2017 Yearly Overview | Prysmian Group

53 ASSESSING THE LIFE CYCLE OF PRODUCTS 2017 saw the continued development of an instrument dedicated to calculating some important environmental parameters regarding the cables produced in our factories. Such calculations assess our carbon footprint and the recyclability at the end of a product’s life. A new system has been developed and represents a new feature of the CommonAnalysisApplicationalready inuseforthedesignandassessment of cable costs for all Group factories. A huge benefit is that the same databases can be used for both. COMMITMENTS FOR THE FUTURE Prysmian will continue its involvement in various initiatives intended to use resources efficiently and reduce the environmental impact of production processes. These include (among others): replacement of lighting systems; recycling of SF6; optimising the use of energy; and the launch of awareness campaigns concerning the consumption of energy. Over the years, these initiatives have generated various benefits in both environmental and cost reduction terms. To proceed in a systematic and orderly manner, the activities already implemented have been included within a Group project entitled ‘Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction’, coordinated centrally by the corporate HSE function. In 2017 we continued to report increasingly precise and reliable data, closely monitored improvement objectives, continued to implement energy efficiency initiatives, and selected and coordinated specific projects to be implemented by the Group’s operating units (in order to comply with Prysmian’scommitmentswithregardstosustainability),allwhilecalibrating carefully the effort required with reference to local operating needs. North Dighton: Reduction of sheath strips and better management of compound shelf life contributed to the reduction of relative waste. Schuylkill Haven: Decrease in amount of waste compounds, thanks to the reduction in the mix of used materials. Moreover, waste compounds classified as hazardous has decreased. Santa Perpetua: Reduction in waste of mixtures sent for disposal thanks to their reuse (in limited percentages). Delft: Project for the recovery of SF6 gas has begun to limit its release into the environment. Employees also trained for the purpose. Pikkala: Lower consumption of cooling water achieved thanks to change in control of the cooling process. Calais: Reduction of municipal waste made possible by better separation of waste materials, such as paper, plastic and wood. Furthermore, re-use of wooden drums has improved. Claremont: Projects launched in 2017 led to reduction of waste and energy consumption in both production units: • The Compound Scrap Less project, which reduces the production of scraps at the start of the cable production process; and • The Munster Unit Re-Phasing Project, which reduces the consumption of natural gas in the Optical Fibre unit.