National Spanish Association of ceramic frits, glazes and pigments producers

Environment

Environmental protection

The environmental protection is right now one of the priorities for the ceramic frits, glazes and colours industry.

Combining production with environmental protection and the improvement of the people’s life quality has lead the companies to minimize or eliminate the use of certain raw materials, and also to dedicate great efforts in installations improvement.

Actions for pollution prevention, reduction and control:

• Reduction of CO2 emissions by 34% since 2005. Sector considered in ´Carbon leakage’ in the European ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme).
• Reduction of dust emissions to air from raw materials storage and transport.
  • Installations sealing.
  • Installations vacuum cleaning.
  • Installations cleaning, conditioning and paving.
• Reduction of dust, NOx and SO2 emissions from located sources.
  • Renovation or installation of gas streams anti-dust systems.
• Noise reduction.
  • Closing and isolation of noisy installations.
• Water quality.
  • Installation of closed-circuit cooling systems.
  • Installation of purifying plants.
• Reduction, recycling and residue management.
  • Selective collecting, separation and temporal storage.
• Visual impact.
  • Adaptation of the installation and its surroundings to improve the landscape integration.

The technical committee

The ANFFECC Technical Committee has been working for more than a decade in the study of the main issues that worry the association members such as environmental laws, product classifying, determination of the available technologies, etc.

During these years, these technical experts from different associated companies have participated in subjects such as:

• SHOCS Safe Handling of products guide contents, published together with other European associations.
• Cooperation with Spanish Ministry of Environment and Fundación Entorno for the development of the IPPC Directive in Spain (Glass and Chemical Inorganic Specialties Bref).
• Active European participation in thr Glass Bref review, toghether with ITC (Ceramic Technology Institute, Castellón), to propose the BAT’s (Best Available Techniques) for the sector
• Study for ceramic frits classification. Active participation in their definition for REACH UE Legislation (Registry and Authorisation of Chemicals)
• Creation and joining in the Pigments and Frits European Consortiums, aimed to guarantee the compliance of REACH and other similar international laws.
• Studies on transport, labelling and Safety Data Sheets for their products.
• Cooperation with Environment Council of the Valencian Community Governement for the definition and development of the Environmental Integrate Authorizations (AAI)
• Cooperation with the Spanish Ministry of Environment in different areas such as CO2 Emissions Trade Scheme, IPPC, etc.
• Studies with ITC for the definition of emissions in the frits and ceramic colours production.
• Creation of the MIRAT (model report on environmenta risks) for the sector, to comply with the environmental responsibility legislation.
• Participation in European studies on Nanomaterials
• Participation on European studies on Boron
• Harmonization for PRTR substance data registry
• Development of Valencian Community Competitiveness Plans, with important technical studies for the sector