Environment

PRAKTICA recognises that we have a significant responsibility to the environment. We are committed to reduce our environmental impact and will continually assess how our strategy and operating methods can be improved further. We will encourage customers, suppliers and other stakeholders to do the same.

 

Company

  • Comply with and exceed all relevant regulatory requirements.
  • Continually improve and monitor environmental performance.
  • Continually improve and reduce environmental impacts.
  • Incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.
  • Increase employee awareness and training.

Paper

  • We will minimise the use of paper in the office.
  • We will reduce all excess packaging.
  • We will seek to buy recycled and recyclable paper products.
  • We will reuse and recycle all paper where possible.

Energy and Water

  • We will seek to reduce the amount of energy used during office hours.
  • Lights and electrical equipment will be switched off when not in use.
  • Heating will be adjusted with energy consumption in mind.
  • The energy consumption and efficiency of new products will be taken into account when manufacturing.

Office Supplies

  • We will evaluate if renting/sharing is an option before purchasing equipment.
  • We will evaluate the environmental impact of any new products we intend to purchase.
  • We will reuse and recycle where possible.

Transportation

  • We will promote the use of travel alternatives such as e-mail or video/phone conferencing.
  • We will make additional efforts to accommodate the needs of those using public transport or bicycles.
  • We will encourage employees to travel to work and meetings together.

Maintenance and Cleaning

  • Cleaning materials used will be as environmentally friendly as possible.
  • We will only use licensed and appropriate organisations to dispose of waste.

Monitoring and Improvement

  • We will comply with and exceed all relevant regulatory requirements.
  • We will continually improve and monitor environmental performance.
  • We will continually improve and reduce environmental impacts.
  • We will incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.
  • We will increase employee awareness through training.

Culture

  • We will involve staff in the implementation of this policy, for greater commitment and improved performance.
  • We will provide staff with relevant environmental training.
  • We will work with suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors to improve their environmental performance.
  • We will use local labour and materials where available to reduce CO2 and help the community

Preventing pollution caused by end-of-life products

PRAKTICA strives to prevent pollution caused by end-of-life products. For example, the EU WEEE Directive requires that discarded parts and materials that include regulated substances be separated out and processed accordingly. In order to comply with this requirement, it is necessary to provide recycling vendors with proper information on components and materials containing such substances. PRAKTICA carries out treatments based on this directive and has a system to tender this information when vendors request it. Similar regulations are being established in Asia and Latin America, and going forward, PRAKTICA will ensure it fully complies with these regulations.

Understanding the latest information about the risks of chemical substances in products

Research and studies are being carried out around the world to minimise the risk of chemical substances on the environment and people's health, and Europe, in particular, has taken the lead in tightening its regulations on chemical substances contained in products. These regulations have also been implemented in other regions, spreading to other countries and regions mainly in Asia. PRAKTICA strives to gain an understanding of the latest information regarding the risks posed by chemical substances in products at an early stage and how to take action. Our thorough management ensures that we sell products that are safe for the environment and people in every country and region where PRAKTICA products are used.

For example, four phthalate compounds were added to the list of restricted substances of the EU RoHS Directive in 2014. We have already begun using alternatives for these substances before the revision takes effect in 2019.

RoHS Directive

Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. The directive is put into the laws of all EU member states.