Environmental Health and Safety

Focus on the environment, health and safety. Sapa's policy is very clear. Our operations shall be conducted in a safe manner with respect for the environment and assuming responsibility for people's health.

We view sustainable development as a basic condition for future growth, which guides all efforts affecting environmental impact. This applies to the surrounding environment as well as working environment inside our plants. For Sapa, the environment, health, safety and profitability are part of the same whole and are accorded the same high level of priority.

Sapa’s Environment, Health and Safety Policy has been adopted by Senior Management. In 2004, it was assigned additional priority through the establishment of a new Group function for the development of this work. The assignment entails coordinating, advancing, supporting and inspiring efforts, imposing demands, gathering information and disseminating this among the companies.

With the support of this central function, the local companies are provided back-up in their efforts to advance Sapa’s environmental, health and safety efforts.

Sapa’s Environmental Health and Safety Council

Sapa’s Environmental Council has been active since 1999, and in 2002 its scope of operation was extended to include health and safety. The Council deals with Group-wide environmental, health and safety efforts and acts as a platform for the coordination and communication of efforts internally and with investors and the media. Within the framework of the Council, knowledge and experience are exchanged on advancing efficient development.

It is Sapa’s conviction that successful health and safety efforts result in decreased costs and increased competitive advantages. Since 2003, health and safety form a fixed item on the agenda of Sapa AB’s Board of Directors. In November 2004, Sapa organised a conference on the theme of health and safety, which was attended by some 35 specialists from Sapa companies.

The objective is to become "best in class". The conference showed that the gap between best and worst in the Group is wide and that there is still extensive scope to improve health and safety efforts. In connection with the conference, a network of specialists was established and continued efforts will be conducted with increased expertise and a broad base of support within the Group.

By studying accident statistics, we obtain an overview of how safety efforts have developed. In 2002, there were 30 accidents per million working hours. In two years, accidents have decreased by 27 per cent. Accidents that result in absence from the workplace are registered in the statistics.

The development is positive, although the objective of "best in class" remains distant. With improved coordination, increased co-operation and deep commitment from all involved, it is realistic to set a target of 10 accidents per million working hours by 2008.

Continuous process of improvement

One of the Council’s tools is the Environmental Platform, an internal report on each company’s processes, operations requiring permits and action programmes. The report comprises statistics of actual emissions to the atmosphere, soil and water. Calculations are also made of the total carbon-dioxide effect of operations.

The report, which is updated annually, was first produced in 2001 and makes it possible to quantify and review concrete targets. Here, it is possible to follow the continuous process of improvement that each company is required to conduct. The Environmental Platform is also a tool, which is used to compare operations, set targets and spread best practice.

In systematic environmental efforts, all of the Swedish units and several foreign units have chosen to work in accordance with the ISO 14001 environmental management system.