for sustained success - Mondi

Sustainability Report 2003 

Mondi Europe 

Member of

Contents 

01 “Breaking barriers“ for sustained success – statement by the CEO 

03 NEUSIEDLER – a market leader in office paper 

04 PUSHING THE LIMITS – the new corporate vision 

05 NEUSIEDLER’s approach to sustainability 

07 Economy 

07 Sustained increase in value 

08 Successful business development 

10 NEUSIEDLER as an important economic factor 

10 Investments 

10 Innovation 

13 Supply Chain Leadership 

14 Environment 

14 NEUSIEDLER’s environmental policy 

15 Environmental management at NEUSIEDLER 

18 Climate protection at NEUSIEDLER 

19 Procurement and supply of sustainable raw materials 

22 Ecological products and eco-friendly packaging 

23 Dialogue and cooperation on environmental issues 

24 Minimising the environmental impact 

24 Water and effluents 

26 Airborne emissions 

27 Waste management/recycling 

29 Transport 

30 Noise 

31 Key environmental data 2003 

32 Environmental programme 2004 

35 “Impulse“ project 

36 Incident management 

37 Initiatives in the social environment 

37 Corporate social responsibility 

38 NEUSIEDLER as a preferred employer 

40 Occupational safety and health 

43 Training and promotion of staff 

44 Key staff data 2003 

45 Community Engagement 

47 Appendix 

47 Statement of the Austrian Institute for Sustainable Development 

48 Glossary 

NEUSIEDLER AG 

A-3363 Ulmerfeld-Hausmening Competence Center 

Phone: +43/7475/500-0 Business Excellence 

Fax: +43/7475/500-2106 Ludwig Bichler 

service@neusiedler.com Phone: +43/1/795 06-2078 

www.neusiedler.com Fax: +43/1/795 06-900 

ludwig.bichler@neusiedler.com

“Breaking barriers“ 

for sustained success 

Thinking of the Future – our first Sustainability Report is guided by the same 

dictum as our first Environmental Report published last year. Thinking of the future 

expresses our deep concern for corporate management based on sustainability. 

Balancing the interests of all stakeholders, i.e. owners, customers, suppliers, 

employees and the communities surrounding us, in a meaningful way will 

ensure the sustained economic success of the NEUSIEDLER Group. 

With PUSHING THE LIMITS, our new corporate vision, we have set a new milestone 

on our road to long-term success. Designed as a three-year process, 

PUSHING THE LIMITS has a very clear aim: to make us one of the leading players 

in the paper industry worldwide by 2006. PUSHING THE LIMITS underlines 

our endeavour to achieve top performance in all our activities and expresses 

our claim to operative excellence in production, sales and administration, as 

well as theme leadership with regard to innovation, supply chain leadership and 

the environment. 

This vision applies to all NEUSIEDLER employees who are called upon to contribute 

to the sustained economic success of the Group through their commitment. 

PUSHING THE LIMITS also reflects the principle of sustainability formulated 

in the code of conduct for the entire Mondi Group, which focuses particularly on 

the areas of environmental excellence, innovation and community engagement. 

In order to highlight the special importance of this principle and our pursuit of 

excellence in these areas, the new Business Excellence competence center was 

set up. Its primary function is to drive our Group-wide PUSHING THE LIMITS 

efforts and put special emphasis on sustainability. 

As an international Group, NEUSIEDLER takes its responsibility for the 

environment very seriously, and PUSHING THE LIMITS will help us gain theme 

leadership in environmental issues. Our major aim is to consistently minimise 

the environmental impact of all our activities, a process that is ensured, inter 

alia, by compliance with the environmental management system ISO 14001. In 

addition, comprehensive investment programmes in all our plants aim at continuous 

improvement of our environmental performance. At the moment we are 

focusing on our Slovak mill at Ruz˘omberok, where a large-scale modernisation 

project will lead to a remarkable improvement of the environmental situation.

Environmental protection is also a high priority for us when it comes to raw 

material supply, and sustainable forestry is one of our major concerns. Whenever 

possible, we purchase wood from companies bearing the FSC (Forest 

Steward-ship Council), PEFC (Pan-European Forest Certification), or a comparable 

certification seal. 

Social responsibility has always been of key importance to NEUSIEDLER, and 

we have launched a number of initiatives to improve the safety and health of our 

staff and involve them in targeted training programmes. Moreover, NEUSIEDLER 

is well aware of its social responsibility as one of the major local employers at 

almost all locations. Following the principle of “Good Citizenship“ we are shouldering 

our share of social responsibility proportionate to the type and size of 

the operation. 

This report will provide you with an overview of the measures we have taken 

in compliance with sustainable corporate management. If you require further information 

or have any suggestions, please contact our staff. They will be glad 

to help you, as continuous economic, environmental and social improvement 

will always remain our major focus. 

Günther Hassler 

CEO

NEUSIEDLER – 

a market leader in office paper 

Paper production 2000–2003 

(in thousand tons) 

752 

2000 

949 

2001 

1,384 

2002 

1,647 

2003 

NEUSIEDLER production locations 

The NEUSIEDLER Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mondi Europe, is one 

of the largest European producers of high-quality, low-chlorine and chlorine-free 

office communication paper. 

With a total of nine locations in Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Israel, Russia and 

South Africa, the Group has an annual production capacity of 1.8 million tons, of 

which 1.5 million tons are for uncoated wood-free paper. The Group also operates 

sales offices in all major markets. The holding structure, in which all central 

functions are concentrated in competence centers at the NEUSIEDLER AG holding 

company in Hausmening, forms the basis for efficient corporate management. 

Under the umbrella brand NEUSIEDLER PAPE®INTELLIGENCE, NEUSIEDLER offers 

a comprehensive range of uncoated wood-free papers for office communication. 

In addition to high-quality grades for all standard applications, NEUSIEDLER 

also offers a complete range of specialties, thus meeting all standard requirements 

in the copying and printing sector. 

3 

Syktyvkar, Russia 

Kematen, Austria 

Theresienthal, Austria 

Ruzˇomberok, Slovakia 

Szolnok, Hungary 

Dunaújváros, Hungary 

Hadera, Israel 

Merebank/Richards Bay, South Africa

PUSHING THE LIMITS – 

the new corporate vision 

The NEUSIEDLER Group has a new vision: PUSHING THE LIMITS aptly reflects 

our claim to operative excellence in production, sales and administration, and 

theme leadership with regard to innovation, supply chain leadership and environment. 

This claim, which applies to all NEUSIEDLER divisions and activities, 

will safeguard the sustained economic success of the Group. 

PUSHING THE LIMITS underlines NEUSIEDLER’s endeavour to achieve top performance 

in all our activities. Great achievements are based on many small improvements. 

All employees in the Group are therefore called upon to push their 

own personal limits and to pledge their commitment to the sustained economic 

success of NEUSIEDLER. And it goes without saying that the entire 

NEUSIEDLER management team have also declared their full commitment to 

PUSHING THE LIMITS. 

With this challenge in mind, NEUSIEDLER has set new ambitious goals, which 

we aim to achieve together within the framework of PUSHING THE LIMITS on 

the basis of know-how, commitment, precision and dynamic interaction. 

Group-wide implementation fully on track 

4 

The year under review saw the detailed elaboration and harmonisation of 

the basic principles of the new vision following their adoption in 2002. 

PUSHING THE LIMITS’ core aim of making NEUSIEDLER one of 

the leading players in the worldwide paper industry by 2006 has 

been transformed into a concrete three-year programme containing 

specific objectives for the nine key business areas. These 

key performance indicators were defined by means of benchmarking 

against our competitors and will be monitored on a 

regular basis. In addition, detailed action plans have been drawn up 

to ensure swift, target-oriented implementation of PUSHING THE LIMITS 

in a Group-wide process. 

The corporate organisation has also been restructured to ensure NEUSIEDLER 

realises its ambitious goals: a Business Excellence competence center has been 

established to drive the entire PUSHING THE LIMITS process and initiate Groupwide 

projects, as well as giving special priority to the principle of sustainability. 

This was followed by a series of comprehensive measures to communicate 

and implement the concept of PUSHING THE LIMITS. An information campaign 

was developed to introduce PUSHING THE LIMITS throughout the Group and 

create awareness of all aspects of the project. 

From summer 2003 onwards, the management and workforce of the entire 

Group were informed about the goals and contents of PUSHING THE LIMITS in 

several waves of communication activities. Regular feedback sessions ensured 

that there was a continuous and very useful dialogue.

High degree of transparency 

through ongoing dialogue 

with all stakeholders 

Authorities 

NGOs 

NEUSIEDLER’s 

approach to sustainability 

Sustainable 

sources 

Rail transport 

takes priority 

Wood 

Auxiliaries 

Water Energy 

NEUSIEDLER’s 

Sustainability goals 

Transport 

Owners 

Emissions/ 

Waste 

Staff 

Plants 

Input Production 

High 

efficiency process 

Drastic reduction 

of consumption 

Attractive working conditions/ 

Gender equality/High degree 

of occupational safety 

Suppliers/Partners 

Sustained business success 

As a dynamic and future-oriented Group, NEUSIEDLER is striving for sustained 

success in its business activities. In order to achieve this goal, it is essential for 

the Group to safeguard its economic basis, ranging from top-quality products, 

highly qualified employees and plants with state-of-the-art technology to active 

market and customer development. At the same time, NEUSIEDLER is committed 

to the careful and sustainable use of resources such as wood, other raw materials 

and auxiliaries, water, air and energy, which also secure its future success. 

In pursuance of its commitment, NEUSIEDLER has set a number of initiatives 

in all divisions, which are supported by PUSHING THE LIMITS, the Group’s new 

vision. PUSHING THE LIMITS implies striving for excellence in all business lines 

and is a major contributor to our efforts towards sustainable development. 

Intelligent regard for the interests of stakeholders 

NEUSIEDLER defines sustainability-oriented management as intelligent regard 

for the ideas and interests of all stakeholders. The sustained long-term 

success of the NEUSIEDLER Group will be safeguarded only by striking a meaningful 

balance between the interests of all stakeholders, including owners, 

customers, suppliers, employees and the communities associated 

with our operations. 

Avoidance/ 

Minimisation 

Shortening of 

transport routes 

Transport 

5 

Paper 

Pulp 

Staff 

Output 

Increase in efficiency/ 

State-of-the-art 

Customers 

Targeted surveys of the needs and interests of 

all stakeholders aim at making this balance as 

efficient and comprehensive as possible, and 

keep NEUSIEDLER informed about the requirements 

of its customers through regular 

contacts and detailed questions. Employee 

satisfaction is also monitored on an 

ongoing basis. In addition, the Group 

management has instituted regular 

information events and engages in an 

intensive dialogue with its staff. Continuous 

personal contacts, business 

reviews and business principles 

translate the ideas of NEUSIEDLER’s 

shareholders into all business 

processes. 

