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closeEnergy, Waste, Emissions and Discharges
Our focus continues to be on Energy Efficiency, and therefore CO2 reduction, Waste Minimisation and better Pollution Control and the introduction of ISO 14001 at our main manufacturing sites. We have measured a number of the key environmental impacts related to manufacturing for a number of years. These are detailed below for the whole company with individual Business Unit data following.
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |
| Emissions to Air (CO2 tonnes) | 50,160 | 48,954 | 50,212 | 50,359 | 50,178 |
| Non-hazardous Waste (Tonnes) | 4,054 | 3,596 | 4,685 | 4,759 | 4,016 |
| Hazardous Waste (Tonnes) | 275 | 234 | 303 | 256 | 204 |
| Waste Recycled (Tonnes) | 646 | 767 | 1,009 | 1,189 | 1,496 |
| Total Energy (GwH) | 145 | 132 | 139 | 138 | 140 |
| Water usage (1,000 cubic metres) | 457 | 427 | 480 | 562 | 542 |
N.B. These totals are for the Company as a whole for the year and will therefore include divested businesses i.e. Rehabilitation which was sold in April 2002. The data does not include figures for Plus Orthopaedics, the Swiss company we acquired in 2007. It is intended to include these figures for 2008.
Normalised for Production (2005 Base)
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |
| Emissions to Air (CO2 tonnes) | 50,212 | 45,855 | 42,083 |
| Non-hazardous Waste (Tonnes) | 4,685 | 4,469 | 3,466 |
| Hazardous Waste (Tonnes) | 303 | 240 | 189 |
| Total Energy (GwH) | 139 | 128 | 118 |
| Water usage (1,000 cubic metres) | 480 | 478 | 393 |
Group energy consumption rose very slightly in 2007. However, normalising for production, energy consumption fell by 8%.
Emissions of CO2 (Tonnes)
Emissions to Air
CO2 emissions include primary emissions from boiler house operations and secondary emissions from the generation of the electricity consumed. Compared to these, other emissions are insignificant and are not reported.
Despite a slight increase in energy usage, CO2 emissions fell as a result of the mix of energy used.
Waste Recycled
(Tonnes)
There was a further increase in the amount of waste recycled, largely as a result of specific initiatives within Advanced Wound Management.
Measured as a percentage of the total waste produced, recycled waste rose from 19 to 26%.
Non-hazardous waste
(Tonnes)
There was a 22% reduction in non hazardous waste to landfill largely as a result of improved waste reduction recycling within the Advanced Wound Management Business.
Hazardous waste
(Tonnes)
The 2004 hazardous waste figure excludes a spillage of chrome plating materials which occurred at the Orthopaedic Reconstruction and Trauma manufacturing site in Memphis. Working closely with the state authorities, prompt action was taken resulting in a total of 920 tonnes of affected soil being removed from the site to eliminate any possible contamination.
Adjusting for production, Group hazardous waste fell by 21% as a result of continued emphasis on recycling.
