w w w . t a u c e r a m i c . c o m - The Cronin Company

Eco Responsibility and much more...w w w . t a u c e r a m i c . c o m

TAU CERÁMICA CASE STUDYECO RESPONSIBILITYINTRODUCTIONTAUCERÁMICA, (Taulell, S.A.), is a company which manufactures ceramic floor and walltile products and is committed to developing and administering its environmental policy inline with the company’s values and mission statement, through personal protection andenvironmental friendliness.Our environmental policy is based on the following guidelines:Setting up programmes to achieve a dynamic, ongoing improvement to our environmentalbehaviour, introducing the appropriate methodology and practices to define the environmentaltargets and goals.Taking on a commitment towards both customers and the end market in order to encouragethe prevention of contamination, environmental friendliness, production, transport, storage,use, recycling and waste disposal of our products.Complying with the applicable legal requirements at all times and also with any otherenvironmental requirements to which the organisation has signed up, thus aiming to achievethe early adoption of trends, changes and alterations.Periodically assessing the environmental impact caused by our activities and products,setting environmental targets and goals with the aim of preventing, eliminating or reducingthis impact to the minimum.The policy outlined above is being implemented in areas including the following:WASTEWATER AND FILTRATION WORKTAU CERÁMICA carries out physical and chemical purification and filter press work.CENTER 1Physical and chemical purification. TAU is reusing purified water in the cleaning of plants(mill and glaze lines)CENTER 2Water from the polishers passes through the filter press which recycles the water, using itin the actual polishing process.CENTERS 1 and 2 both manage the surplus water from the cleaning and humidifyingprocesses, cooling towers, wet filters, spray-drier dust separators, etc., sending it on to beincorporated back into the process in the spradriers.These processes allow us to achieve ZERO DISCHARGE so that no water is dischargedoutside - it is all reused.REDUCTION IN AIRBORNE DUST PARTICLES; WIND BLOW MATERIALSRAW MATERIALS WAREHOUSEAll of the raw materials are stored under cover; the dust particles are released pneumaticallyin closed silos. In all the processes in which dust is generated, it is sucked in at close range

TAU CERÁMICA CASE STUDYECO RESPONSIBILITYand carried to filter systems which send clean air back into the atmosphere and whichreincorporate the dust collected as a raw material for the process.TAU also takes periodic measurements, handled by an independent company which workswith the local autor ties, of all necessary parameters, and these always produce results wellbelow the applicable legal limits. In addition to this, TAU has a filter maintenance schemeto keep the facilities running properly.CO-GENERATION OF ENERGY OR OTHER ENERGY ALTERNATIVESIn the production phase, there are co-generation systems in all the plants:PLANT 4Co-generation turbines for the generation of electric energy and hot air for the spray-driers.PLANTS 2 AND 3Co-generation motors for the generation of electric energy and hot air for the drying sheds.PLANT 1In the project development phaseIn the finished product phase, photovoltaic sheets are fitted using ventilated façadesdeveloped by TAU. In PLANT 1 you can see a ventilated façade incorporating photovoltaicsheets.PACKAGING RECYCLING REDUCTION OR REUSEINDUSTRIAL CONTAINERSAll containers conform to the national DDR (Depósito, Devolución y Retorno – deposit andreturn) plan. In other words, they are completely reused. This means that all the containerswhich come to TAU from suppliers are re sed for subsequent supplies (big-bags, containers,pallets, etc)COMMERCIAL CONTAINERS (our own)TAU is signed up to the ECOEMBES (national administrative agency for domestic packaging)business schemes. There is a marked improvement in the reduction of containers comingonto the market. This system is audited annually by independent organizations.