Local Community

Peter Duval, Michael Sablatnig, Karl Grill and 

moderator Babera van Melle at a NEUSIEDLER Dialogue event 

A high degree of transparency 

NEUSIEDLER is committed to an open and intensive dialogue on sustainability 

and a high degree of transparency with due regard for the internationally recognised 

guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). 

Concentration on relevant themes and issues 

Following the GRI recommendation to weight information as to its significance 

for the reader, the present Sustainability Report focuses on the requirements of 

the individual groups of NEUSIEDLER stakeholders, and aims at the highest possible 

transparency in those areas that are of particular relevance for the paper 

industry and the regions in which NEUSIEDLER operates. Environmental protection 

and innovation are therefore centres of attention, and special emphasis is 

put on corporate social responsibility, particularly in view of NEUSIEDLER’s commitment 

to the community surrounding the Russian Syktyvkar mill, serving as 

an example of how NEUSIEDLER’s community engagement relates to the conditions 

and needs of the regions in which it operates. 

This Report is subdivided according to the three classical pillars of sustainable 

management: economy, ecology and social responsibility. By orienting its 

activities and value creation towards these three pillars, NEUSIEDLER pledges 

itself to striking a balance between the interests of all stakeholders. 

6

Economy 

Sustained increase in value 

A major responsibility of NEUSIEDLER towards its owners is to maximise shareholder 

value over time. We believe that this is best achieved through a long-term 

regard for the interests of other stakeholders including our employees, customers, 

business partners, and the communities associated with our operations. A 

reputation for integrity and responsible behaviour will underpin NEUSIEDLER’s 

commercial performance by motivating employees and building trust and goodwill 

in the wider world. 

NEUSIEDLER will at all times ensure full compliance with laws and regulations 

applicable to corporate governance and to the entire Group. 

The Group aims to maintain constructive relations based on fair and ethical 

conduct with its customers, business partners, contractors and suppliers, for the 

mutual and long-term benefit of all parties concerned. NEUSIEDLER supports free 

enterprise as the system best able to contribute to the economic welfare of society 

as well as promoting individual liberty. 

7 

NEUSIEDLER’s business success brings with it an obligation of ethical 

behaviour. The Group is implacably opposed to corruption. NEUSIEDLER 

will not offer, pay or accept bribes or condone anti-competitive practices 

in our dealings in the marketplace. 

NEUSIEDLER will maintain high standards of planning and control 

to identify and monitor risks, safeguard our assets and detect 

and prevent fraud. 

We encourage all employees of the Group to take personal responsibility. 

PUSHING THE LIMITS, our new corporate vision, calls 

upon all employees to safeguard the sustained economic success of 

the Group through their commitment. No one will suffer for bringing 

violations of the fundamental principles of the Group to the attention 

of the management or raising any legal or ethical concern.

NEUSIEDLER Group 

Performance data 2000–2003 

Production tons 

Successful business development 

Despite difficult market conditions and reduced demand in the year 2003, 

NEUSIEDLER managed to hold its own and continue its success. Production and 

sales volumes were increased again and the EBIT of the NEUSIEDLER Group was 

kept at a high level. With this excellent overall result, NEUSIEDLER clearly stands 

apart form the rather subdued international trend in the paper industry. 

In particular, the investments in the East European countries made major contributions 

to the earnings of the Group in this difficult year, thus confirming and 

underpinning the strength of our East European strategy. 

In addition, continuing increase in capacity, a high degree of integration, ongoing 

investments, targeted innovation and the determined implementation of 

our claim to supply chain leadership have always been important success factors 

in the NEUSIEDLER Group. 

8 NEUSIEDLER Sustainability Report 2003 | Economy 

2000 2001 2002 2003 

Paper tons 752,482 949,128 1,383,822 1,647,201 

in Austria tons 334,855 336,021 352,328 342,033 

in Hungary tons 180,950 194,212 198,990 209,843 

in Israel tons 99,040 109,510 122,209 125,945 

in Slovakia 1 

in Russia 2 

tons 137,637 309,385 324,103 276,742 

tons – – 386,192 692,638 

Pulp tons 164,173 304,945 705,732 985,052 

in Austria tons 47,440 47,014 41,062 35,946 

in Slovakia 1 

in Russia 2 

tons 116,733 257,931 270,224 270,301 

tons – – 394,446 678,805 

Turnover EUR million 759 980 1,216 1,252 

Capital expenditure EUR million 36 75 123 222 

Employees as at end of year number 4,937 4,600 20,054 19,391 

1 NEUSIEDLER SCP, as from July 1, 2000 

2 NEUSIEDLER Syktyvkar, as from June 1, 2002 

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mondi Group that belongs to the listed Anglo American plc, and pursuant to Group standards, NEUSIEDLER is unable 

to publish detailed financial ratios. NEUSIEDLER therefore has to restrict itself to the above aggregates.

Production capacity multiplied by acquisitions since 1995 

NEUSIEDLER has seen continued growth since the mid-nineties. With the acquisition 

of paper mills in Hungary, Israel, Slovakia and Russia and the integration 

of the South African plants of the Mondi Group, the Group has succeeded in increasing 

its production capacity for uncoated wood-free papers from 0.3 million 

tons in 1995 to 1.8 million tons today. This development has made NEUSIEDLER 

an international player and has propelled us into the top echelon of European 

office paper producers. 

High degree of integration as a major factor of success 

The NEUSIEDLER mills in Austria, Slovakia, Russia and South Africa are paper 

and pulp producers. Hence, the Slovakian, Russian and South African mills produce 

almost the entire pulp volume they need for their paper production. With 

this high degree of integration, NEUSIEDLER is in a position to unleash enormous 

synergies and optimisation potentials in its production chain, resulting in 

considerable cost reductions and environmental improvement. 

Ongoing cost reduction and process optimisation 

Optimisation of the production and process quality was continued by 

NEUSIEDLER in 2003. In addition to higher quality at competitive cost, the Group 

also gains higher flexibility by allocating the production of the various products 

in its range to the individual mills. NEUSIEDLER is thus able to offer a comprehensive 

product range across all quality grades, with quality continuously being 

optimised and production costs minimised.

NEUSIEDLER as an 

important economic factor 

The operations of the NEUSIEDLER Group are important economic players, 

both in the individual regions and at the supra-regional level. Most of the 

NEUSIEDLER mills are the major employers for the communities surrounding 

them and make substantial financial contributions to these regions. 

Investments 

Continuous investments in the expansion and optimisation of its plants safeguard 

NEUSIEDLER’s sustained success. 

Last year, major investment projects centred on the upgrading of the pulp 

mill at Ruz˘omberok and the completion of the remodelling of PM18 (see page 35), 

as well as the installation of cut-size cross cutters at Ruz˘omberok and Syktyvkar. 

NEUSIEDLER plans further increases in production volume, in particular in the 

capacity of the cut-size sector. One of the major investment projects in Austria 

is “Flex 05“, which aims to increase the finishing capacity for cut-size paper by 

140,000 tons by the end of 2004, thus establishing NEUSIEDLER as the strongest 

performing Group in Europe in this sector. In future, NEUSIEDLER will have 

a total cut-size capacity of 1.3 million tons. 

Innovation 

Constant innovation in both products and services is a key factor in 

NEUSIEDLER’s success and contributes to sustainable management. The determined 

improvement in all divisions leads to careful use of resources.

Targeted management of ideas 

The “NEUSIEDLER Improvement Process“ (NIP) was introduced back in 1997 

and has shown a very positive development ever since, as demonstrated by the 

willingness of all staff to make an active contribution with ideas and suggestions 

for improvement. In 2003 the number of proposals submitted reached yet 

another record, going up to 1,442. 

Another valuable innovation initiative is the “Strategic Innovation Programme“, 

which was introduced at NEUSIEDLER in the year under review. This programme 

expands the scope of the NIP, making targeted use of the Internet with the 

Mondi Innovation Zone (www.mondiinnovation.com) to promote initiatives with 

regard to innovation processes and facilitate their implementation. The Mondi 

Innovation Zone provides a platform for the exchange of know-how with other 

companies of the Mondi Group, its aim being to ensure employee ideas – big 

and small – become a reality and thus create added value for the company and 

for each individual member of staff. 

Development of the Improvement Process 

(number of suggestions submitted) 

1,600 

1,400 

1,200 

1,000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 

44 

1997 

170 

1998 

Approximately 60% of all submitted suggestions for improvement focus on 

the careful and sustainable use of resources. 

Suggestions for improvement – themes 

31% 

Occupational safety 

7% 

Waste avoidance/ 

reduction 

356 

1999 

NEUSIEDLER Improvement Process 

Mondi Innovation Zone 

443 

2000 

5% 

Environmental protection 

641 

2001 

11% 

Increase in quality 

11 NEUSIEDLER Sustainability Report 2003 | Economy 

768 

2002 

1,442 

2003 

448 

994 

12% 

Savings in raw materials, 

auxiliaries and production materials 

6% 

Savings in 

water, steam, energy 

28% 

Saving time/facilitating work

Clearly structured innovation process 

The entire field of idea management at NEUSIEDLER is in the hands of the 

Innovation competence center, which is also responsible for the development of 

new products and processes. In 2003, NEUSIEDLER again implemented a number 

of initiatives in product innovation, including the expansion of the multifunctional 

IQ office paper range, which enjoys great success in the market. In the 

development of new products, NEUSIEDLER attaches great importance to collaboration 

with external research institutions and regular monitoring of advances 

in technology. 

Promising ideas and innovations are evaluated in a multi-stage process 

and given ”innovation points“, which are then used to calculate a Group-wide 

“NEUSIEDLER Innovation Indicator” documenting the innovative strength of the 

company. Within the framework of PUSHING THE LIMITS, NEUSIEDLER has set 

itself the ambitious target of doubling this indicator every 18 months. 

Fresh water and energy saving in pulp washing 

In addition to wood and other raw materials, the production of paper and 

pulp also requires tremendous energy and water consumption. Numerous suggestions 

by the NEUSIEDLER staff thus aim at reducing the consumption of 

these resources. One of the NEUSIEDLER SCP staff members made an excellent 

suggestion relating to pulp production. 

The original idea centred on the reduction of the amount of water used in the 

pulp washing process. He suggested replacing the fresh water originally used 

for the dilution of the pulp by the wash filtrate already contained in the system. 

