Raise the CO2 level … or lower your thermostat by 2° -- it’s your choice

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Catalonia is in the process of defining, along
with a number of other interested parties, an action plan for 2008-2012. The objective of such a plan is
initially to achieve a reduction of 5.33 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year in this period and thus to
allow Catalonia to be in a position to comply with the Kyoto Protocol.
Last October 2007, the Catalonian Convention on Climate Change began several rounds of open talks for the
purpose of defining those actions needed to limit the most important emissions. The EMAS companies can
find a new arena of work in making improvements, by rethinking and redesigning old and new products and
services and by incorporating improvements into their processes. We are all part of the problem in this
particular area, but we can, as individuals, make a difference. We can, for instance, make those fantastic
wool sweaters the newest fashion trend and lower our home heat by a couple of degrees.

Interview
Susanna Sieff, coordinator of the EMAS Project. Department of Urban Development and
Environment of the Autonomous Province of Trento
Ms. Sieff told us that her department in 2004 began to promote the adoption of environmental management
systems by companies, in order to set this process in motion between 2005 and 2006, in 136 municipalities,
10 public service management companies, 6 entities similar to Catalonian districts (comprensori), and
2 parks. She explained how the focus of the project was centered on 3 lines of work: the first line is directed
at organizations that manage public services, such as municipalities and territorial entities, where attempts are
being made jointly to implement EMAS, even though the regulations do not now provide for this approach. A
second line of effort is directed at small and medium-sized companies through a pilot project where common
resources will be made available jointly to 5 companies in different sectors, in order to raise awareness of the
system, still fairly unknown in those sectors; and, finally, the third line of effort, which has yet to be
implemented, will focus on educational institutions by applying EMAS in a pilot school.
Finally, she described the first fruits of this ambitious initiative: a municipal district (comprensorio) and two
parks are now registered EMAS entities and a significant number of the rest of the organizations
involved will succeed in registering during the first half of 2008.

Exchange of ideas and experiences

Mineral oils: More than one life!
By Josep Maria Torras, Technical Director of CATOR S.A.
Josep Maria Torras told us that there are approximately 34,000 tons of mineral oil produced each year in
Catalonia, which becomes harmful waste after being used. It is generally considered that one liter of spilled oil
can contaminate one million liters of water, the quantity needed for one person’s consumption over
fourteen years.
In order to avoid such damage to the environment from used lubricating oil, the Autonomous Government of
Catalonia (Generalitat) has decided to implement an oil-reconditioning process, and CATOR, S.A. was the
company chosen to direct implementation of this directive. In this process, a few basic guidelines are followed:
not mixing used oil with other waste products; controlling the oil collection and storage process at every step,
and treating the oil through an environmentally-friendly regeneration process.
The correct management of used oil allows for significant savings: producing two liters of lubricant requires
100 liters of petroleum but only 3 liters of used oil, and, in addition, produces 3 times less CO2, which,
in turn, does not increase the greenhouse effect.

Management and minimization of waste at ADASA: We all have a cup and a job to do!
By Gisela Villasevil i Pau, Director of the Department of Quality, Environment, and Prevention of
ADASA Systems, SAU
ADASA Systems: integration of systems into the context of complete water cycles, meteorology, and the
environment. Its objectives: Optimization of processes and preservation of the environment. She explained
how waste from offices and work sites was managed and told us about the substantial reduction of their
impact on the environment. For instance, for the year 2007, it was suggested that reuse of 50% of the total
volume of urban waste generated could be achieved, as well as the reduction, by that same
percentage, of the economic costs of management. This was achieved through the commodities exchange
for subproducts of the Catalonia Waste Agency, which resulted in a savings of 760 € per year. In addition,
the possibility was raised that a 15% reduction in the number of plastic bottles used could be achieved. In
this latter case, a measure was adopted to distribute ceramic cups among the workers, which led to a 26%
reduction in the use of plastic bottles, which translated into a savings of 155 € per year in the
management of these bottles.

Environmental Management and Communications: The secret of garbage collection trucks.

By Monika Piber-Maslo of Austria Glas Recycling (AGR)

Monika Piber-Maslo explained to us how her company has had to improve communications with citizens to
involve them in the proper separation of glass from waste. A good example is the initiative to color-code the
recycling bins, which are divided into two compartments, by painting them two different colors. The two types
of glass handled by her company are first placed in the bin compartments, depending on the type (whether
colored or clear) and then transported. The current percentage of glass recycling in Austria is more than
80%, which allows the end product to be of good quality.

Environmental Agenda
Workshops, seminars, conferences, courses, master classes, and other events between December 2007 and
April 2008.

Environmental Legislation
New Regulations on heating facilities in buildings.
By Blanca Foix, in collaboration with the EMAS Club.
She explained a new regulation to us, known as RITE, the purpose of which is to establish the energy
effectiveness and safety requirements of heating facilities in their design and execution, upkeep, and use, as
well as how to set procedures to allow the compliance of such facilities to be verified: technical requirements
of the facilities (articles 10 to 13 and IT1 and IT2), administrative conditions, legal authorization of the facility,
execution, and implementation (Articles 14 to 24 and IT2), use and upkeep of the facility (Articles 25 to 28 and
IT3), periodic energy efficiency inspections (Articles 29 to 33 and IT4), and inspections of cold generators with
nominal installed thermal capacity higher than 12 KW.

Review of EMAS Regulations: Primary innovations.

By Salvador Samitier, Chief of Environmental Qualification of the Department of the Environment
and Housing.
He explained to us some of the fundamental ideas raised in the debates concerning the review of EMAS
Regulations. It is thought that EMAS could break down boundaries, for instance, how it might be possible for
organizations outside the EU to also be registered. He told us how compliance with environmental legislation
as a component sets EMAS apart from other management systems. Reports are issued within the system on
a variety of topics: environmental results; key indicators (more complete Environmental Statements); visibility
and more extensive use of the EMAS logo; specific exemptions for small and medium-sized companies; and
duties of member states and of the European Commission itself.

News bulletins
The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Engrunes Foundation is an example of the struggle against social exclusion
by means of a company management-labor partnership.

Informational Record
New EMAS regulations, eco-labels and environmental quality awards conferred in December 2007.