Being responsible...environment
Facts & Figures
Latexco's management has always been committed to the environmental aspects of latex foam production. A high-quality product must be environmentally compatible if it is to be accepted by our customers. Economic efficiency and environmental protection are therefore closely interlinked with our innovative processes.
In 2003 Latexco participated in the Flemish Covenant Energy Benchmarking. This Covenant aims at a maximum contribution from industry to the rational use of energy and to the objectives of greenhouse gas emission reduction according to the Kyoto protocol. By participating in the covenant Latexco commits itself to bringing and/or keeping the energy efficiency of its process installations to the best international standard by 2012, taking into account continuous improvement of these standards.
Key dates for wastewater treatment are:
• 1989: Physicochemical treatment of wastewater
• 1997: Additional Biological Wastewater plant
• 2000: All-round BAT wastewater treatment study
• 2001: € 2mn investment in a state-of-the-art evaporation plant
• 2002: Start-up of the new evaporation plant with recycling of 90% of the process water
• 2004: Start-up of the upgraded evaporation plant
In 2000 Latexco started looking for innovative water purification techniques to maximise re-use of water. Early 2002, the company started up an evaporation plant to purify the waste water until it became reusable as process water.
Latexco significantly reduced the use of water compared to 2001 levels, with a reduction of at least 45%. There has also been a drastic reduction of over 90% in the amount of waste water discharged. The amount of purification sludge and the use of chemicals has been more than halved.
The foundation in 1998 of Latexco Recycling clearly demonstrates the leadership role Latexco wants to play in the recycling of production scrap into sports mats, packaging and insulation materials. Now, so many years later, Latexco Recycling produces products that are being used in seven industrial branches. More information:
www.latexco-recycling.be.
Latexco Belgium contributes to the protection of the environment through a system of selective collecting, sorting, recycling and useful application of used industrial packings (Val-I-Pac).
Achievements & Awards
Over the years Latexco was on many occasions nominated and awarded for its efforts regarding the environment.
Latexco receives the Industrial Management Winner Awards 2005 in the category Best Practice in Process for its project ‘Re-use of process water by evaporation”. The jury was full of praise over the innovation degree of the industrial project.
Latexco is Belgian nominee for the EEP-Award 2005 (European Environmental Press) with the project of "Process integrated recuperation of process water by evaporation".
As part of the worldwide chemical industry, Latexco subscribes to the Responsible Care agreement which the sector has entered into in order to deal responsibly with the environment, safety and health. In 2005 Latexco receives the Responsible Care-Prize 2005 of the Belgian Chemical Industry for having put in place a shining example of environmental technology. The rewarded innovative evaporation plant helps Latexco to operate safely, profitably and with care for future generations.
Latexco intends to deliver competitively priced, high-quality goods while still being mindful of people and the environment. In 2004 Latexco was nominated for the Eco-efficiency prize during the international fair Ifest 2004. Ifest created the eco-efficiency prize to provide incentives in eco-efficiency to leading companies that employ extra effort in preserving the environment. Latexco is nominated for its project “Water purification leads to the re-use of process water”.
Since 1997 Latexco participates in the Flemish Environmental Charter program. The Environmental Charter aims to achieve continuous improvements in the area of environmental protection and dialogue. As a result of this striving Latexco gets into the Sustainable Entepreneurship Charter in 2009 because of its proactively integration of ‘sustainable entrepreneurship’ in its policy and striving for continuous improvement in its economic, social and environmental performances.
Several implementation projects are launched by management and employees. During audits, goals mentioned in the action plan are evaluated on a yearly basis. In view of this commitment, some highlights: Latexco received the Certificate for 2004 from his Royal Highness Prince Laurent. In 2006 the company was granted the Certificate by the Minister-President of the Flemish Government.