This proposal was tested by experts and the result turned out to be a twofold 

success: With the wash filtrate being considerably warmer than fresh water, the 

conversion yielded not only a considerable reduction in the need for fresh water 

but also a remarkable saving in energy. 

12

Supply Chain Leadership 

Supply Chain Leadership is one of the themes for which NEUSIEDLER claims 

theme leadership under the PUSHING THE LIMITS programme. NEUSIEDLER is 

aiming at excellence in the entire supply chain, including pulp suppliers, paper 

manufacturing, finishing, and consumers. We want to be leaders in every respect, 

as this will translate into great business potential for both our Group 

and our key customers. 

NEUSIEDLER is striving to achieve a delivery accuracy of 99% throughout the 

entire supply chain. This top performance can only be achieved if production, 

finishing and transport interact as smoothly as possible. Projections need to be 

enhanced, manufacturing precision refined, throughput times in our mills halved 

and innovative logistics concepts put into practice. The optimisation of the transport 

network provided for by the project will lead to better planning of routes 

with shorter transport times and the simultaneous improvement of capacity 

utilisation of the individual means of transport. 

With this project, NEUSIEDLER will switch from a supply-driven to a demanddriven 

system that will considerably enhance the quality of service and intensify 

customer loyalty, an important improvement fully in line with sustainable management. 

At the same time, optimised production and inventory management 

will result in a considerable reduction of capital cost. 

Supply chain simulation – NEUSIEDLER workshop with customers 

13 NEUSIEDLER Sustainability Report 2003 | Economy

Environment 

NEUSIEDLER’s environmental policy 

Growing awareness of the finite nature of our raw materials and energy resources 

and the increasing number of environmental issues mean that consumers 

today desire ecologically sound production, eco-friendly management, and 

an eco-friendly product. 

NEUSIEDLER sees its responsibility towards the environment not as an empty 

slogan but as an obligation. The management is determined to guide the company 

in line with an exemplary environmental policy oriented towards sustainable 

development. This means continually improving the environmental 

standards of our company. 

The following principles are the backbone 

of NEUSIEDLER’s environmental policy: 

h We oblige all NEUSIEDLER employees to follow all legal regulations and any 

other requirements to which we are pledged. 

h We support training measures for all our employees, aiming at the careful 

use of resources and energy. 

h We implement all necessary and economically acceptable measures to avoid 

or remedy environmental damage. Should environmental impacts be unavoidable, 

we seek to reduce them to a minimum, including possible breakdownrelated 

emissions. 

h We set targets aiming at a continuous improvement of our environmental 

performance and take corrective action if these targets are not met. 

h We review and assess the environmental impact of each new activity, each 

new product development, and each new procedure before their introduction. 

h We keep the general public and customers informed about our environmental 

activities and engage in a dialogue with all stakeholders.

Environmental 

management at NEUSIEDLER 

Environmental policy is the backbone of environmental management at 

NEUSIEDLER. Complemented by quality and safety policy, it provides the fundamental 

guidelines for the company in this sector. 

Group-wide certification 

The ISO 14001 certification of the Theresienthal mill in 1995, followed by the 

EMAS certification in 1998, gave NEUSIEDLER a head start in the introduction of 

environmental management systems according to international standards. The 

Kematen mill was certified in 2001, followed by the certification of the two Hungarian 

mills at Szolnok and Dunaújváros in 2002. Hadera in Israel had already 

been certified according to ISO 14001 prior to its acquisition in 1999. In 2003, 

the activities of NEUSIEDLER AG (the holding company) were certified according 

to ISO 14001, with the certification process now being extended to the recently 

acquired mills. 

The Ruz˘omberok and Syktyvkar mills, acquired in 2001 and 2002, are expected 

to receive certification by the end of 2004. At both locations, project groups 

to promote the introduction of these management systems were set up and receive 

the active support of the holding company and its experience from projects 

at other locations. Regular internal audits provide information on the progress 

of the projects. 

15 NEUSIEDLER Sustainability Report 2003 | Environment

Management systems at NEUSIEDLER 

NEUSIEDLER Austria 

AG (holding 

company) 

Hungary Israel Slovakia Russia 

Environmental system ISO 14001 ISO 14001 / ISO 14001 ISO 14001 ISO 14001 ISO 14001 

management EMAS 

since/ 2003 THE1 : 2002 1998 2004 2004 

introduction by 1995/1998 

KEM2 : 2001 

YZG3 : 2004 

Quality 

management 

system ISO 9001 ISO 9001 ISO 9001 ISO 9001 ISO 9001 ISO 9001 

since/ 2003 THE1 : 1992 2000 1994 1997 2004 

introduction by KEM2 : 1992 

YZG3 : 1998 

Safety system OHSAS OHSAS OHSAS OHSAS OHSAS OHSAS 

management 18001 18001 18001 18001 18001 18001 

since/ 

introduction by 

2004 2004 2004 2002 2005 2005 

Forestry system – FSC-COC – – FSC / FSC / 

management/Chain 

of Custody 

FSC-COC FSC-COC 

since/ 

introduction by 

– 2001 – – 2005 2005 

1 

Theresienthal paper mill 

2 

Kematen paper mill 

3 

Kematen pulp mill 

Efficient organisation 

In order to ensure a consistent Group-wide approach to environmental protection, 

NEUSIEDLER has created an efficient organisational structure that guarantees 

the consistent implementation of all environmental concepts and measures. 

Each plant has its own environmental manager. In addition to legal compliance, 

environmental performance is continuously improved and reports are produced 

for the plant management. 

16

Fields of work: 

theme leadership in environmental protection 

Environmental controlling 

ISO 14001 

Co-operation 

with institutes 

Forest certification 

Innovation 

For each plant, annual environmental programmes are prepared that define 

all environmental measures, goals and objectives. 

The holding company NEUSIEDLER AG located at the Austrian Theresienthal 

mill houses the central competence center ”Engineering and SHE“ (SHE – Safety, 

Health & Environment), which is responsible for the Group’s standards and the 

coordination of all Group-wide environmental activities. 

Key concerns of environmental management are the continuous reduction of 

waste and emissions into air, water and soil and ensuring that all statutory regulations 

are met. NEUSIEDLER’s environmental management also attaches great 

importance to the exclusive use of raw materials and auxiliaries that meet the 

high ecological standards of the Group. 

Theme leadership in environmental protection 

Establishing NEUSIEDLER as theme leader in environmental protection is one 

of the objectives of PUSHING THE LIMITS, the new corporate vision. This claim 

was translated into a concrete work programme that comprises ten areas of activity 

and focuses in particular on the continuous improvement of environmental 

performance in combination with excellence in forest certification, innovation 

and CO 2 strategy. In order to ensure swift implementation of the programme, a 

clear organisational structure was created, with project managers at all plants 

who are responsible for the group-wide implementation of the numerous individual 

projects under the guidance of the holding company. 

Communication 

CO 2 emission & 

green energy 

Benchmarking 

Education 

Improvement in 

production process 


Primary energy consumption 

33.5% 

biogenic 

Direct emissions of fossil CO 2 

5.5% 

Hungary 

12.8% 

Slovakia 

9.7% 

Austria 

66.5% 

fossil 

72.0% 

Russia 

Climate protection at NEUSIEDLER 

The world climate (greenhouse effect) constitutes a major challenge for the 

entire business community. NEUSIEDLER is trying to meet this challenge by reducing 

fossil CO 2 emissions arising primarily from energy generation in the production 

of paper, thus optimising efficient energy use through consistent energy 

management. Another major concern is the substitution of fossil energy carriers 

by biomass, provided the existing infrastructure makes this economically feasible. 

In order to achieve this goal, the following measures are being taken 

h Preferred use of natural gas, the most eco-friendly fossil energy carrier in 

terms of CO 2, as the main fuel; in addition to minimising fossil CO 2 emissions, 

this results in no sulphur dioxide and dust emissions into the air. 

h Consistent use of highly efficient co-generation, aiming at an almost selfsufficient 

electric power supply. 

h Promoting the use of bark and wood waste for the energy supply of the 

Ruz˘omberok und Syktyvkar mills. 

At the Russian Syktyvkar mill, NEUSIEDLER is also responsible for the supply 

of heat and electric power to the local community. Thanks to the existing cogeneration 

system, a highly efficient and low-emission energy supply is guaranteed 

to meet the demand of the local population. 

Preparing for emissions trading 

In compliance with the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol, Europe is aiming to 

reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% against the 1990 level by the year 

2012. In order to achieve this goal, the EU has provided for a scheme for greenhouse 

gas emission allowance trading that will start in 2005. Being an energyintensive 

industry, the paper sector is directly affected by this scheme. For this 

reason, NEUSIEDLER started to develop a strategy in 2003 for possible emissions 

trading activities based on a detailed study of actual emissions. 

The greatest potentials for increasing efficiency are being identified across the 

Group. As the statutory provisions are expected to aim at further emission reductions, 

the study centres on a thorough analysis of the energy supply situation in 

the Austrian plants and a special investigation of the Syktyvkar plant which, due 

to its size, has a particularly high savings potential. In order to increase the use 

of biogenic fuel at the Ruz˘omberok mill, a special project for the reconstruction 

of the residual waste boiler was developed. 


Procurement and supply 

of sustainable raw materials 

When procuring raw materials, NEUSIEDLER attaches special importance to 

the careful use of natural resources. A lot of effort goes into the selection of 

raw and auxiliary materials that perform their functionality in the production 

process while having the lowest possible impact on the environment. 

h All new raw and auxiliary materials used by NEUSIEDLER require approval by 

Environmental Management and Occupational Health. 

h NEUSIEDLER pledges itself to use only auxiliaries that are also recommended 

for paper products in contact with food, pursuant to Recommendation XXXVI 

“Plastics for Food Packaging” of the BgVV – Deutsches Bundesinstitut für gesundheitlichen 

Verbraucherschutz und Veterinärmedizin (Federal German Institute 

for Consumer Health Protection and Veterinary Medicine). 

Consistent quality assurance, ongoing assessment of suppliers in terms of 

quality and ecological criteria and full integration of environmental management 

into the procurement process ensure the right ecological selection. 

Pulp and wood from sustainable forestry 

The NEUSIEDLER Group attaches great importance to sustainability 

with regard to pulp and timber, the primary raw materials for the production 

of paper. In order to underline NEUSIEDLER’s commitment, 

we have developed special guidelines for forestry and the procurement 

of forestry products. These guidelines focus on three main 

areas. 

