Environmental Protection

Committed to the future

A sustainable environmental policy is anchored in Indorama Ventures company directives. Besides the avoidance of toxic substances and the responsible management of natural resources, we show our commitment in an all-embracing strategy which aims to establish respect for the environment in all aspects of our daily life and work.

This holds true for all internal areas and processes but is also applicable to third-party suppliers: 

“Whenever possible, we commit to preventing or reducing damage to the environment through our activities and to support our main suppliers to take responsibility for the environment with immediate effect. We will work with our partners to promote environmental protection, to improve understanding of environmental problems and to disseminate best practice.” *

*Excerpt from “Handbook of Company Directives Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited”
 

Avoiding Toxic Substances

Indorama Ventures constantly reviews the use of toxic and intensively migrating substances in its manufacturing processes to determine whether such use is necessary. Where at all possible, the use of such substances is avoided.

  • The number and volume of chemicals required is reduced to a minimum during storage and in actual use.
  • Dangerous chemicals are, wherever possible, replaced by less hazardous products and ones that are more environmentally friendly
  • Suppliers are requested to declare environmental compatibility for any dyestuffs employed.
  • Hazardous waste materials are recycled where possible.
  • Chemicals are sent for external processing.

Maintaining clean water and soil

During the manufacturing process, the protection of water and soil – two key resources – is seen as a priority at all times and continually optimised.

  • Indorama Ventures does not employ any finishing materials that can be easily washed out.
  • No biocides are used to conserve the fibre dip solution, and the solutions used generally biodegrade easily. They are mostly returned into the production cycle or are sent for external processing (disposal of special waste).
  • Separate waste water systems Diverting cooling water and rainwater through a separating basin enables even the slightest contamination to be identified.  Foul water is drained off separately, helping to keep the effect on treatment plants to a minimum.
  • No potentially environmentally harmful APEOs (alkylphenolethoxylates) are used in fibres or filaments.

 

Indorama Ventures is well prepared for any breakdown or outage in its systems.

  • We employ dual cycle cooling systems fitted with a heat exchanger as a safety barrier.  In this way it is possible to exclude any contamination of the environment in the event of a malfunction.
  • Indorama Ventures operates a filtration pool to separate out contaminated cooling or surface water in the event of malfunction.
  • We also employ a separate system for effluent produced during the manufacturing process, with holding basins for use in the event of accident.

Maintaining clean air

Whether in its production processes, or in supplies and transport logistics, Indorama Ventures is committed to keeping the air as clean as possible.

  • Indorama Ventures arranges for main raw materials to be delivered directly to the plants in an environmentally friendly manner – by rail.
  • In negotiations with hauliers Indorama Ventures is careful to see that only vehicles complying with the best European standards are employed.
  • Within the company itself, electric vehicles are used to avoid CO2 emissions. 
  • The quantity of VOC* released in polyester production at Indorama Ventures lies below the limit value of the commission decision 2014/350/EU (of 5 June 2014 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for textile products) of 1.2 g VOC per 1 kg PET polymer.

*VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) is the international name for volatile organic compounds that contain carbon. VOCs degrade when exposed to sunlight and trace elements in the air. If the air also contains nitrogen oxide – for instance, emissions from vehicle exhaust fumes – this results in the production of intermediates (including ozone). These have a strong oxidising effect which is damaging to humans and the environment.