Ence’s biofactory in Pontevedra has once again successfully passed the audit of the environmental management system in accordance with the voluntary European Regulation EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), a community eco-management and eco-audit regulation that promotes improvement of the environmental performance of organizations. In addition, and also through the same audit process, it has been guaranteed that the biofactory complies with the ISO 14001 certification of environmental management systems.
The biofactory continues to improve its efficiency, thus consolidating its leadership in environmental excellence. The investments made in recent years, together with the dedication and commitment of the plant’s human team, have contributed to this achievement, within a company that is firmly committed to sustainability in all its processes.
The main indicator of the quality of the effluent -Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)-, improved by 85% the upper reference range established by the European regulations for best environmental practices in the pulp sector for this parameter. The evolution of this data ratifies the progress that Ence Pontevedra consistently achieves in the quality of its final effluent.
Regarding the responsible management of resources, and thanks to the continuous improvement measures adopted, 2021 has been the year with the lowest water consumption in the entire history of the Pontevedra biofactory, having managed to reduce its water consumption more 22% in the last five years.
Ence’s biofactory in Pontevedra reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption by 22 percent in 2021. This milestone is part of our company’s commitment to climate action, through which we want to contribute to the mitigation of climate change in all of our activity
Finally, regarding the generation of waste, 99% of that generated in 2021 has been recovered, which allows Ence Pontevedra to position itself as a benchmark plant in management, being endorsed by the “Zero Waste” certification.
Ence’s own biofactory activity is an example of contribution to the aforementioned circular economy: throughout the pulp production process, the plant produces and operates with recyclable materials. At the same time, it generates renewable electrical energy from biomass that is not used for the production of cellulose, using lignin, a component of wood that constitutes an excellent renewable and natural biofuel.
The environmental management of Ence’s biofactory in Pontevedra is backed by international environmental certificates. Since 2014 it has had the Nordic Swan ecolabel, ecolabel of the Nordic countries, for meeting the most demanding criteria of environmental respect. It has also received the Gold Distinction from the European Commission for its environmental improvement, as well as the “Zero Waste” seal from AENOR.