Own logging operations 

h NEUSIEDLER is not only committed to complying with relevant national forestry 

laws, we also aim at implementing the most suitable and sustainable forestry 

practices. 

h In order to ensure ecological, social and economic sustainability of our forestry 

management practices, we develop and promote reliable and internationally 

recognised systems for forest certification. 

h If there is evidence that forests in the areas where NEUSIEDLER sources its 

wood are of high ecological value, we will take all necessary measures to identify 

and protect these forests. 

h We engage in open communication and an active dialogue on our business 

principles and improvement programmes with neighbours, customers and other 

interested stakeholders such as NGOs. 


Origin of contracted timber and pulp 

h We request our pulp and timber suppliers to submit confirmation of their 

compliance with all relevant national legal requirements and to furnish proof 

that all raw materials delivered by them are sourced from forestry enterprises 

managed in keeping with the social, ecological and economic principles of 

sustainability. 

h NEUSIEDLER encourages and supports sustainable forestry practices among 

its wood and pulp suppliers and prefers suppliers with forestry management 

systems that have been certified according to internationally recognised standards. 

h We do not accept raw materials sourced from protected forests and reserves 

or from forests that are worth protecting. We purchase pulp from tropical 

regions only if it is sourced from sustainably managed plantations. 

h In order to underpin our commitment, we request our suppliers to furnish 

information on the origin of their raw materials on a regular basis. If there is 

evidence that suppliers are not meeting our requirements and not readily implementing 

corrective measures suggested by us, they will not be awarded 

any further contracts. 

h We shall provide information to our customers and other interested groups 

about the progress made towards continuously increasing the share of certified 

raw materials. 

Environmental impact of contracted pulp production 

h We ask our pulp suppliers to submit their environmental performance data 

and information on their production processes on a regular basis. These data 

provide the basis for the benchmarking of our suppliers. 

h We obligate our suppliers to continuous improvement of their environmental 

performance, a decisive criterion for our supplier assessment and selection. 

h We purchase only elemental chlorine-free (ECF) and total chlorine-free (TCF) 

bleached pulp. 

h In our environment and sustainability reports we regularly provide information 

on the progress made towards continuous improvement of the environmental 

performance of our mills and products. 

Today, approximately 20% of the contracted pulp comes from 

certified sources. By 2005, NEUSIEDLER plans to increase this 

share to 35 or 40%.

Franz Stebegg, receiving the Panda 

Award on behalf of NEUSIEDLER 

Initiatives for forest certification 

NEUSIEDLER aims to proactively support the certification of the national 

forests in Slovakia, the main suppliers of the Ruz˘omberok mill, and the logging 

enterprises in the Republic of Komi that supply the mill at Syktyvkar according to 

internationally approved standards for sustainable forestry. 

By the year 2005, at least 35% of the wood processed at Syktyvkar is planned 

to be sourced from FSC-certified forests, and in the Republic of Komi, approximately 

1.1 million hectares of wood will be certified according to the Forest 

Stewardship Council (FSC) criteria, an initiative for which the WWF rewarded 

NEUSIEDLER with the Panda Award. 

In addition to certifying sustainably managed forests, NEUSIEDLER also aims 

at identifying and protecting the vast virgin forests in the region. In this endeavour, 

NEUSIEDLER cooperates closely and engages in a constructive dialogue 

with various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Silver Taiga 

Fund. 

Currently, NEUSIELDER is also cooperating with the “Holzwirtschaftliche Fachhochschule 

Hamburg“ (Hamburg college of higher forestry management training), 

where one of the students is writing a diploma thesis on “Certification of 

logging enterprises in Russia”. 


Eco-friendly products demonstrate 

our environmental competence 

Ecological products 

and eco-friendly packaging 

NEUSIEDLER attaches great importance to sustainable high-quality products, 

no matter whether they come from NEUSIEDLER’s own production or from raw 

material suppliers. 

For this reason, NEUSIEDLER produces mainly papers from 

fresh fibres. In addition to the specific characteristics of the individual 

products, “Chain of Custody” certification, i.e. continuous 

certification starting with forestry management and ending 

with the finished product, ranks high among customers 

who demand products originating from a sustainable raw material 

source. NEUSIEDLER is one of the few producers that 

meet these high expectations by offering FSC certified products 

and by consistently increasing the share of pulp made from wood 

originating from certified logging enterprises. 

As early as 1989, NEUSIEDLER launched BIO TOP 3 ® , the world’s first total 

chlorine-free bleached copy paper that also contains no optical brighteners. This 

paper clearly demonstrates the company’s innovative and environmental competence. 

In addition, the NEUSIEDLER range includes two products made from recycled 

fibres: IQ TRIOTEC ® unique – a three-layer copy paper with a recycled middle 

layer –, and NAUTILUS ® , made completely from recycled fibres. 

Ecological packaging 

Packaging is another area where NEUSIEDLER focuses on the careful use of resources. 

In general, great efforts are made to use recyclable materials for ream 

wrappers and boxes, and to keep packaging material to a minimum. The selective 

collection of packaging waste from production makes this waste recyclable. 

NEUSIEDLER has also launched an interesting project aimed at developing a 

biodegradable transparent packaging based on cellophane, the “Clear Wrapper“. 


OJSC NEUSIEDLER Syktyvkar, 

Russia, has received a number 

of environmental awards 

Miloslav C˘urilla and Otto Pichler at a NEUSIEDLER 

Environmental Day in Ruz˘omberok, Slovakia 

Dialogue and cooperation 

on environmental issues 

In keeping with its environmental policy, NEUSIEDLER endeavours to provide 

information on its environmental activities, to engage in a dialogue with all 

stakeholders and to cooperate with institutions and groups actively involved in 

sustainability and environmental protection. NEUSIEDLER therefore maintains 

constant contact with scientific institutions and non-governmental organisations 

(NGOs), such as the Silver Taiga Fund that promotes forest certification in 

Russia. 

NEUSIEDLER’s information campaigns for environmental protection focus on 

the FSC certification of forests in the Russian Republic of Komi. In addition to 

the certification of sustainably managed forests, great importance is attached 

to the identification and protection of the vast virgin forests in the region. 

NEUSIEDLER’s initiatives in this field are recognised and also rewarded. For its 

endeavours to get the forests in Komi FSC certified, NEUSIEDLER was honoured 

with the Panda Award by the WWF in 2003. 

NEUSIEDLER also engages in an intensive dialogue on sustainability with its suppliers, 

carefully selecting partners that meet the high demands of NEUSIEDLER’s 

forest and procurement policy in a sustainable way. NEUSIEDLER also focuses 

on the highest level of transparency vis-à-vis its customers and provides detailed 

information on the ecological properties of its products. Every year, at least 

600 customer queries relate to these products. 

A further milestone is communication with employees, which is reflected in 

the “NEUSIEDLER Dialogue“ that is organised twice a year at each production 

site, and with the communities surrounding our production facilities whom 

NEUSIEDLER keeps regularly informed about the environmental performance of 

our plants. The mill at Ruz˘omberok, for example, organises “Environmental 

Days“ twice a year, inviting the local community to discuss the environmental 

situation with representatives of the mill, and at the same time receive detailed 

information in an open dialogue. NEUSIEDLER also offers guided tours of the 

mills to schools in the communities associated with our operations, with each 

tour focussing on a particular environmental issue. 

NEUSIEDLER’s high level of transparency in environmental matters was 

honoured with two prizes in 2003. The Syktyvkar mill received the environmental 

award presented by “Expert“, a Russian business magazine, and was the winner 

in the "forest products“ category. In the race for the environmental award of 

the Russian Association for the Protection of the Environment, Syktyvkar came 

in second and was honoured for its environmental activities of the past years, 

ranging from effluent and emission reduction to the avoidance of waste. 


Consistent effluent reduction 

In pulp production 

(in cubic metres per ton of pulp) 

140.0 

120.0 

100.0 

80.0 

60.0 

40.0 

20.0 

0.0 

50.0 

40.0 

30.0 

20.0 

10.0 

0.0 

43.4 

51.9 57.6 

Austria 1 

2001 2002 2003 

Consistent effluent reduction 

In paper production (in cubic metres per ton of paper) 

10.2 9.2 9.2 

Austria 

2001 2002 2003 

64.2 59.7 58.0 

Slovakia 

20.3 18.1 

Hungary 

14.2 

Minimising the environmental impact 

Water and effluents 

The most important factors in paper production are wood, energy and water. 

All raw and auxiliary materials are fed into the paper machine in the form of a 

water suspension and leave the paper machine when the water is removed by 

squeezing and drying. While in the past the water requirement for the production 

of one ton of paper on the paper machine was up to 100 cubic metres, this 

volume has been reduced to only 10 to 15 cubic metres over the past decades. 

The high standard of the NEUSIEDLER mills in Austria, Israel and Hungary is 

now to be implemented step-by-step in Slovakia and Russia as well. Except for 

the Ruz˘omberok and Syktyvkar mills, which were only acquired in 2001 and 

2002 respectively, all Group plants meet the European Union’s BAT (Best Available 

Technology) criteria that specify a fresh water demand in paper production 

of 10 to 15 cubic metres. BAT values of 40 to 60 cubic metres are met by all the 

Group's Central European pulp mills. 

118.3 

104.7 

Russia 

1 In 2002 and 2003, production in the Austrian pulp mill was reduced, which resulted in 

an increase in the specific effluent volume. 

8.2 7.1 6.9 

Israel 

In general, NEUSIEDLER aims at using an increasing amount of 

surface water instead of regular ground or drinking 

water. 

93.6 

38.5 

24.1 23.8 

Slovakia 

24 NEUSIEDLER Sustainability Report 2003 | Environment 

41,3 40,7 

Russia 

31,0

Specific COD emissions 

In pulp production 

(in kg per ton of pulp) 

35.0 

30.0 

25.0 

20.0 

15.0 

10.0 

5.0 

0.0 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

30.5 29.0 

Austria 

0.75 0.72 0.75 

Austria 

27.0 

2001 2002 2003 

Specific COD emissions 

In paper production (in kg per ton of paper) 

2001 2002 2003 

14.0 13.7 

5.56 

Hungary 

The effluents of the paper industry predominantly contain organic contaminants 

and solid materials, whereas those of pulp production also comprise nitrogen and 

phosphor compounds. The organic load is determined by the theoretical amount 

of oxygen required for the oxidation of the contained organic compounds (COD – 

chemical oxygen demand). 

In all NEUSIEDLER plants, all contaminated effluents are mechanically and biologically 

treated in order to ensure that all BAT values are maintained or undercut 

where possible. 

