Group Management Report Products Safety and Health Environment Human Resources Social Commitment Consolidated Financial Statements 97
Optimization of Waste Management
Chemical processes generate waste and wastewater, which
mainly applies to production sites. ALTANA aims to avoid or
reduce wastewater and waste and thus minimize the neg-
ative effects on people and the environment, among other
things by using suitable raw materials and cleaning agents.
At some sites, for example at ELANTAS in St. Louis and
at the ECKART sites in Schererville and Louisville, the
amount of waste was reduced by a total of around 90 tons
in the year under review by recycling or reusing packag-
ing materials. The distillation of cleaning solvents and other
waste at the ELANTAS sites in Zhuhai, China, and Ascoli,
Italy, as well as the optimization of manufacturing processes
at the ECKART sites in Güntersthal and ELANTAS in
Cerquilho resulted in a total of 230 tons less waste in 2020.
A patented process developed by ECKART enables
mills to be cleaned in an environmentally friendly manner
using only water and compressed air and thus without
chemicals.
In addition to technical improvements, ACTEGA implemented
a training program in Araçariguama, Brazil, with
the aim of raising employee awareness of waste separation
and prevention.
Emissions Further Reduced
In addition to the greenhouse gas CO², which mainly arises
during the combustion of fossil fuels, volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) also contribute to emissions. ALTANA aims to
continue keeping these emissions as low as possible in the
future. To achieve this goal, various technical options are
available at many sites. Further measures to reduce emissions
were implemented in the year under review.
Due to the expansion and improvement of ventilation
systems, the ACTEGA site in Araçariguama and the BYK
sites in Geretsried and Gonzales are achieving a significant
reduction in emissions in their production.
At some sites, new reactors and pumps were installed
which can be operated largely without emissions. ELANTAS
installed an automated system for dust removal during
filling operations at the Collecchio site. ELANTAS in St. Louis
built several closed mixers with corresponding separation
devices. At BYK in Geretsried, fans on the roof were soundproofed
to minimize noise pollution in the surrounding
area.