TAU CERÁMICA CASE STUDYECO RESPONSIBILITYTAU’s boxes are all made of recycled cardboard and the pallets used are of the EUROPALET(reusable) type, heat-treated to get rid of any pests.USE OF LOCAL RAW MATERIALSRed clay products are manufactured using materials found in nearby quarries. These quarriescomply with the existing quarrying plan, which includes restoring them at the ends of theiroperational lives. All the secondary raw material suppliers (decorative products and otherprocesses) are based within a 12-mile radius.INCREASES IN PRODUCTION VERSUS REDUCTIONS IN EMISSIONSTAU has been assigned a CO2 emission rate under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol.Nevertheless, TAU is oper ting well below the rate it has been assigned. In terms ofcombustion emissions, the use of co-generation combustion gases makes the most of theenergetic efficiency of spray-driers and drying sheds. The surplus heat from the combustionprocess is used to preheat the parts at the beginning of this process.REUSE OF INDUSTRIAL WASTEAs well as the water recycling as outlined above, TAU CERAMICA incorporates all of therejects and waste materials created during the making of its tiles back into the manufacturingprocess. This means that the spray-drying stage reuses all the dust collected during suction,along with all the pieces of raw material rejected in the plants’ different sections so that theygo on to become a part of new defect-free ceramic tiles.This means that a large part of our product range incorporates recycled materials. Thepercentage is highly variable but it can be as high as 99.5% of the total with some items.So we at TAU CERAMICA can proudly claim that 100% of our waste materials are reusedin various different ways. Pre-fired waste materials are reused in the appropriate ceramicproduct and the use of fired materials is explained in the sections below.THE ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF THE CERAMIC CLUSTERThe fired tile, considered as a waste, can be used as a raw material for making other buildingproducts (joist i serts, dry goods for cement and so on), and this is what we do. Apart fromthat, it’s also used for delicate artistic work such as mosaics and trencadís; like those usedin modernist buildings (Gaudí, Barcelona) At the end of the tile’s useful life, these are treatedas inert waste and can be disposed of at an appropriately dump.CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ECO-FRIENDLY SUPPLIERSTAU CERAMICA only enters into commercial supply agreements with suppliers who canprove their environmental credentials. This means that they have to produce evidence oftheir commitment environmental concerns and obviously they must also show that they

TAU CERÁMICA CASE STUDYECO RESPONSIBILITYadhere to the legal requirements on environmental matters.Finally, we inspect their premises periodically in order to check that they have an ongoingcommitment to environmental good practice.CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPTAU works with the Conselleria d´Educació (Department of Education) on a scheme toforge closer ties between students and the industrial sector. It gives at least 30 students ayear the opportunity to work on scholarships in the various departments of TAU. TAU alsooffers study grants for the children of TAU CERÁMICA employees. As for sporting sponsorship,TAU is an official sponsor for the TAU CERÁMICA-Andalucía boat and sailing team withAntonio Banderas, the TAU CERÁMICA-Baskonia basketball team, the Mountain Bike(World Championship) team and has worked, supplying ceramics, on Spanish movies suchas Pedro Almodóvar’s “Volver” (Return).In addition to this, TAU is constantly involved in cultural and musical performances in thecity of Castellón.TRAINING PROGRAMSTAU has a regular annual teaching program with specific courses in environmental subjectsand continuing tra ning for its employees.ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCHTAU is making great environmental improvements in its production processes which areanalysed and revitalized every year based upon the results obtained, in order to optimizefuture results.HEALTH AND SAFETY OF FACTORY EMPLOYEESTAU offers its own prevention department with two people working on it full-time, plus anaccredited doctor and registered nurse based at the factory every day with the job of

TAU CERÁMICA CASE STUDYECO RESPONSIBILITYpreventing accidents, keeping hygiene standards in line with European regulations andimmediately treating any of the common ailments from which employees might suffer. Thereis also a complete review every year with the aim of preventing illnesses and/or accidents.ISO CERTIFICATION / EMASIn 2007 the Dutch consultancy Accenture selected TAU as one of the 32 TOP companiesto work for.ENVIRONMENT ISO 14001QUALITY ISO 9001