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Environmental reporting

Environmental data are published through a variety of channels, in line with the UN's Aarhus Convention on public access to information on the environment.

Environmental follow-up

Solvay monitors emissions at all production sites, ensuring the accuracy of data reported to the authorities, in accordance with obligations to give public access to environmental data.

We use internally reporting on emissions into the environment from all production sites, consolidating the data using a single standardized system, and making inter-site comparisons.

Various reporting channels for environment performance

Channel		Parameters
Consolidated data for all sites	Emissions to air	• Global Air Emission Index • Particulate matter;sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, dust, heavy metals, volatile inorganic compounds, volatile organic compounds
	Emissions to water	• Global Water Emission Index • Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD); Heavy metals
	Environmental impact indicators	• Eutrophisation Potential EP • (air & water) • Ozone Depleting Potential ODP • Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential • POCP • Acidification potential
	Water use	Use of water by source: underground, surface, sea, potable
	Waste	• Global waste index • Hazardous waste; Non hazardous waste
	Climate change and energy	• Greenhouse gas emissions due to manufacturing activities • Volumes transported and CO2 emissions due to transport • CO2 emissions from car fleet • Global greenhouse gases emissions • Global direct emissions by greenhouse gas type • Fuel Consumption • Energy consumption due to manufacturing activities • Steam and electricity cogeneration units
Local reports and public registers	Parameters specific to each production site	Environmental figures are published in a variety of forms and media such as local reports published by our sites, or TRI (Toxic Release Inventory), PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register), …
Reports relating to voluntary multi-firm commitments	Parameters specific to voluntary commitments	Euro Chlor (European Association of chlorine and caustic soda producers) Emissions of chlorine, chlorinated organic compounds and mercury. Production methods. Consumption of water and of energy. Consumption of hydrogen as a raw material; as a fuel. Transport of chlorine (quantities and methods); transport accidents. Accident frequency rates involving stopping work; accidents involving processes, and product losses. ECVM (ECVM: European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers) Emissions of vinyl chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, hydrochloric acid, ethylene, dioxin-type compounds, and copper.
Ecoprofiles and life cycle assessments	Via customers and LCA specialists	Ecoprofile: inventory of emissions and releases associated with raw materials and manufacturing. Ecoprofiles exist for all major products and are communicated to customers or specialists in order to establish life-cycle assessments

SERF - Solvay Environmental Releases Files

Solvay’s environmental data from all manufacturing plants serve a number of purposes such as:

Feed the public emission registers organized by authorities in the US and Europe - Pollutant Emission Register and TRI
Establish product risk assessment - Product risks assessments
Calculate environmental profiles and lifecycle assessment (cradle to grave) of Solvay’s products – Ecoprofiles and lifecycle assessments
Assessing Solvay’s product portfolio (Sustainable portfolio management analysis) – Product eco-efficiency analysis
Following up emission reduction objectives and compliance with Groups’ commitments - follow-up objectives
Comparing similar plants in different locations – Internal benchmarking
Reporting to stakeholders about our progress and performance on environmental releases- Environmental reporting

Related information

Aahrus convention

Indicators 2011