Slovakia 1 

1.71 

9.3 

1.39 

17.7 18.8 16.5 

Russia 1 

1 The combined treatment of industrial and residential waste water has a positive effect on 

the mills in Slovakia and Russia in terms of the reduction of COD from pulp production. 

1.73 0.87 

Israel 

0.64 

6.7 

2.6 

Slovakia 

2.7 

6 

3 

Russia 

2.8

Specific SO 2 emissions (in kg per ton of pulp) 

10.0 

8.0 

6.0 

4.0 

2.0 

0.0 

10.0 

8.0 

6.0 

4.0 

2.0 

0.0 

0.2 0.3 0.2 

Austria 

2001 2002 2003 

6.5 6.4 6.2 

Austria 

Emissions into air 

Specific thermal energy consumption (in GJ per ton of paper) 

2001 2002 2003 

8.5 

1 SO2 emissions at the mills in Slovakia and Russia increased slightly in 2003 

because an increased amount of the more problematic emissions of "total 

reduced sulphur compounds" (TRS) was collected and incinerated. 

7.6 

3.8 

Slovakia 1 

7.0 7.0 

Hungary 

Air emissions in the paper industry essentially arise from the supply of energy 

and from pulp production. The major emissions include CO 2, nitrogen oxides 

(NO x), sulphur dioxide (SO 2) and dust. Pulp production also releases emissions 

of reduced sulphur compounds. 

NEUSIEDLER aims firstly at avoiding unnecessary use of energy to reduce 

total emissions from energy production, and secondly at the preferred use of 

natural gas in energy production to reduce or eliminate CO 2, SO 2 and dust emissions. 

Efficient flue-gas scrubbers and fly-ash precipitators reduce the amount of 

SO 2 and dust from the exhaust air. 

The malodorous reduced sulphur compounds from pulp production are systematically 

collected and then further reduced by burning in furnaces used in 

the production process. 

4.4 

6.4 6.1 

In all its plants, NEUSIEDLER meets or undercuts all statutory emission 

limits set for airborne contaminants. 

1.4 1.3 1.4 

Russia 1 

Israel 

7.4 

6.6 6.5 

Slovakia 


6.9 

9.0 

8.6 

Russia 

8.3

Waste management/recycling 

Basic principle of NEUSIEDLER waste management 

The paper and pulp industry produces wastes mainly in the form of paper 

broke, packaging materials, bark, screening rejects, clarification sludge from 

water treatment and ash and slag from furnaces. A great part of these materials 

can be either recycled within the production process or used elsewhere. 

The waste management of the NEUSIEDLER Group endeavours to adhere as 

far as possible to the basic principle of waste management, i.e. to a list of priorities 

ranging from waste avoidance to final dumping as a last resort. This principle 

paves the way for the optimum reuse or disposal of all waste, in strict 

compliance with European legal requirements. 

Maximum reuse is an overarching aim at NEUSIEDLER. Unavoidable waste is 

generally recycled to the highest possible degree or discharged for external material 

reuse. If none of these alternatives is possible, the waste is either converted 

into thermal energy or, after environmentally appropriate treatment, deposited 

as landfill. 

Priority order Examples 

Avoidance h Avoidance of broke and seconds through strict quality management 

h Avoidance of packaging waste, etc. through shipment in large tanks 

and use of refillable containers 

Reuse h Reuse of wrongly declared but undamaged goods in specialities 

finishing 

Internal use as material h Efficient chemical recovery in pulp production 

h Recycling of paper broke 

External use as material h Strict separation of waste as basis for external reuse (wood, metals, 

glass, plastics, waste paper, hazardous waste, etc.) 

Use as fuel h Burning of bark, waste liquor and sludge if feasible 

Treatment h Treatment of hazardous waste by external companies 

Disposal h Deposition of combustion residues (ashes and slag) and other not 

recyclable residues 

On account of the stringent legislation that has prevailed for many years, 

waste management is most advanced at the Austrian plants, which serve as a 

model for the entire Group. At the Austrian locations, more than 30 different 

types of waste are collected and transferred to appropriate material and/or energy 

utilisation. As a result, only approximately 2% of the entire waste ends up in 

landfill. 


Separate collection and utilisation of wastes at NEUSIEDLER Ybbstal 

Type of waste In tons Utilisation 

Fibre residues 17,011 Porosity material in brick industry 

Residues from pulp production 533 Secondary fuel 

Waste wood 287 Secondary fuel 

Sawdust 1,541 Material utilisation in agriculture 

Waste paper (8 grades) 2,829 Secondary raw material in paper production 

Waste plastics (3 types) 306 Secondary raw material in plastics production, secondary fuel 

Scrap metal (6 types) 1,147 Secondary raw material in steel production 

Hazardous waste (10 types) 94 Material utilisation/thermal utilisation 

Ash/slag from combustion 134 Landfill 

Residual wastes 303 Landfill 

Total 24,185 

Large recycling share in Austria 

1.8% 

landfill 

3.8% 

use as fuel 

94.4% 

use as material 

NEUSIEDLER is making every effort to upgrade all its other plants to Austrian 

standards. In the last few years, the mills in Hungary have made considerable 

progress. All other mills are in the process of installing an efficient and integrated 

waste management system. In the course of the ISO 14001 certification of 

the Hungarian mills in 2002, extensive measures for waste separation were taken 

and special attention was paid to the training of the staff. Szolnok reduced the 

share of mixed waste, i.e. non-reusable waste by 74%, Dunaújváros by 50%. 

Waste disposal costs have thus dropped significantly. 

Waste reduction in the Hungarian mills 

Reduction of the share of non-reusable waste 

(in kg per ton of paper) 

7 

6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

0 

5.8 

1.5 

Szolnok 

2002 2003 

6.6 

3.3 

Dunaújváros 


Reduction of disposal costs 

(in HUF per ton of paper) 

200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

171.3 

48.5 

Szolnok 

2002 2003 

97.7 

76.0 

Dunaújváros

Pulp supply 

73% 

by rail 

10% 

by road 

Dispatch of finished products 

80% 

by road 

20% 

by rail 

17% 

by ship 

Transport 

Transport affects the paper industry in two ways: on the one hand in the 

supply of raw and auxiliary materials, predominantly wood or pulp, and on 

the other hand in delivering the finished goods to the customers. 

While NEUSIEDLER relies almost exclusively on rail and ship transport for its 

raw material supplies, its deliveries to the customers are essentially determined 

by customer convenience and flexibility in line with NEUSIEDLER’s claim to supply 

chain leadership. Rail transport accounts for approx. 20% of the total Group 

transport volume. 

The construction of fully automated warehouses at Theresienthal and Ruz˘omberok 

has led to a considerable reduction of transport routes to external stores 

in recent years. 

The fully-automated finished-goods warehouse at the Theresienthal mill, Austria 


Noise 

Large-scale production of pulp and paper by nature causes noise emissions 

that affect workers in the mill and people in the surrounding community alike. 

NEUSIEDLER has set a number of initiatives to reduce the noise for both 

groups of people, which, in addition to the avoidance of noise, provide for a 

whole set of measures from the isolation of the noisiest pieces of equipment to 

the use of personal hearing protection. The minimum requirements are determined 

by the statutory emission limits for the respective plant and operation. 

Marked improvement through installation of low-noise suction rolls 

Here, too, NEUSIEDLER is committed to innovation. Together with scientific 

institutions and suppliers we aim at reducing noise emission from equipment. 

The use of low-noise suction rolls in the wire and press sections of paper machines, 

cutting the noise level to less than 50%, serves as an example. After a 

successful pilot test at the Austrian mills, this type of suction roll will eventually 

be installed in all the Group's paper machines and will become a precondition 

for future projects. 

PM6 at the Theresienthal mill 

Noise reduction through employment of low-noise suction rolls 

100 

99 

98 

97 

96 

95 

94 

93 

92 

91 

90 

89 

88 

87 

86 

85 

98.6 dB 

old version 

95 dB 

new version 


Production 

Key environmental data 2003 

NEUSIEDLER Austria Hungary Israel Slovakia Russia 

Unit total 

Graphic papers tons 1,278,288 342,033 209,843 125,945 276,742 323,725 

Newsprint tons 174,764 0 0 0 0 174,764 

Packing papers tons 179,916 0 0 0 0 179,916 

Pulp adt 772,253 35,946 0 0 270,301 466,006 

Mechanical pulp adt 173,162 0 0 0 0 173,162 

Emissions into water 

Used-water volume 1,000 m 3 114,401 5,231 3,672 870 27,007 77,621 

COD tons 17,597 1,137 306 80 3,513 12,561 

TSS tons 1,550 66 52 6.4 259 1,167 

Emissions into air 

CO 2 – fossil tons 2,168,102 158,643 74,258 0 291,708 1,643,493 

SO 2 tons 1,857 7 0 0 1,178 672 

Nitrogen oxides tons 3,832 162 114 0 980.1 2,576 

Wastes 

Waste used as material tons 98,557 5,371 2,472 0 90,296 418 

Waste used as fuel tons 640,678 17,946 80 0 153,737 468,915 

Waste deposited tons 102,214 438 7,822 561 27,794 65,599 

Energie 

Primary energy consumption TJ 58,916 3,456 1,348 0 12,201 41,911 

Electric power consumption GWh 2,277 271 129 88.2 440 1,349 

Electricity production for 

external use 

GWh 414 0 8 0 3.7 402 

Share of own 

power production 

% 274 59 23 0 92 100 

Heat production 

for external use 

TJth 3,772 29 37.4 0 0 3,706 

The figures refer to direct emissions from the NEUSIEDLER mills and do not include indirect emissions from purchased 

energy.

Environmental Programme 2004 – Overview 

Targets 

Implementation 

of management 

systems, 

certifications 

Forestry 

certification 

Reduction of 

fresh water 

consumption, 

i.e. amount of 

used water 

A step-wise 

reduction of 

the water 

requirement at 

all NEUSIEDLER 

locations was 

targeted by 

the following 

measures 

Environmental programme 2004 

After investing a lot of effort in the implementation of the environmental 

goals specified in the last environmental programme in 2003, NEUSIEDLER set a 

number of new environmental goals for 2004. Listed below is a selection of 

environmental goals in the process of being implemented and newly defined 

goals. 

