Elf Atochem sets five-year emission targets

Journal Article · Wed Apr 21 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Chemical Week; (United States)

OSTI ID:6148852

Young, I

As part of its first annual environmental report, released this month, Elf Atochem (Paris) has set targets for emission reductions at its sites for the next five years. Under the program, the company aims to slash the level of contaminants in discharge water by 30%; cut by half emissions of 17 [open quotes]priority[close quotes] substances-including ammonia, chlorofluorocarbons, vinyl chloride monomer, methyl methacrylate, aromatics, chlorinated solvent, ethylbenzene, and styrene-for which 1992 emissions totaled 15,996 m.t.; reduce nitrogen oxides (NO[sub x]) emissions by 25%; and increase the proportions of toxic waste treated in installations on the company's own sites, from 90% of 1992's 383,00 m.t., to 95%. Implementation of its environmental policy cost the company about F2 billion ($375 million), or 3.5%-4% of sales, in 1992. The policy focuses on safer and more efficient technologies, toxic emissions and waste, improving energy efficiency, and cooperation with customers and public authorities on the introduction of more environmentally friendly products. Atochem says it has led to a fourfold reduction in accidents at work between 1984 and 1992. Over the same period, water contamination at the company's French sites has been cut by 67%, measured against the French chemical industry association's [open quotes]water index[close quotes]. Some sites did even better than the average, with the Carling steam cracker complex in eastern France registering a drop in water contamination of more than 90% following a F150-million joint project with local French and German water authorities.

• OSTI ID: 6148852
• Journal Information: Chemical Week; (United States), Journal Name: Chemical Week; (United States) Vol. 152:15; ISSN CHWKA9; ISSN 0009-272X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290201* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics-- (1992-)
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
ACCIDENTS
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AMMONIA
AROMATICS
CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS
CONTAMINATION
CONTROL
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EFFICIENCY
EMISSION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ESTERS
EUROPE
FRANCE
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
METHACRYLIC ACID ESTERS
METHYL METHACRYLATE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
SOLVENTS
STYRENE
VINYL CHLORIDE
WATER
WATER TREATMENT
WESTERN EUROPE