Bayer Keeps Emissions Level Despite Increased Production

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Bayer AG has maintained the previous years' levels of emissions and waste despite major increases in production volumes.

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Bayer AG has maintained the previous years' levels of emissions and waste despite major increases in production volumes. In some areas, further reductions were achieved: Emissions of greenhouse gases per ton of product, for example, fell by 14% compared with 2003.


This information and more can be found in the recently released 2004 Health, Safety, and Environment Report from the Bayer Group. The company's data collection system was reviewed and validated by independent auditors.


Values for environmental parameters relating to emissions into the air and water, waste generated and use of resources were at around the same level in 2004 as in 2003. At the same time, total production volumes rose by 22% from 12.8 million metric tons in 2003 to 15.6 million metric tons last year. This corresponds to an effective reduction in values.


The figures for greenhouse emissions in particular indicate the advances that have been made in environmentally compatible production. "By modifying processes, utilizing modern technologies, closing outdated facilities and deploying energy-efficient power plants, Bayer has drastically reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% in recent years," said Dr. Udo Oels, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Innovation, Technology and Environment. "By doing so we have already exceeded the ambitious targets set by the German government and the Kyoto Protocol of a reduction of 50% by 2020 15 years early."


In 2004 Bayer reduced emissions of greenhouse gases per ton of product by 14% compared with 2003, from 0.42 to 0.36 metric tons of emissions per ton of product. The conservation of natural resources in energy generation also plays an important role in the context of the climate change issue. Since 1998, Bayer has reduced energy consumption by 15%, in spite of continually increased production.


The amount of waste generated in 2004 corresponded to the 2003 figure. Compared to 1998 the volume of waste in the Bayer Group has even halved. This result has been made possible through continuous improvement in production processes and the use of raw materials that generate less waste, along with divestments and the development of products with a longer service life.


Improved wastewater treatment has led to a significant fall in nitrogen emissions from 3,200 metric tons in 2003 to 2,800 tons in 2004, representing a drop of 13%. Measures such as the expansion of the Leverkusen wastewater treatment plant have led to reductions in nitrogen emissions since 1998 of more than half.


The unstinting efforts of the Group to improve occupational safety with a whole host of seminars and campaigns are paying further dividends: The MAQ (number of occupational injuries per million working hours) fell from 3.4 in 2003 to 2.7 in 2004.


Pertinent safety and environmental data were collected at all Bayer locations across the globe, not only at production sites but also in warehouses, research laboratories and administrative facilities. The data collection system was evaluated and verified by the respected auditing company Deloitte.


In the recording and presentation of HSE data, Bayer aligns itself to the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative, an official collaborating center of the United Nations that draws up international corporate reporting standards. Bayer is the only German company to be actively involved in the development of these guidelines through its participation in international working groups.


Source: Greenbiz.com