Environmental protection

All development and investment activities are judged with the environmental impact in mind. Pollution prevention is emphasized. Measures are taken to minimize waste, emissions and waste water. The company follows the elaborated "Program of Environmental and Work Site Protection". It is yearly reviewed and updated. Its major aim is the solution of ecological problems and approximation of the current situation to the valid legislation.

Air Protection

A vinylchloride emission monitoring system has been established around the company premises to enable continuous monitoring. It has been in operation already for 10 years. In year 2000,63,3 % less of this hazardous substance was emitted into the air compared to year 1996.

Waste Water

As part of the company efforts to improve the quality of waste water, the organic pollution of especially oil substances and chlorinated hydrocarbons was decreased. In 2000,the company produced 6 369,1 thousand m₃.
of waste water, which equals the volume of last year. The waste water quality is regularly monitored in compliance with the valid regulations. As part of the emergency measures, a continual monitoring system was established to monitor the most important parameters of water pollution.

Solid Waste

Waste water management was based on the approved "Waste Management Program". The volume of waste per one production unit was decreased, as technologies with small waste generation were preferred in the modernisation process and extension of the existing product portfolio. More than a half of solid waste found secondary use,40 %were temporarily stored in sedimentation basins with the aim of further use and the remaining part was liquidated by licensed contractors.

Work Site and Work Hygiene

Attention is being paid to provision of healthy work conditions. The quality of environment in individual production units is subject to continuous monitoring focusing on hazardous factors. Measures are taken to minimise the impact of these factors on employee health. Concentration of substances hazardous to health is regularly measured in compliance with the regional environmental health officer requirements. Further, four continuous monitoring systems monitoring vinylchloride concentration (in three production units), carbon dioxide and mercury fumes are in place. The company is up-to-date in the area of personal employee protection and uses newer and better equipment to protect their health. In 2000,the company management decided to implement environmental management according to EN ISO 14001 to provide a complex environmental management system. Full implementation of this system and certification are expected at the end of 2001.