Annual Report 2003 - Nobel Biocare Corporate

NOBEL BIOCARE ANNUAL REPORT 200321“Nobel Biocare’s major environmental goals are to reducewaste, minimize carbon oxide emissions and increaseawareness on environmental issues among employees.”during the period:•NobelPerfect• NobelDirect•Teeth-in-an-Hour• Esthetic Zirconia AbutmentFuture challenges include theimplementation of new regulatorystandards in Asia where manycountries are set to establish theirown standards.EnvironmentNobel Biocare does not carry outactivities that pose any threat to theenvironment. Nobel Biocare’s localoperation sites comply with locallaws and regulations.The general guidelines for NobelBiocare’s environmental work arestated in the company’s EnvironmentalPolicy that encompasses everythingfrom supply management to productionand choice of transportation.In 2003, Nobel Biocare gainedglobal certification in accordance withISO 14001. The certification meansNobel Biocare has the operationalsystems and procedures required tomonitor, set objectives and evaluatethe environmental performance of itsactivities. The major objectives are toreduce waste, minimize carbon oxideemissions and increase awareness onenvironmental issues among employees.The major source of waste is thepackaging of Nobel Biocare’s products.Thus, the company strives to increasethe use of recyclable materials. In 2003,Nobel Biocare started to mark allpackaging with the recycling symbol.Internally, the waste target is closelylinked to the aim of reduced internalproduction scrap rates. In 2003, NobelBiocare succeeded in significantlylowering those rates.To reduce carbon oxide emissions,Nobel Biocare seeks to limit theamount of traveling by striving to usealternative means of communication.When traveling is necessary, themost environmentally friendlyalternative is chosen. The companyconstantly endeavors to implementand monitor its traveling objectivesand targets. Nobel Biocare is alsocommitted to reduce energy consumptionand selecting sources ofenergy with minimal environmentalimpact.Nobel Biocare strives to keepwater consumption at very low levels.Water is mainly used in the cleaningprocess where it has replaced theearlier use of chemicals.To increase internal awareness onenvironmental as well as quality andregulatory issues, all employeesundergo continuous training.Global ISOCertification atNobel BiocareGroup:Ω ISO 13485Ω ISO 14001Ω CMDCAS