Waste management

UCB is investing in green chemistry and waste management optimisation, both to reduce the amount of waste (upstream) and to recycle (downstream) as much of the unavoidable waste as possible.

Upstreaming Green Chemistry

Since the introduction of the green chemistry principles in the early 1990s, chemists and engineers at UCB have become increasingly aware of the potential environmental impact of any chemical processes under development.

To optimise energy consumption, new processes are typically designed to minimise the number of steps at low and high temperatures. Reaction times are optimised in order to avoid unnecessary heating or cooling periods. The energy released during one operation is mostly utilised to pre-heat or heat reagents elsewhere in the process.

Another major priority in the new industrialisation processes is to avoid, replace or reduce the use of solvents. Such solvents impact not only the waste stream (i.e. recycling or incineration) but also the energy stream, as solvents will have to be evaporated at some stage of the process or during their recycling.

Waste management

Our manufacturing sites generate most of our waste. Compared to 2009, we reduced our waste by 16% in 2010.

In 2010, 86% of the waste was recovered through energy recovery, re-utilisation or recycling.

In 2011, we will further enhance the tracking and reporting methods for waste-water discharge and air pollutants, notably volatile organic compounds (VOC).