Our main environmentally significant non radioactive emissions to air are volatile organic compounds from the use of solvents. Emissions also occur from boilers on our sites and include gases that can contribute to acid rain and particulates that can affect local air quality.

Our main use of solvents is at our bulk chemical manufacturing sites. The vast majority of solvents purchased are recycled at our sites for reuse in our manufacturing processes and only a small amount is emitted to air. Where we cannot reuse these materials, they are sold or used to produce energy. Solvent recycling has increased since 1999 due to increased production as well as expansion of our solvent recovery capabilities.

Example projects

• Lindesnes in Norway recycled and reused over 13,000 tonnes of solvents in 2001 and sold more than 1,134 tonnes of isopropanol for reuse.
  
  
• Staffanstorp and Uppsala in Sweden recycled and reused over 16,500 tonnes of solvents in 2001.
  
  
• Uppsala in Sweden made improvements in its production process to reduce solvent use and subsequent emissions.