been

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

regularly recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for our preservation and restoration efforts. The
WHC is a nonprofit conservation organization that acknowledges corporate efforts to enhance wildlife habitats
through a certification process known as Wildlife at Work. To ensure that habitat development efforts are
ongoing these certifications are reviewed and reissued every three years.

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READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORIES


WILDLIFE HABITAT COUNCIL
ENHANCING HABITATS
THE INDIANA BAT

Some local residents live deep beyond the gate of a closed mine.
The Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) has been endangered since 1967.
In 1995, Unimin discovered that about 100 Indiana Bats had made
a home in our depleted Magazine Mine near the Tamms, Illinois
site. Unimin's Senior Environmental Specialist contacted Bat
Conservation International (BCI) and a collaborative preservation
effort was organized among Unimin, BCI, the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources (IDNR), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
Dr. Timothy C. Carter, a zoologist and professor at Ball State
University. Unimin stabilized the main entrance, developed a
second entrance to maintain proper airflow and installed batfriendly gates for the bats to thrive. As a result of these efforts, the
bat species population in this mine has grown to nearly 50,000
today. Dr. Carter's work with Unimin to restore the Indiana bat
population has also helped gain wider recognition for similar
programs via articles published in the Chicago Tribune and
Smithsonian magazine. The Magazine Mine is a model example of
wildlife preservation and conservation and the site has won several
major conservation awards.

Our Report

Value Beyond Minerals meansteam work.

Our Company

At Unimin, our employees are our number one priority. Energetic, intelligent and motivated people find

Our Approach

professional fulfillment and career-long opportunities at Unimin. We recruit and retain the best people by

Our Communities

offering our employees a work environment where their talents and energies are challenged. From highly

Our Footprint

trained equipment specialists to professional engineers and research scientists, talented individuals work

Our Employees

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together as colleagues with shared objectives and recognition.

FACT
UNIMIN ESTABLISHED AN INDUSTRY
MILESTONE WHEN THE COMPANY WORKED
4.57 MILLION HOURS WITHOUT A LOST TIME
INCIDENT.

Unimin encourages a work-life balance where both professional and


personal lives can thrive. Safety and health are our highest priorities. We
have a full-time Safety and Health Supervisor at each facility as well as a
Corporate Safety and Health Department of certified safety professionals
who emphasize risk awareness and safe work practices. We promote a
smoke-free environment, healthy living habits and safe work practices that
contribute to employee wellness at work, at home and in the community.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Employee Profile

Our Company

We value our employees' hard work and dedication and recognize their contributions by providing

Our Approach

opportunities for advancement. Because of this, many of our employees have been with us for a decade or

Our Communities

more and some have been with us their entire working career.

Our Footprint
Our Employees
Our turnover rates are low, especially at our operations in Mexico,

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where the turnover rate is 3.3% for hourly employees compared to


the 6.47% national average. We enjoy stable and cooperative labor
relations and have not had a labor disruption or work stoppage in
the last 20 years. This history of good labor relations is indicative of
our ongoing efforts to maintain open communications with
employees. Grupo Materias Primas formalizes this process through
an organizational climate survey that is distributed every other year
- a process that will continue to add value going forward.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Safe Workplace

Our Company

A healthy and safe work environment has always been a core value at Unimin. Our objective is to prevent

Our Approach

injuries and promote the health of our corporate family. Robust programs designed to reinforce this health and

Our Communities

safety culture are regionally directed and continuously renewed with employee inputs. The result is rewarding.

Our Footprint
Our Employees

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Unimin's record of 4.57 million hours without a lost time incident includes four years of lost time incident-free
operations in Mexico and several facilities with more than 2 million lost time incident-free hours.

READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORIES


CONTRACTOR SAFETY
SLAMMING RISKS
ERGONOMICS

Our mining and mineral processing facilities at Schoolhouse Quartz


in North Carolina and Voca in Texas have been singled out for their
exemplary safety records by receiving the prestigious Sentinels of
Safety Award. The Sentinels of Safety is awarded by the Mine
Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in cooperation with the
National Mining Association (NMA). This award was first
announced in 1925 by then U.S. Secretary of Commerce and
former mining engineer Herbert Hoover. It recognizes mining
operations with the best safety and health performance, stimulates
greater interest in safety and encourages development of more
effective accident prevention programs in mineral extractive
industries.

As a privately held company, Unimin does not disclose financial data. For
GRI indicator SO8, we provide our VPID (Violations per Inspection Day)
data. The table below shows that Unimin's inspection record is in line with
other IMA-NA (Industrial Minerals Association - North America) member
large companies.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Safe Workplace

Our Company

A healthy and safe work environment has always been a core value at Unimin. Our objective is to prevent

Our Approach

injuries and promote the health of our corporate family. Robust programs designed to reinforce this health and

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

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safety culture are regionally directed and continuously renewed with employee inputs. The result is
rewarding...Unimin's record of 4.57 million hours without a lost time incident includes four years of incidentfree operations in Mexico and several facilities that have posted more than 2 million incident-free hours.

READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORIES


CONTRACTOR SAFETY
SLAMMING RISKS
ERGONOMICS

Safety is our primary concern for everyone who works on Unimin


property, so it's only natural that Unimin safety initiatives would
include our on-site contractors. We employ a robust prequalification process to assess the safety records of potential
contractors. As part of this process, contractors must complete a
questionnaire and disclose their health and safety performance
record. Unimin reviews the contractors' training, inspection and
audit programs, looks for voluntary participation in industry
associations and reviews their Experience Modification Ratings to
determine their "safety status". With this system in place, the low
bidder is not always the winning bidder. A contractor's safety status,
as determined by our pre-qualification process, serves as a
significant element in the selection process. Unimin implemented
this additional layer of scrutiny in 2008 to ensure that our
contractors are among the safest in the industry.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Safe Workplace

Our Company

A healthy and safe work environment has always been a core value at Unimin. Our objective is to prevent

Our Approach

injuries and promote the health of our corporate family. Robust programs designed to reinforce this health and

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

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safety culture are regionally directed and continuously renewed with employee inputs. The result is
rewarding...Unimin's record of 4.57 million hours without a lost time incident includes four years of incidentfree operations in Mexico and several facilities that have posted more than 2 million incident-free hours.

READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORIES


CONTRACTOR SAFETY

SLAMMING RISKS
ERGONOMICS

SLAM RISKS is a program developed by the Mine Safety and


Health Administration (MSHA) to encourage workers to thoroughly
assess and control hazards, share safety lessons with co-workers
and evaluate hazards whenever there is a change in process or
practice. The acronym SLAM RISKS stands for Stop, Look,
Analyze and Manage, and Remember, Identify, Share, Know,
Safety. The SLAM RISKS program is implemented throughout
Unimin and underscores the premium Unimin's management
places on thoughtful and safe work practices. Once each year
Unimin hosts SLAM RISKS day to remind our employees and their
families of the importance of managing risk and making safe
decisions at work and at home. It is an opportunity to emphasize
safety in all aspects of our lives.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Safe Workplace

Our Company

A healthy and safe work environment has always been a core value at Unimin. Our objective is to prevent

Our Approach

injuries and promote the health of our corporate family. Robust programs designed to reinforce this health and

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees

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safety culture are regionally directed and continuously renewed with employee inputs. The result is
rewarding...Unimin's record of 4.57 million hours without a lost time incident includes four years of incidentfree operations in Mexico and several facilities that have posted more than 2 million incident-free hours.

READ OUR HIGHLIGHT STORIES


CONTRACTOR SAFETY
SLAMMING RISKS

ERGONOMICS

Unimin is a strong believer in improvement of the working


environment through better ergonomic design. Each Unimin facility
has an Ergonomics Team that is charged with identifying and
recommending ergonomic improvements to plant management.
The team's recommendations range from simple, inexpensive
adjustments to more sophisticated and automated upgrades.
Unimin's senior plant management takes an active role in support
of each Ergonomics Team. Unimin has already seen reductions in
the number and severity of musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses
as a result of their efforts.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Preventative & Wellness Programs

Our Company

Corporate Safety & Health and Human Resources Departments teamed up to establish early detection and

Our Approach

wellness programs for Unimin employees and families.

Our Communities
Our Footprint
Our Employees
Wellness programs are designed to provide employees and their
spouses with information that helps promote healthier lifestyles*.
Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) - Unimin has partnered
with WellSource, Inc. for administration of HRAs to
employees and their spouses. Assessments are completed
either on paper or online and submitted directly to
WellSource. In turn, WellSource produces a Personal
Wellness Profile (PWP) that highlights ways to improve the
participant's current lifestyle. Unimin provides our

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UNIMIN CORPORATION

employees and their spouses with incentives to participate


in this program.
Annual health screenings/biometrics - Free health
screenings are available annually to every employee and
his or her spouse.
Bi-annual Health Program (BHP) - Focuses on respiratory
disease and hearing loss using biennial chest X-rays,
pulmonary function tests and audiograms. This program is
run at no cost to participating employees. Results from our
BHP are used in combination with employee exposure data
to confirm that an adequate hierarchy of controls is in place
and functioning.
We also offer an Employee Assistance Program that provides
confidential counseling to employees and their immediate families.
*US only

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

Our Report

Training

Our Company

We recognize the value of a skilled workforce and the need for on-going training and education to ensure that

Our Approach

our employees perform their jobs to the best of their ability. In 2010, Unimin delivered about 70,000 hours of

Our Communities

training to its salaried and hourly employees.

Our Footprint
Our Employees
Unimin is registered with the National Council of Examiners for
Engineering and Surveying/National Registered Providers of
Continuing Education Program. Accreditation with this nationwide
registry is awarded to organizations that demonstrate adherence to
high-quality, effective practices in the development and delivery of
professional education activities for engineers, while promoting
quality training to its engineers.

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UNIMIN CORPORATION

In addition to job-specific and technical training, our employees


attend sessions on the following topics:
Administrative Disaster Recovery Plan Refresher Training
Alcohol & Controlled Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation
Training
Continuous Improvement Process /Quality Improvement
Process Awareness Refresher Training
Environmental Awareness Refresher Training
Ergonomics
First Aid/AED Refresher Training
Hearing Conservation Refresher Training
MSHA Annual Refresher Training
Plant Specific Policy & Procedure Training
Safety Meetings: Accident Prevention, Confined Space,
Dust Reduction, Fall Protection & Fire Security Training

In 2008 Unimin began in-house production of our own safety


training videos. These safety videos feature Unimin employees at
Unimin sites, leveraging the viewers' familiarity with the training
scenario to send a stronger message. Our employees report that
in-house training videos better grab their attention and more
effectively communicate the safety message. Unimin has produced
12 safety videos to date.

2011 Unimin Corporation All rights reserved.

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