TAKA AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The following are the most important actions taken by Taka with regard to the environment.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION/USE OF RENEWABLE SOURCES

Thanks to the installation of photovoltaic systems at each of Taka’s sites and the signing of electricity supply contracts that require the use of renewable energy sources, Taka currently uses 100 % electricity from renewable sources.
Self-generated electricity amounts to 76.5 % for Taka 1, 15.9 % for Taka 2, and 54.3 % for Taka 3 of the total needs.
All non-self-produced electricity is certified by GOs, i.e. Guarantee of Origin certificates that guarantee the renewable origin of the energy sources used.

TAKA ENERGY CONSUMPTION REPORT

The photovoltaic consumption and supply data of Taka 1 and Taka 2 are from 2021.

The consumption data of Taka 3 are from 2021, while the Taka 3 photovoltaic supply was estimated starting from the January-June 2022 supply, and doubling it.

Based on the conversion of kWh to CO2 emissions (source: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator#results) Taka avoided 72 tons of CO2 for Taka1, 70.7 tons of CO2 for Taka2 and 242 tons of CO2 for Taka3.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES AT TAKA3

Thanks to a series of technical interventions carried out at the Taka 3 site, there has been a significant reduction in consumption and emissions.

In particular, the following improvements were carried out in the year 2021

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refurbishment of the lighting system (replacement of old metal halide lamps with LED lamps)

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installation of two new compressors to replace the old ones

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installation of two heat pumps to serve the heating system of the East offices and the heating and cooling system of the West offices of the Taka 3 site

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installation of a new boiler to serve only the dissolver in production

These 5 interventions have reduced the company’s consumption and climate-altering emissions by 13.69% compared to the conditions before the interventions.

The installation of the photovoltaic system (sixth efficiency intervention) at the Taka 3 company site has also enabled a significant reduction in consumption and emissions of up to 52.77%.

CERTIFICATIONS

ISO 14001

ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems – Requirements and Guidance for Use) provides a management framework for the integration of environmental management practices, pursuing environmental protection, pollution prevention, and the reduction of energy and resource consumption. This is a voluntary certification similar to ISO 9001 (quality management system), but applied to the environment, which allows for an organised management of the company’s environmental sector.

Taka started work on the certification as early as 2021. At the moment, we are well advanced with regard to the documentation part.
We expect to obtain ISO 14001 certification in a period of 6 to 12 months (deadline July 2023).

A business organisation can gain numerous benefits from the certification of an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, such as:

Reduced consumption of natural resources and energy

Compliance with current environmental legislation

Pollution prevention

Increased credibility and improved external image

Positive acceptance by national and international markets

Ease of exporting by meeting the requirements of international customers

Improved relations with national and local institutions

Reduction of controls and facilitation in obtaining administrative authorisations

Obtaining insurance policies at more favourable costs

Motivation and involvement of staff with regard to environmental issues

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF AN ORGANISATION’S CARBON FOOTPRINT (ISO 14064)

This is a study of the potential climate change impacts of Taka. The study will highlight
highlight the main environmental hotspots in order to lay the foundations for the definition of a decarbonisation strategy to support the company’s environmental sustainability.
The study involves the application of ISO 14064-1 for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and their removal, analysing the entire company context.
The project started in February 2022 and, as per the agreed strategy, a report of the study will be produced by December 2022. Once the report has been obtained, Taka will start the process of ISO 14064-1 certification by a third party.

The benefits of ISO 14064-1 certification can be:

Promote consistency, transparency and credibility in emissions accounting
Promote their (emissions) monitoring, verification and reporting;
Identifying and managing risks and liabilities related to the company’s harmful greenhouse gas emissions
Promote the design, development and implementation of pollutant abatement initiatives and programmes.

BIOBASED MATERIALS

In June 2022, the search process for raw materials from renewable sources (biomass) began. Based on the inclusion of a certain percentage of this type of raw material in Taka’s products, it will be possible to market finished products certified for their content from renewable sources.

Based on the collection of information from suppliers supported by analytical reports, it will be possible to certify individual products according to their content from renewable sources.
The advantages of producing and selling these products can be:

Reduction of components derived from coal or oil (fossil origin, non-renewable) in favour of renewable materials
Improvement of corporate image
Increased company competitiveness through entry into environmentally sensitive markets

ESG – ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE CRITERIA.

Taka has recently chosen to undertake a business model explicitly oriented towards respect for environmental, social and ethical (ESG) values.
To this end, with the help of external consultants, the measurement and analysis of the company’s ESG performance is underway. This phase is of particular importance as it represents the first step towards the company’s green transition and allows the governing bodies to know the company’s current alignment with the ESG values of the sector and its main competitors.
The work undertaken will lead to the production of a corporate sustainability report in which the company’s environmental data and social and ethical values will be presented.
The report will be the means through which external stakeholders will be informed about the company’s objectives, achievements and actions taken and to be taken.