Location Measures Specifications Date 

NEUSIEDLER h Certification of the pulp mill according – 2004 

Ybbstal to ISO 14001 

NEUSIEDLER h Certification of the mill according – 2004 

Ruz˘omberok to ISO 14001 

NEUSIEDLER h Certification of the mill according – 2004 

Syktyvkar to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 

NEUSIEDLER h Certification of approx. 1.1 million hectare Increase in the 2005 

Syktyvkar forest area according to the FSC system share of certified 

h Financing and support of all activities for a raw materials 

survey of natural forest areas in the Republic 

of Komi which may become protected 

as natural forest reserves 

from 20 to 35% 

NEUSIEDLER h Raising awareness of staff members to use Reduction of used- 2004 

Ybbstal water sparingly water volume from 

h Commissioning of a dissertation on the 9.8 to 8.9 m3 /ton of 

exact balance and use of water paper and from 

at the Kematen mill 58 to 50 m3 /ton 

h Closing the circulation on the pulp 

dewatering machine 

of pulp 

NEUSIEDLER h Closing the circulation and installing new Reduction of used- 2004 

Szolnok disk filters on PM8 and PM9 water volume from 

h Use of cooling water from the power station 16.9 to 15 m3 /ton 

NEUSIEDLER h Optimisation of water use on Reduction of used- 2004 

Ruz˘omberok PM18, PM17 and PM16 water volume from 

h Installation of cooling towers in the 22 to 17 m3 /ton of 

evaporator plant of the pulp mill paper and from 

58 to 50 m3 /ton 

of pulp 

NEUSIEDLER h Use of clarified water from PM21 Reduction of used- 2004 

Syktyvkar in the pulp mill water volume from 

h Closing circulations on paper machines 40 to 32 m 3 /ton of 

h Renewal of evaporator plant in pulp mill paper and from 

h Installation of new equipment for the 100 to 90 m 3 /ton 

screening of bleached short-fibre pulp of pulp 


Targets 

Reduction of the 

used-water load 

Reduction of 

gaseous 

emissions 

Reduction of 

wastes 


NEUSIEDLER h Construction of a 1,000-m3 used-water – 2004 

Ybbstal buffer to avoid peak emission values 

h Optimisation of pulping processes to 

reduce used-water COD loads 

NEUSIEDLER h Reduction of the number of paper breaks, – 2004 

Szolnok installation of a new biocide dosing system 

NEUSIEDLER h Installation of tertiary filters Reduction by 0.13 kg 2004 

Hadera COD/ton of paper 

NEUSIEDLER h Increasing the used-water cleaning Reduction by 1.1 kg 2004 

Ruz˘omberok capacity on PM16 COD/ton of paper 

h Installation of double oxygen delignification and further reduction 

equipment and an ozone bleaching stage of AOX emissions 

NEUSIEDLER h Installation of a second oxygen station for Further reduction 2004 

Syktyvkar delignification and bleaching of pulp of AOX emissions 

h Acquisition of a monitoring system for organic and chemicals 

chlorine compounds contained in the used 

water of the pulp mill 

h Renewal of the evaporating plant 

in the pulp mill 

consumption 

NEUSIEDLER h Conversion of long fibre pulp bleaching to 100% ECF tbd 

Syktyvkar 100% ECF 

NEUSIEDLER h Increasing the combustion capacity Reduction of fossil 2004 

Ruz˘omberok of the bark-burning boiler CO 2 emissions by 

53,000 tons 

NEUSIEDLER h Installation of an electrostatic filter Reduction of dust 2004 

Syktyvkar for the bark-burning boiler 5U emissions 

NEUSIEDLER h Reduction of the reject volume Reduction by 12% 2004 

Ybbstal in the finishing unit 

h Reduction of coloured-paper reject volume 

through external separation 

Reduction by 15% 

NEUSIEDLER h Installation of a waste press at the Dunaújváros Reduction by 60% 2004 

Szolnok plant to reduce the waste and reject volume 

h Reduction of fibre residues through Annual reduction 

installation of a fifth cleaner stage by 409 tons 

NEUSIEDLER h Reduction of the landfill volume through Annual reduction 2004 

Hadera intensified recycling of materials by 400 tons 

NEUSIEDLER h Cooperation with research institutes and 2004 

Ruz˘omberok universities to identify alternative means 

of ash and sludge disposal 

NEUSIEDLER h Installation of a new bark conveying system Reduction of 2004 

Syktyvkar for increased bark combustion capacity landfilled bark 

and reduced landfill volume from approx. 

100,000 tons 

per year to 

practically zero 


Targets 

Cooperation 

with institutes 

(boosting public 

awareness) 


NEUSIEDLER h Cooperation with Leoben University of Mining and – 2004 

AG Metallurgy, Austria: commissioning of a degree 

dissertation on a practical method for evaluating 

the eco-efficiency of production locations/products 

NEUSIEDLER h Cooperation with Leoben University of Mining and – 2004 

Ybbstal Metallurgy, Austria: commissioning of a degree 

dissertation on the exact balance and use of 

water at the Kematen mill 

NEUSIEDLER h Cooperation with a college at Ruz˘omberok for – 2004 

Ruz˘omberok monitoring the COD load of the river Vah 

h Cooperation with the Forestry Research 

Institute at Zvolen for monitoring SO2 emission effects on coniferous trees 

h Cooperation with the Technical University 

Bratislava for a possible reduction of the 

used-water turbidity 

h Cooperation with the J. A. Kemensks 

University at Bratislava for the hydrobiological 

examination of the river Vah 

h Cooperation with the National Health Institute 

for monitoring of emissions into air 

and their impact on people 

NEUSIEDLER h Examination of the influence of pulp-production – 2004 

Syktyvkar emissions on the sediments in the river Vychegda 

h Local monitoring of neighbouring forests as to 

effects of immissions coming from the mill 

h Monitoring of soils and precipitation (snow) 

possibly affected by emissions from the mill 

All projects of the 2003 environmental programme were pushed ahead and 

realised in accordance with projected requirements and schedules. Only the 

conversion of the long fibre pulp bleaching at Syktyvkar to 100% ECF planned 

for 2004/2005 will be delayed on account of the extended scope of the project.

The remodelled PM18 

The new wood yard 

“Impulse“ project 

A major NEUSIEDLER investment focus has been “Impulse“, a project aiming 

at the complete remodelling of PM18 and a considerable enlargement of the 

pulp mill at Ruz˘omberok. 

In detail, the project provides for a complete reconstruction of PM18 and the 

installation of a new slitter and control system, raising the annual paper production 

capacity to 290,000 tons. The pulp mill is being expanded to include an 

additional cooker and a liquor incineration boiler, and the wood yard is being 

rearranged. The annual pulp production capacity will be raised by approximately 

140,000 tons to a new annual record of 410,000 tons. While the reconstruction 

of PM18 was completed in 2003, the step-wise reconstruction of the pulp mill 

will not be finished before the end of 2004. 

The major benefit of this project lies primarily in the considerably improved 

environmental performance of the two mills. The remodelling of PM18 nearly 

halved the specific fresh water demand from 15 cubic metres to 8 cubic metres 

per ton of paper, which is an international record low. 

The reconstruction of the pulp mill will lead to a considerable reduction of 

the malodorous organic sulphur emissions that will be collected and burned in 

the liquor boiler in the future. In addition, the dust emissions from the lime furnace 

will be reduced to a minimum by electrostatic filters and fly-ash precipitators. 

The installation of a new ozone bleaching stage will make the mill a 

pioneer in terms of organic chlorine compounds. Noise and dust emissions will 

be reduced substantially by the partial renewal of the wood yard and the conversion 

from pneumatic to band conveyors. The extension of the liquor evaporating 

plant to seven stages will lead to a significant increase in energy efficiency. 

For additional information about the "Impulse" project, please refer to 

www.neusiedlerscp.com. 

Marked reduction of odour nuisance (total reduced sulphur) 

(in kg per ton of pulp) 

1.60 

1.40 

1.20 

1.00 

0.80 

0.60 

0.40 

0.20 

0.00 

1.40 

2001 

1.27 

2002 

0.55 

2003 

0.21 

2004 

0.17 

2005 

0.17 

2006 


Management of 

environmental incidents 

In the course of optimising all management processes, NEUSIEDLER is also 

working on the avoidance of possible incidents. In order to efficiently minimise 

the risk of such incidents, a comprehensive alarm system has been installed 

across the Group. This system not only ensures comprehensive documentation 

of all incidents, it also records even the slightest safety defect. Near-accidents 

also require reporting. The consistent elimination of each safety defect is expected 

to result in the avoidance of serious accidents. 

Regular risk analyses complement the safety system of the NEUSIEDLER 

Group. They are indispensable for the reduction of incidents. Should an unforeseen 

incident occur despite the system we have in place, NEUSIEDLER will 

learn from this incident and take measures to avoid its recurrence in future. 

Each Group operation has an emergency plan that defines a clear information 

hierarchy, in addition to the required physical measures and their implementation. 

Clear instructions are given concerning the persons in charge. They must 

be available at any time in order to respond appropriately and implement all 

necessary measures. 

In the year 2003, no serious incidents occurred in the NEUSIEDLER Group. 

”Zero tolerance and zero accidents“ 

Environmental 

disasters 

Major environmental 

accidents 

Minor environmental 

accidents 

Incidents 

With the slogan ”Zero tolerance and zero accidents“ NEUSIEDLER expresses 

its commitment to avoiding minor incidents, and in doing so minimising the 

risk of major accidents. 


Initiatives in the social environment 

Corporate social responsibility 

NEUSIEDLER is aware of its great responsibility towards its employees and 

has for a long time been active in the social environment. 

NEUSIEDLER aims to attract and retain the services of the most appropriately 

skilled employees. Comprehensive promotional measures, ranging from training 

to initiatives in safety at work, health care and employee motivation, contribute 

to establishing a long-term relationship based on mutual trust and respect. 

NEUSIEDLER promotes gender equality at the workplace and ensures that the 

careers of employees are not constrained by discrimination or other arbitrary 

barriers to advancement. NEUSIEDLER also seeks to maintain a regular two-way 

flow of information with employees to maximise their identification with, and 

ability to contribute to the business. 

In its social environment, the NEUSIEDLER Group is committed to an active 

communication policy in order to keep the community and the authorities informed 

about our activities. The Group aims to promote strong relationships 

with the communities of which we are a part, as well as sustainable social and 

economic development. As the largest local or regional employer, the Group 

contributes to meeting specific local concerns and supports charitable, sports 

and artistic initiatives. For example, the company strives to offer socially disadvantaged 

people an opportunity to find work. The great diversity of countries in 

which the NEUSIEDLER Group operates requires us to focus our internal and 

external activities on operating sensitively in diverse contexts. 

