SABAF - ANNUAL REPORT 2015
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
SABAF and the environment HEALTH AND SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY POLICY
DIALOGUE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS
Programme and objectives
The Group has long promoted the dissemination of information about the lower environmental impact resulting from the use of gas in cooking instead of electricity. The use of gas to generate heat offers far higher yields than those that can be obtained with electric cooking appliances. In addition, there is worldwide demand for increased power and multiple cooking points (plates/burners) to cook food quickly. An increase in electric hobs would cause an increase in peak electricity consumption, typically around meal times, further increasing electricity demand which is already difficult to meet.
Protecting workers’ health and safety, the environment, and ensuring the efficient and rational use of natural and energy resources are part of Sabaf’s strategic commitments. In terms of the processes for the production of gas cooker components, for our organisation it is now an ongoing challenge to achieve labour standards that ensure the health and utmost safety of our staff and those who work on our behalf. An integral part of this challenge is reducing environmental impacts and minimising the use of natural resources and energy, starting from the product design stage and through the different stages of production, with a view to the entire operational life cycle of the product. For this reason, Sabaf has adopted and applies an Integrated System for the Management of Health, Safety, the Environment and Energy, which – in combination with the other Management Systems at the company – provides an effective way to reduce risks, environmental impacts and energy use via the following means: • Ensuring continued full compliance with current laws and regulations and other voluntary standards, using these proactively for ongoing EHS&En process monitoring. • Assessing EHS&En aspects before entering into the design phase, process changes and purchasing goods and services. • Preparing, disseminating and continually applying this Policy in order to engage and ensure the participation of all employees and contractors in achieving our EHS&En performance goals. Sabaf is committed to pursuing the following objectives: • Preventing pollution and minimising energy use by continuously improving its processes and products, designing them to maximise the benefits deriving from minimising their impacts on the environment and energy consumption. • Pursuing efficiencies in the use of natural and energy resources in the production phase, especially as regards water and energy consumption. • Reducing the quantity of waste produced and improving its quality in terms of hazardousness and reusability. The environmental management system in place at the Ospitaletto plant (which accounts for around 80% of total Group production) has been ISO 14001 certified since 2003. During 2015, Sabaf’s Environmental Management System was constantly maintained and monitored to guarantee its correct implementation and compliance with the requirements of the standard. As regards the audit conducted by third parties on the system, CSQ conducted its renewal audit at the headquarters at Ospitaletto (May 2015), confirming that the system is effectively applied. In 2008, Sabaf S.p.A. obtained the Integrated Environmental Authorisation (IPPC) from the Region of Lombardy pursuant to Legislative Decree 59 of 18 February 2005. In 2015 the Ospitaletto site was certified compliant with ISO 50001 as regards reducing environmental impacts and restricting the use of natural and energy resources.
PROCESS INNOVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Washing of metals The production process for valves requires the washing of metals in several phases. Traditionally, the metals were washed using systems which use chlorine-based solvents. In 2013 Sabaf began to assess alternatives which could guarantee an equal or superior washing quality, while at the same time minimising the environmental impact and management costs. The solution identified involves inserting machinery into the production process; this machinery uses a washing system based on a modified alcohol, a solvent which can be re-distilled (and hence recycled). With an investment of around €1,000,000, the replacement process resulted in the complete substitution of all of the Company’s washing machinery. The environmental impact and management costs have essentially eliminated.
Product marking Standards in force require products to be marked with a series of distinctive characteristics. Until now the printing has always been done using an ink-jet system: this system makes it possible to print just three lines, with a pre-set number of characters for each line, and with an annual management cost of around €60,000 for ink, solvents and maintenance. Sabaf has decided to opt for a fibre-optic laser marking system which makes it possible to print all the necessary characters on products, without any limitations. In the last three years, with an investment of €250,000, all the ink-jet systems have been replaced with fibre-optic laser marking systems, thereby eliminating the management costs.
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