APC 2002 Annual Report Download - page 52

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NEW2004 objective: Ensure that 100% of our
manufacturing units and logistics sites comply with the
ISO 14001 standard
The objective is to control the impact of our activities on the
environment and to implement, in all our French and foreign
manufacturing units, an environmental management system
based on continuous improvement, certified by a third party
in accordance with the ISO 14001 international standard.
In addition, certain product development sites have also
obtained ISO 14001 certification.
e. . The environmental challenge: safety, energy savings
and quality of life
Our environmental policy is based on anticipating regulations
and standards so we can offer our customers risk-free
products. For example, regarding heavy metal elimination,
in the 70s we launched studies to eliminate cadmium oxide
from contactors’ contact material. In France it was replaced
by tin oxide several years ago. Today, we are carrying out
multiple projects to find substitution solutions for lead,
chromium-6 and PBB / PBDE flame retardants.
Regarding end-of-life product processing, we anticipated
the requirements of the European Directive and launched
anew service in France that was operational at the beginning
of 2003.
Industrial and environmental risks
It should be noted that the Company is neither a power
generating company nor a distributor. Our products are used
between generation and distribution to transmit, meter and
make electricity safe and reliable and qualify it. Consequently,
it is less complex and costly to control risks than in other
business sectors.
Therefore, the manufacturing activities primarily use assembly
and control techniques. The environmental analyses each site
carried out during the ISO 14000 certification process showed
that:
- atmospheric discharges are not significant; they are below
the regulatory thresholds,
- all wastes and effluents are processed in standard recycling
channels.
No plant is classified “Seveso.”
The environmental policy in force since 1995 clearly set out
how local and national regulations should be respected and
anticipated.
The environmental management initiative led to implementation
of BAT processes (Best Available Technologies) in all plants
worldwide.
NEW2004 objective: Ensure that 100% of our new global
products comply with Eco-design methodology
Eco-design is a continuous improvement process with the
objective of maximizing customer satisfaction with products
that impact the environment less throughout their life cycle.
In addition to the progressive elimination of hazardous
substances, the main thrusts of our work are based on three
priorities:
- miniaturize to economize natural resources,
- minimize power consumption of operating products, and
- facilitate processing end-of-life products, especially by
making it easy to dismantle components that require special
treatment like LCD screens and PCBs.
In the case of Masterpact, for example, eco-design has
resulted in a 20 to 50% reduction in raw materials depending
on the product line, reduced electricity consumption by 20%
during the use phase and facilitated end-of-life processing.
A win-win situation for everyone.
Performance
As a %
60% 67%
2001 2004
objective
100%
2002