37

NEUSIEDLER employee Josef Bader at work 

NEUSIEDLER as a 

preferred employer 

Being aware of our great responsibility towards our employees, NEUSIEDLER 

has set a number of initiatives in their interest, thus enhancing our commitment 

to being a long-term attractive and reliable employer. 

The NEUSIEDLER bonus system offers all Group employees a generous share 

in profits. This system involves executives and employees in meeting financial 

targets and strategic objectives such as innovation, safety, quality and productivity. 

Rewarding ideas that are submitted and implemented within the scope of the 

NEUSIEDLER innovation system is an effective incentive for the creativity and 

commitment of the entire staff. 

Moreover, NEUSIEDLER offers fringe benefits that contribute their share to 

employee loyalty. Each mill boasts an occupational health service and a canteen. 

Sports facilities, mainly organised by the Works Council, promote communication 

and physical fitness. 

With due regard for the special situation at OJSC NEUSIEDLER Sytyvkar, employees 

receive vacation vouchers, housing subsidies and medical assistance. 

NEUSIEDLER even operates its own hospital at Syktyvkar that primarily caters 

for the employees of the paper mill and their families. 

Ongoing monitoring of employee satisfaction 

In order to continuously monitor and enhance our attractiveness as an employer, 

NEUSIEDLER has introduced an annual employee opinion poll on themes 

such as management conduct, corporate culture, etc. The results of the 2003 

survey once more showed a clear confirmation of NEUSIEDLER’s initiatives in 

this regard. These surveys also serve as a basis for designing measures to enhance 

employee satisfaction.

Employees of OJSC NEUSIEDLER Syktyvkar, Russia 

Management meeting in Austria, including representatives from all mills of the Group 

“NEUSIEDLER travel guide“ 

Last year, an interesting cross-cultural project was launched to study the cultural 

relations between the individual plants of the NEUSIEDLER Group. Given 

the fact that NEUSIEDLER operates in different countries with different cultures, 

this project aimed at making employees from different cultural groups aware of 

this diversity, thus developing increased sensitivity in order to increase the efficiency 

of supra-regional contacts and activities. 

Tina Mitterböck and Werner Hartmann, 

editing the new “NEUSIEDLER Travel Guide“ 

39 NEUSIEDLER Sustainability Report 2003 | Initiatives in the social environment

Reduction of time lost through injury 

LTIFR 1 2000–2003 

3.25 

2000 

2.30 

2001 

0.71 

2002 

0.62 

2003 

1 

Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate 

(accidents per 200,000 work hours) 

Key safety parameters 2003 

Occupational safety and health 

In keeping with the Mondi / Anglo American “Safety, Health, Environment 

(SHE)“ programme, NEUSIEDLER is implementing a whole range of activities in 

the interests of employee health and safety in compliance with the following 

principles: 

We are committed to zero tolerance of unsafe work practices and to reaching 

the goal of zero accidents, as stipulated by NEUSIEDLER’s safety and 

health policy. 

h We are committed to maintaining and promoting safety and health at work, 

and to avoiding accidents and occupational diseases. 

h We enable our staff to develop personal and social competences, and actively 

concern themselves with issues of safety and health. The Board of Management 

gives its full support to such endeavours by providing suitable 

structures and resources. 

h Accidents, near-accidents and defects require immediate reporting, and defects 

have to be rectified in the shortest possible time. We aim to enhance 

the safety awareness of our staff by making them responsible for their own 

and their colleagues’ safety, reminding them that safety and health must 

always be given precedence. 

Safety at work is given precedence 

As a result of improvement measures and training courses on how to avoid 

accidents at work, NEUSIEDLER has seen a constant decline in the amount of 

time lost through injury. In 2003 NEUSIEDLER was able to reduce the number of 

accidents at work for the sixth year in a row, making it one of the paper industry’s 

top performers in terms of health and safety. Between 1998 and 2003 we 

succeeded in reducing the specific indicator LITFR (lost time injury frequency 

rate / accidents per 200,000 work hours) by over 90% from 6.4 to 0.62. This supremely 

positive development is the result of intensive training and targeted 

measures to raise awareness in line with the principle of “zero tolerance and 

target zero accidents”. 


total 

Accidents number 76 4 3 3 23 43 

Incidents number 4,164 516 234 303 2,927 184 1 

Audits number 3,669 1,363 432 66 771 1,037 

Time lost LTIFR2 through accidents 

0.62 0.41 0.48 0.86 0.69 0.62 

1 

Reporting in place since August 2003 

2 

Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (accidents per 200,000 work hours) 


The NEUSIEDLER Safety Diary, 

published in all national languages 

In 2002, the NEUSIEDLER mill 

at Szolnok, Hungary, was honoured 

with the Mondi Europe CEO Safety Award 

In addition to the unlimited commitment of the corporate management team 

and ongoing health and safety audits, the determined implementation of the 

Anglo American Group’s “Golden Rules” is also an essential component of this 

success. The Golden Rules refer to 

h Confined spaces 

h Working at heights 

h Emergency and machine isolation 

h Surface vehicle safety 

h General safety 

h Lifting and material handling 

These rules are summarised in a special Safety Diary that was distributed to 

all staff of NEUSIEDLER, underlining the great importance that NEUSIEDLER attaches 

to occupational safety. 

In 2003, the “Impulse“ project, involving up to 2,000 external persons per 

day at the Ruz˘omberok mill, was a major challenge for NEUSIEDLER: a total of 

approximately 6,000 specific training sessions were carried out, an effort that 

contributed to the completion of this project with only six minor accidents. 

A special safety award for excellence in this field was created by the Mondi 

Group in order to enhance the Group’s commitment to safety at work, with 

LTIFR serving as an important indicator for continuous improvement. In addition, 

detailed external audits evaluate the safety performance of each business 

unit. In 2002, NEUSIEDLER Szolnok came out on top in this Group-wide competition 

and received the Mondi Europe CEO Safety Award, and in 2003 NEUSIEDLER 

Ybbstal came in second with its mill at Kematen. 

The Occupational Safety Prize of the Austrian paper industry, awarded by 

ÖZEPA (Verband der Österreichischen Zellstoff und Papierfabriken – Association 

of Austrian Pulp and Paper Mills) in recognition of major improvements in safety 

at work, was won by the Kematen mill in 2003. 

Volker Illing, receiving the Occupational Health Safety Prize 

of the Austrian paper industry on behalf of the NEUSIEDLER 

mill at Kematen, Austria 


Initiatives to improve staff health 

In the field of staff health, NEUSIEDLER organises comprehensive health 

check-ups and various in-house health promotion campaigns. Regular analyses 

and measures to improve the working environment are an integral component 

of these ongoing activities. Thanks to our wide-ranging initiatives in this area, 

absences due to sickness in 2003 were 20% lower than in 2002. 

With due consideration for the special needs of employees at different locations, 

NEUSIEDLER has developed a special health programme for each plant to 

reduce absenteeism. This programme aims to improve workplace ergonomics, 

promote sports activities and medical checkups, provide advice for healthy nutrition, 

subsidise stays at health spas, etc. 

All these initiatives are in keeping with the Occupational Health Guidelines of 

the Anglo American Group and of Mondi Europe. 

At Syktyvkar, NEUSIEDLER operates a hospital that caters for both the staff of 

the mill and also other patients. 

At the Austrian mills, employees are encouraged to participate in health 

initiatives and collect bonus points with so-called “nuggets“, which can be 

exchanged for bonuses or a short stay at a wellness resort. 

Under the motto “Rückenwind” (a healthy back), NEUSIEDLER participated in 

the competition for the 2003 Austrian Occupational Safety Award and reached 

the finals with its suggestions for ergonomic and technical improvements to 

prevent backache. 

NEUSIEDLER submitted a number of suggestions on 

how to relieve the spine and reached the finals of the 

competition for the Austrian Occupational Safety Award. 

The picture shows Reinhard Horvatits, Brigitte 

Schigutt, Martin Zehetgruber, and Erwin Zlabinger. 


Special training of young 

talents by the IDC 

Training and promotion of staff 

NEUSIEDLER’s consistent training programme for all employees has been an 

important focus for years, with the training budget and the training time per 

employee being continuously increased. 

Focus on talent management 

In line with a priority set for the entire Mondi Europe Group, NEUSIEDLER 

places special emphasis on talent management. 

The first round of the International Development Center (IDC), an initiative to 

promote targeted training of particularly promising management candidates 

from all the Group’s operations, was started in April 2002 and is still running 

very successfully. The IDC aims to enable talented candidates with a high development 

potential to take over management positions in the intercultural environment 

of the strongly expanding NEUSIEDLER Group in the medium term. In 

addition to the development of soft skills, emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary 

projects focussing on current issues concerning the Group. 

Within the framework of the first programme, 14 participants from three nations 

were trained in altogether ten workshops lasting for several days in subjects 

such as intercultural management, leadership, creativity and innovation, 

project management, change management and conflict management. 

As a result of the enormous success of the first round, a second round is already 

at the planning stage. In addition, MDCs, mill development circles, were 

developed as part of the structured concept for the systematic identification of 

promising management candidates across the Group that was approved last 

year. MDCs offer extensive training in project management, time management 

and English. The most successful participants in the local development circles 

are automatically qualified for the next round of the international development 

circle. 

Sports activities and a physical fitness 

test round off the programme 


Headcount 

In 2003 NEUSIEDLER also participated in the planning of a series of Mondi 

Europe staff promotion initiatives that are to be implemented during 2004, including 

the “Emerging Leader Program“, the “MBA Sponsoring Programme“ and 

the “Talent Recruiting Initiative“. The aim of all these initiatives is to ensure 

that there is always a pool of suitably qualified employees within the Group 

who can be deployed in the right job at the right time. 

Key staff data 2003 


Unit total 

Employees persons 19,391 935 566 291 2,347 15,252 

Contractors persons 1,599 8 0 0 695 896 

Productivity 

Working time hours 24,397,137 1,940,704 1,241,723 698,379 6,712,033 13,804,298 

Production of paper and 

pulp per employee 

Safety and health 

tons 136 404 371 233 433 247 

Down-time work accidents 

(LTI – lost time injuries) 

accidents 76 4 3 3 23 43 

LTIFR (Lost Time accidents 0.62 0.41 0.48 0.86 0.69 0.62 

Injury Frequency Rate) p. 200,000 

hours 

Sick-leave per 

employee 

Training/further training 

days 9.0 9.6 7.8 6.0 5.6 10.2 

Training time 

per employee 

days 0.14 6.72 0.19 2.33 4.20 0.06 

Training cost 

per employee 

EUR 117.28 2,391.72 305.46 372.85 154.70 28.53 

44

Community Engagement 

Given the fact that NEUSIEDLER is almost always the only major local employer, 

we are well aware of our social and economic responsibility for both our employees 

and the communities associated with our operations. We have therefore 

taken a number of initiatives to inform, support and cooperate with the local 

and regional communities surrounding our plants. We want to learn about the 

situation and the needs of the local communities, including local people and 

authorities, and shoulder our share of social responsibility proportionate to the 

type and size of the operation. 

