Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association - HIEA

10/05/2026

Hamilton's link in the aluminum supply chain

Many people pass Hamilton's east-end industrial lands without knowing what happens there. One facility takes a by-product of steelmaking and turns it into materials that much of modern industry depends on.

When coal is processed into coke for steel production, it releases coal tar. Rather than treating it as waste, this facility distills it, much as a refinery separates crude oil, into a range of usable products.

The most important is coal tar pitch, which serves as the binder in the carbon anodes used to smelt aluminum. That aluminum goes on to become vehicles, aircraft, beverage cans, and power lines.

The remaining fractions are used in adhesives, tire rubber, construction materials, wood preservation, and specialty chemicals. Hamilton is also now home to research into adapting this carbon chemistry for lithium-ion battery materials.

It's a reminder that Hamilton's industrial story extends well beyond steel itself.

10/02/2026

Hamilton may be best known for steel, but the city’s industrial economy reaches far beyond it.

One important example is **oilseed processing** — an industry that connects Canadian agriculture, food production, transportation and manufacturing.

Crops such as canola and soybeans can be processed into higher-value products used in food manufacturing, animal feed, industrial applications and renewable fuels.

That means more of the economic value created from Canadian crops stays here in Canada.

Hamilton is especially well suited to this kind of industry because of its **port, rail and highway connections**, which help move agricultural products efficiently between farms, processors and customers.

The benefits extend well beyond the processing facility itself. These operations support skilled jobs for operators, millwrights, electricians, engineers, laboratory staff and logistics specialists, while also creating business for local contractors, transportation companies and suppliers.

It is a strong example of how Hamilton’s traditional industrial strengths can support a growing agri-food economy.

By combining skilled labour, industrial infrastructure and a working waterfront, Hamilton continues to create value for the city, Ontario farmers and Canada’s broader manufacturing economy.

09/29/2026

Steel is not just part of Canada’s economy. It is part of Ontario’s industrial backbone — and nowhere is that more visible than in Hamilton.

For generations, Hamilton has been at the centre of Canadian steelmaking, manufacturing and metal processing. Those industries support skilled jobs, supply chains, construction, transportation, energy infrastructure and communities across Ontario and the country.
But the value of steel and other metals does not end when a product reaches the end of its first useful life.

Metal recycling allows those materials to become productive resources again.

Ontario has a significant network of recyclers, processors, manufacturers and transportation companies that recover metal and return it to the industrial supply chain. In a manufacturing centre like Hamilton, that circular relationship is particularly important.
Recycling steel and other metals helps:
- keep valuable materials in productive use;
- reduce the amount of material sent to landfill;
- reduce demand for newly extracted raw materials;
- strengthen Ontario and Canadian supply chains;
- support jobs and investment in the industrial economy; and
- reduce the energy and greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing metals from virgin materials.

Using recycled metal generally requires substantially less energy than producing the same material from newly mined resources. Every tonne of metal recovered and returned to productive use represents an opportunity to preserve resources and reduce the environmental footprint of the products our economy needs.

Hamilton already understands something that is increasingly important to the broader economy: "industry and environmental progress are not opposing goals."

A strong steel sector, a strong metals-recycling industry and a competitive Ontario manufacturing base can reinforce one another.

The circular economy is not an abstract concept here. In Hamilton, it happens every day — materials are recovered, processed, remanufactured and put back to work.

As Canada looks to strengthen domestic manufacturing, improve supply-chain resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Ontario’s steel and metal-recycling sectors should be recognized as an important part of that solution.

05/25/2026

HIEA and its members are proud to sponsor PIVOT 2026: Climate Action for a Sustainable Future as the sponsor of the Climate Exchanges – Parallel Streams Panel. This important discussion reflects HIEA’s ongoing commitment to practical, collaborative climate action that brings industry, government, and community partners together to address shared environmental challenges. Through continued dialogue, innovation, and responsible local leadership, HIEA members are working to support a more sustainable future for Hamilton, Ontario, and the broader industrial sector.

Opening Keynote Speaker Dr. David SuzukiClosing Keynote Speaker Anthony MorganClimate Innovators Gala Hosted by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce featuring the Honourable Bob RaeClick Here for more details Register Now Spring 2026 PIVOT ConferenceMay 27-28, 2026 Climate Action for a Sustainable Future Ho...

05/25/2026

The Hamilton Children's Water festival is happening this week. HIEA is proud to sponsor the Hamilton Children’s Water Festival this week, supporting an engaging educational event that helps students learn about the importance of water, conservation, and environmental stewardship. As an organization representing member companies in Hamilton’s industrial community, HIEA values opportunities to support hands-on learning and community initiatives that encourage young people to think about sustainability, shared resources, and the future of our local environment. We’re pleased to be part of a program that inspires students to better understand and protect one of our most essential resources: water.

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12/16/2025

12/16/2025