Company Environmental Policy
Company Description in Terms of Environmental Impacts
SOLO Sirkárna a.s. is an enterprise boasting a long-term tradition in safety matches production, the establishment of which dates back to 1839 in the town of Sušice.
At present, the company has a stabilized shareholder structure and enjoys a dominant position in the Czech market of safety matches and flame-based products and a significant position in the global market of the product range.
The current production of safety matches is ecologically clean in terms of environmental impacts, featuring high quality and function of safety matches. The safety matches produced by the company are fully recyclable products subject to continuous inspection by state institutions. The ecologically most sensitive component of the final product – safety match heads – are produced of a special formula compound free from any additions of sulphur and heavy metal containing chemicals harmful to the environment. This head matter poses the minimum burden to the environment both when using safety matches and as a production waste. In the past years, the company stopped the outdated operations which did not meet the economic requirements and those having the negative environmental impact any more. They included especially the former energy base of SOLO SUŠICE, a.s. which was replaced by two new gas boilers for heat generation (nominal output 2t/hr and 12t/hr respectively). The emissions of both boilers comply with the applicable legislation standards for air pollution. The company also stopped the railway siding operation which represented another considerable ecological hazard for the company.
The company has its seat in Sušice, the town at the edge of the Šumava Protected Landscape Area and National Park. Therefore, the company management pays great attention to the impact of the company operation on the environment. The seat of the company with the whole production facilities is located in the unique natural environment used predominantly by the domestic and foreign clientele for recreational purposes. The company management takes the proximity of the unique Šumava landscape as a commitment to preserve this environment.
The main potential source of negative environmental impact is the production itself, the main potential factor being the production waste occurring especially at the production process end when safety matches are provided with the head compound and boxes are coated with the striking substance. All waste is stored in special containers and disposed of by outsourced firms.
The Objectives in the Company Environmental Policy for the Years to Come.
By introducing the environmental management system as recommended in ČSN EN 14001:1997 the company management commits itself to standardization, environmental pollution prevention and continuous improvement of the environmental management system while simultaneously having all company activities in line with the applicable legislation.
The company management adopted the following objectives for the next period:
Reduce production waste volume and ensure first-class production waste sorting before disposal by outsourced firms.
The aim of this objective is to reduce the absolute production waste quantity (chemical components of safety matches compound, cardboard, matchboxes, non-wetted sticks, wetted sticks, packing materials, etc.). The absolute production waste quantity is affected decisively by the human factor of production personnel and the level of production line setting by the company maintenance staff. The reduction of absolute production waste volume influences the company economy and the quantity of the (hazardous and other) waste being disposed of.
Production waste sorting has another considerable impact on the company economy and the environment. Production waste is sorted out into three categories: (i) waste reusable in the company; (ii) waste paid for by external customers; and (iii) waste paid for by the company to external customers. The considerations above show the necessity to sort out production waste carefully.
Reduce the year-to-year consumption of energy – technological heat.
Aim of the objective: The greatest part of the company’s input energies (electricity, heat, natural gas, service and drinking water) goes to natural gas and technological heat generated therefrom in the company’s own boiler house. This heat shows considerable losses when consumed in the company’s premises. The reasons include: (i) the age and low insulation values of the operation and administration buildings; (ii) the age and low insulation values of the heat distribution system; and (iii) the unsuitable heat carrying medium (steam). The objective is to reconstruct or replace the components above gradually to improve the enterprise’s economy through gas heat generation consumption reduction.