For this reason, a community engagement plan tailored to the local situation 

and to the needs of the community was established for each plant, with a local 

coordinator in charge of the plan and responsible to the local management. 

The community engagement activities of the NEUSIEDLER Group at Syktyvkar 

in Russia range from reconstructing a Russian Orthodox church near the mill to 

generously supporting education and sports facilities in the surrounding community. 

“Parma“ and “Ezhva“, two modern recreational centres, are at the disposal 

of both OJSC NEUSIEDLER Syktyvkar employees and guests. NEUSIEDLER 

is also strongly committed to preventing drug abuse in the region around Syktyvkar 

and has given considerable support to the refurbishment of “Bumazhnik“, 

a modern sports centre. In addition, NEUSIEDLER supplies electric power and 

heat to the city of Syktyvkar, where most of the mill’s staff have their homes. 

The refurbishment of the “Bumazhnik“ sports centre in Sykytvkar, Russia, received substantial support from NEUSIEDLER 


Apart from supporting the snow clearing service of the city of Ruz˘omberok in 

Slovakia, NEUSIEDLER has also shown community engagement in sports, health 

and education, e.g. by sponsoring a local basketball club and a local football 

club, and by giving money to orphanages at Christmas. In Szolnok, Hungary, 

NEUSIEDLER also acts as sponsor for the local football club. 

Hadera Paper, NEUSIEDLER’s subsidiary in Israel, focuses on promoting disadvantaged 

groups of various religious denominations and awards a number of 

scholarships to persons from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Community 

engagement is also expressed by granting leave to employees for social work. 

In addition to occasional charity initiatives, the main focus of NEUSIEDLER’s 

community engagement in Austria is on sponsoring cultural events and initiatives. 

In cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts, NEUSIEDLER sponsored the 

“art-Venture – Abenteuer Papier“ project that revolves around the artistic dimension 

of paper. This project was awarded the Austrian “Maecenas” art prize 

and the first prize for art sponsors in Lower Austria. NEUSIEDLER also regularly 

provides schools and local clubs in the community with paper. 

Altogether, the NEUSIEDLER Group spent a total of EUR 6 million on 

community engagement activities in 2003. 


Appendix 

Statement of the Austrian Institute 

for Sustainable Development 

The Austrian Institute for Sustainable Development was commissioned by NEUSIEDLER AG to appraise 

the present report as well as the data and processes on which the report is based. We believe that the 

appraisal of sustainable reports consists of two major component aspects. One is the evaluation of the 

internal commitment to sustainability and the management processes (evaluation of strategic sustainability), 

and the other is the examination of the given indicators, particularly in the fields of environmental 

and social performance, reflecting the consequences of the internal sustainability management 

(operative level). 

Strategic sustainability management at NEUSIEDLER AG 

During a visit to NEUSIEDLER AG at Ulmerfeld-Hausmening, ÖIN was given the opportunity to examine 

both fields – strategy and performance indicators. NEUSIEDLER AG's strategic commitment to sustainability 

is substantiated by the following proven activities: 

h Establishment of the competence center for “Business Excellence and Sustainable 

Development Management“. 

h Direct reporting of the competence center to the business management (CEO) and its Group-wide 

horizontal efficiency. 

h Employment of a Sustainable Development Director. 

(also to position the company as a sustainability pioneer within the paper industry.) 

h Replacement of the environment report by the more comprehensive sustainability report. 

h First enterprise in Austria’s paper industry to present a sustainability report, thus following on at 

company level from the first industry sustainability report published by the Association of the 

Austrian paper industry in 2003. 

The internal sustainability processes of NEUSIEDLER AG essentially derive their dynamic from the mentioned 

top-down elements. The direction of the Group's development is strongly determined by the new 

philosophy of “PUSHING THE LIMITS“. The latter's relation to sustainability is, however, not explicitly 

mentioned. 

The sustainability report 2003 of NEUSIEDLER AG 

NEUSIEDLER AG's first sustainability report brings dynamics and motivation into the process and helps 

establish an overall orientation. Better communication of long-term business policy as well as an open 

dialogue with stakeholders can be cited as important external effects. The positive results of the sustainability 

report are: 

h A good overview of the enterprise is presented (locations, products, etc.). 

h All locations, including those abroad, are incorporated. 

h The first collection of Group-wide performance indicators is systematically structured and oriented 

towards GRI guidelines right from the start. 

h The report makes reference to major stakeholder groups. 

Appraisal of the performance indicators (operative level) 

Essential elements of the environmental and social performance indicators in the present sustainability 

report 2003 were externally checked within the framework of the Anglo American plc Report to Society 

2003, a fact that is also documented in the report of the “parent company”. Our appraisal was thus 

restricted to the inspection of relevant (partly internal) reports. We were given free access to all documents 

and data and found no discrepancies or shortcomings. 

All in all, we confirm that NEUSIEDLER AG, with the transparent presentation and opening of its enterprise, 

has taken a difficult first step towards centrally-oriented sustainable management. 

Vienna, April 19, 2004 

Alfred W. Strigl Dietmar Kanatschnig 

(Managing Director) (Director) 

47

Glossary 

adt (air-dry ton) 

Measure of weight, particularly pulp weight. 

AOX 

Organically bonded adsorbable halogens – chemical-analytical sum parameter for the concentration of 

organically bonded halogens. It is a measure of the used-water load from halogenated organic compounds. 

BgVV XXXVI 

36 th Recommendation of the Bundesinstitut für gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veterinärmedizin, 

Deutschland (Federal Institute for Consumer Health Protection and Veterinary Medicine, Germany), 

valid for single and multi-layer commodities made from paper, paper board or cardboard that come 

into contact with or have an influence on food. 

BOD 5 (biological oxygen demand) 

Parameter for the quality of rivers and lakes (particularly for their content of biologically degradable 

substances). It measures the amount of oxygen required for a five-day microbial oxidation of readily 

degradable organic compounds. A high BOD 5 value indicates a high level of biologically degradable 

organic substances. 

COC (Chain-Of-Custody) 

Chain-of-custody refers to the whole production chain of a product, from extraction of the raw 

materials to delivery of the final product to the customer. 

COD (chemical oxygen demand) 

Chemical-analytical sum parameter for the load of organic substances in drinking, used and natural 

water. It measures the amount of oxygen required for the oxidation of organic compounds. A high 

COD value is an indication of a high organic load. 

Co-generation 

Technical process for the combined generation of electric energy and heat or process steam. Due to its 

waste heat recovery, the efficiency of such a process is considerably higher than that of a conventional 

thermal power station. 

Corporate Governance 

Principles and rules of good management and transparency. 

ECF (elemental-chlorine-free) 

Bleaching methods using chlorine-containing compounds but no elemental chlorine. Emissions of AOX 

(see above) from ECF bleaching are far less polluting than those from bleaching processes using elemental 

chlorine. 

48

EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme) 

Standard – similar to ISO 14001 – at European Union level, used as a basis for a structured continuous 

improvement process in the eco-management of a company, with annual environmental reports for 

each certified location. 

Fossil CO 2 

Carbon dioxide of fossil origin; gaseous emission from combustion of fossil fuel such as natural gas, 

mineral oil, etc. 

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) 

The FSC is a non-profit umbrella organisation aiming at sustainable forestry. 

GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) 

An internationally recognised standard for the reporting system on issues of sustainable management. 

ISO 9001 

An international standard that forms the basis for a structured continuous improvement process in the 

quality management of a company. 

ISO 14001 

An international standard that forms the basis for a structured continuous improvement process in the 

environmental management of a company. 

LTIFR (lost time injury frequency rate) 

Accidents per 200,000 work hours. 

NO X 

Nitrogen oxides; gaseous emissions arising when oxygen and nitrogen meet at great heat, e.g. during 

combustion reactions. 

OHSAS (18001) 

Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Scheme 

PEFC (Pan European Forest Certification) 

PEFC is Europe’s best-known designation for wood sourced from forests managed according to sound 

ecological, economic and social principles (sustained forestry). 

PM 

Paper machine. 

49

SO 2 

Sulphur dioxide; gaseous emission from the combustion of sulphur-containing fuel. 

Stakeholder 

Persons or groups of persons specifically interested in the development of an enterprise and its 

activities. The interest can either be motivated by equity participation or another relationship – such 

as a customer-to-supplier relationship, an employment relationship, the vicinity to a company’s 

location, etc. The meaning of a stakeholder goes far beyond that of a mere shareholder – i.e. a (co)owner 

of the enterprise. Typical stakeholders are shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees, 

neighbours, etc. 

Sustained forestry 

Ecologically, economically and socially responsible forest management oriented towards the supply of 

present and future generations. 

TCF (totally chlorine-free) 

Bleaching process using no chlorine or chlorine-containing compounds. In contrast to chlorine 

bleaching and the ECF bleaching processes, there are no AOX emissions in the TCF bleaching process. 

TSS (total suspended solids) 

Sum parameter for the solids suspended in effluents.

For suggestions or requests regarding sustainability, 

and with feedback on this report, contact 

NEUSIEDLER AG 

Competence Center 

Business Excellence 

Ludwig Bichler 

Phone: +43/1/795 06-2078 

Fax: +43/1/795 06-900 

ludwig.bichler@neusiedler.com 

www.neusiedler.com 

www.angloamerican.co.uk 

www.mondieurope.com

Imprint 

Published by 

NEUSIEDLER AG 

A-3363 Ulmerfeld-Hausmening 

Editing and production 

be.public Advertising/Financial Communications 

A-1030 Vienna 

Graphic design 

Kufferath GesmbH 

A-8010 Graz 

Printed by 

Grasl Druck & Neue Medien 

A-2540 Bad Vöslau 

Printed on 

NEUSIEDLER BIO TOP 3 ®

NEUSIEDLER AG 

A-3363 Ulmerfeld-Hausmening For further information about sustainability- 

Phone: +43/7475/500-0 related initiatives of the Anglo American 

Fax: +43/7475/500-2106 

service@neusiedler.com 

Group, to which NEUSIEDLER belongs, visit the website 

www.neusiedler.com www.angloamerican.co.uk/susdev/reports

for sustained success - Mondi

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