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2.2 - Water consumption and effluents
Water consumption
The Group uses water mainly to cool plant, and as a heat carrier
in the form of steam. After proper treatment, the water used in
production is in general discharged to the environment.
Michelin’s water consumption amounts to 15 m 3
by ton of
finished product, down 1% on 2003.
Discharges to the aquatic environment
The main pollution emissions of our plants are Suspended Matter
and residual hydrocarbons. Michelin monitors these emissions –
which are not specific to our processes but inherent in most
industrial activities and are partly due to sanitary sewer – together
with the resulting Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD).
We also monitor zinc discharge levels from the zinc oxide that
enters in the composition of our tires, and the quantities involved
are generally small.
2.3 - Ground level discharge
Our operations do not generate continuous discharge into the
ground or water table.
We implement via SMEM an approach relating to the risk of
accidental spillage comprising a number of physical steps (ground
protection) and of principles (operator behavior through set
procedures for hazardous operations and remedies in the event
of an accident).
2.4 - Waste
Waste produced is up from 135 kg/t to 147 kg/t, a rise mainly
related to an extended scope of data consolidation. In 2004,
Michelin took measures to optimize recycling of manufacturing
waste and reduce underground waste disposal. As a result of
these measures, Michelin’s recycling rate moved up from 73%
to 77%.
2.5 - Resources consumed
Energy
Our specific energy consumption was down from 18 GJ/t to
16 GJ/t. This development is mainly due to switch to a new
calculation method. Using the previous calculation method,
our specific energy consumption is down a little less than 5%.
The share of natural gas, which is more environment-friendly
than the other fossil fuels was up 2 points to 59%.
In 2004, Michelin set up a central agency to optimize energy
consumption at our plants and step up best practice sharing.
2.6 - Pollution prevention
Please refer to the “industrial hazards” section p. 114.
2.7 - Driving progress
Certification and evaluation, regulatory conformity
guarantee
Upon SMEM implementation, Michelin’s sites become ISO 14001
certified. The Group aims is to have 100% of its finished products
manufactured at certified sites by end 2006 (excluding
plants acquired less than three years before). At end 2004,
this percentage amounted to 90%.
In 2004, Michelin’s certification drive was extended to its research
and development facilities, semi-finished product manufacturing
plants and rubber tree plantations.
SMEM (Système de Management Environnemental Michelin)
hinges on compliance with local regulation in force at any time.
Under SMEM, therefore, all of our sites undertake to fully comply
with relevant regulation.
Internal organization
To guarantee the accuracy of hazard assessments and the
relevance of the solutions adopted, Michelin Group adopted an
environment monitoring network in charge of hygiene and safety
at the workplace and industrial risk prevention.
The “Environment and Prevention” (EP) network comprises
140 experts based in the different countries and supported by a
dedicated team in each plant. The head of EP operations reports
to the Group’s Executive Council and receives a specific budget
allowance.
Employee training and information
The first phase of SMEM deployment launched in 1998 served
to raise environmental awareness of 72,000 employees through
special training programs.
2.8 - Provision for environmental risk
The aggregate provision for environmental risk was capped at
€3 million at December 31, 2004.
2.9 - Other information
Odor and Noise Nuisance
Every Michelin plant, assisted by in-house experts, strive to minimize
impact on neighboring populations.
In some plants surrounded by housing estates, odor can be
a nuisance. This is due to processing of certain kinds of natural
rubber (a key ingredient for tire manufacturing). Michelin introduced
a series of measure to reduce smell as far as possible. Among the
different technologies that have been tested on an industrial
scale, one is currently tested in three Group sites, and this could
give rise to a technical solution in the not too distant future.