sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report
sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report
sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report
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56<br />
<strong>2008</strong>-2010 OBJECTIVE<br />
Saint-Gobain has set a target of reducing landfill waste<br />
at concerned sites by 6% between now and 2010, based on<br />
2007 production output.<br />
Reducing atmospheric emissions<br />
and energy consumption<br />
Direct CO 2 emissions (1)<br />
Reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions, primarily generated<br />
by glass furnaces, is a priority focus of Saint-Gobain’s<br />
environment<strong>al</strong> policy. In <strong>2008</strong>, the Group’s concerned sites<br />
generated 13.5 million tons of CO 2, down 2% from 13.8 million<br />
tons in 2007 based on comparable output and scope<br />
of consolidation. The target is cut emissions by 6% between<br />
now and 2010 based on 2007 output. In <strong>al</strong>l, our sites<br />
generated 14.3 million tons of CO 2 in <strong>2008</strong>.<br />
Nonetheless, our CO 2 emissions remain margin<strong>al</strong>,<br />
representing less than 0.3% of the greenhouse gas emissions<br />
<strong>al</strong>lowances <strong>al</strong>located in Europe, i.e. 6.5 million tons of CO 2<br />
generated in the European Union countries participating<br />
in the emissions trading system (2) . For the period <strong>2008</strong>-2012,<br />
the EU greenhouse gas emission <strong>al</strong>lowance trading scheme<br />
applies to a tot<strong>al</strong> of 83 Group facilities, including 66 glassworks<br />
(one of which is not included in the c<strong>al</strong>culation because<br />
its <strong>al</strong>lowances are still being determined), one Pipe Division<br />
site, nine Gypsum Division sites, six Industri<strong>al</strong> Mortars<br />
Division sites that manufacture expanded silicates,<br />
and one combined heat and power plant.<br />
Each Division does everything in its power to reduce CO 2<br />
emissions attributable to its operations. At the glassworks,<br />
for example, each ton of cullet used in the melting process<br />
avoids 255 to 300 kg of CO 2 emissions (see above).<br />
The lifecycle an<strong>al</strong>yses are still performed within the Pipe<br />
Division to ev<strong>al</strong>uate the full impact of technologic<strong>al</strong><br />
upgrades carried out at its sites. The Division is <strong>al</strong>so closely<br />
following the Ultra-Low CO 2 Steelmaking (ULCOS) project,<br />
a European Union initiative to identify and develop innovative<br />
methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions<br />
in the steelmaking industry. Its go<strong>al</strong> is to h<strong>al</strong>ve CO 2<br />
emissions generated by the current primary melting process.<br />
In 2009, Bilan Carbone TM emissions assessments will be<br />
performed for French subsidiaries, creating an assessment<br />
base for the French scope, with the aim of extending<br />
the process to the entire Group.<br />
<strong>2008</strong>-2010 OBJECTIVE<br />
Saint-Gobain has set a target of reducing its CO 2<br />
emissions at concerned sites by 6% between now<br />
and 2010, based on 2007 output. The Group achieved<br />
a 2% reduction in <strong>2008</strong>.<br />
Operation<strong>al</strong> energy consumption<br />
Our energy expenditures last year amounted to €2 billion,<br />
62% of which went to the purchase of fossil fuels.<br />
In <strong>2008</strong>, energy use by our concerned sites stood<br />
at 61.1 TWh (3) . Every Group company recognizes<br />
the importance of reducing its energy use.<br />
Glass production is powered primarily by fuel oil and natur<strong>al</strong><br />
gas. Energy consumption is being steadily reduced<br />
by replacing outdated equipment at the end of its life<br />
with newer, more energy-efficient equipment,<br />
and by enhancing combustion methods and refractory<br />
performance. The use of cullet, i.e., glass that has <strong>al</strong>ready<br />
been processed, <strong>al</strong>so helps to save energy. For each 10%<br />
of cullet added to a glass batch, 2.5% to 3% of melting<br />
energy is saved. Around h<strong>al</strong>f of the furnaces used<br />
by the Insulation Division are fully electric and we <strong>al</strong>so<br />
frequently use electricity in addition to fossil fuels to aid<br />
in the melting process, accelerate convection currents<br />
in the glass bath and ensure uniform treatment in the furnace.<br />
Elsewhere, electricity is used primarily to supply compressed<br />
air, heat the lehrs and power the cooling fans used in furnace<br />
shells and forming machinery. Centr<strong>al</strong>ized management,<br />
speed drive technology and advances in equipment<br />
design have <strong>al</strong>l been instrument<strong>al</strong> in reducing energy<br />
consumption beyond the melting process.<br />
The Pipe Division uses coke and co<strong>al</strong> to fire the blast furnaces<br />
and cupola furnaces, but <strong>al</strong>so uses electricity and natur<strong>al</strong> gas.<br />
The Division is focusing on improving energy efficiency<br />
at its plants, developing techniques for injecting oxygen<br />
and carbon-bearing matter into the melting process<br />
and relying more heavily on secondary melting when<br />
the raw materi<strong>al</strong>s are available. On acquiring the Xuzhou<br />
facility in China, we opted to launch an extensive project<br />
to modernize the site and improve its performance,<br />
drawing on existing best practices. Major funding was<br />
<strong>al</strong>located for the project. At our site in Barra Mansa, Brazil,<br />
iron ore is smelted primarily using euc<strong>al</strong>yptus charco<strong>al</strong><br />
(biomass) (710 GWh).<br />
The Innovative Materi<strong>al</strong>s Sector – High-Performance Materi<strong>al</strong>s<br />
has <strong>al</strong>so demonstrated a serious commitment to reducing its<br />
energy consumption and developing innovative energy-saving<br />
solutions such as the plan adopted at its Hoosick F<strong>al</strong>ls site.<br />
(1)<br />
The quantities of CO 2 indicated do not include indirect emissions from road transport, employee travel to and from the workplace, business travel, electricity consumption,<br />
the purchase of steam from extern<strong>al</strong> sources, etc. They include both CO 2 generated from fossil fuel combustion and CO 2 resulting from chemic<strong>al</strong> reactions.<br />
(2)<br />
C<strong>al</strong>culated v<strong>al</strong>ues.<br />
(3)<br />
For competitive reasons, Saint-Gobain has chosen not to publish data on energy consumption by its various companies during <strong>2008</strong>.<br />
Saint-Gobain - <strong>2008</strong> Annu<strong>al</strong> Report