|
The Group works alongside its customers to provide solutions that enhance the safety of both people and equipment, respect the landscape and marine life, and encourage the use of clean and renewable energy. 
Eco-design and eco-production
Nexans does its utmost to develop products that meet customers’ needs while having minimum impact on the environment over their entire lifecycle. This includes eliminating lead stabilizers in PVC sheaths, halogens, and solvents; selecting non-polluting materials and materials that are easier to recycle; and designing systems so that cable components can be easily dismantled, making it easier to process end-of-life products.
In-depth research is performed to ensure that Nexans’ products are resistant in tough environments, such as deep waters, high pressure, extreme climates, corrosion, and fire, as well as under intense mechanical stress.
To help engineers identify the best production techniques available, Nexans’ product developers use EIME (Environmental Information & Management Explorer) software to compare the environmental features of the various options, involving suppliers in the selection process. Nexans also takes care to develop manufacturing processes that are cleaner and consume less energy and raw materials. Quality control is being improved in order to reduce short lengths and scrap. Packaging choices are being optimized, as, on a wider scale, are logistics options.
Strict environmental management
Nexans’ environmental and safety policy is outlined in a Risk Management Charter, and includes a thorough analysis of the risks connected with the Group’s products and manufacturing processes, a continuous improvement program and employee training programs on good environmental practices.
The environmental policy is steered by the Industrial Management Department, which reports directly to the Strategic Operations Department.
The Environment Committee includes representatives from the Strategic Operations, Industrial Management, Technical, Purchasing, Legal, Risk Management, Human Resources and Communications departments.
A Group Environmental Manual describes all the objectives, procedures and tools available to each site and a dedicated intranet site compiles the available information and enables sites to share best practices, which are organized by subject matter.
| |
|
 RENEWABLE ENERGIES: ACTIVE IN ALL FIELDS
Low-voltage cables for turbines and high-voltage submarine cables linking offshore fields to power networks on the mainland – Nexans manufactures all the cables necessary for the development of the wind power market where installed capacity is rising by 30% per year.
In 2007, the Group expanded its offering in solar power, an industry which is expected to grow by 30% between now and 2010. Nexans’ cables for photovoltaic equipment can withstand extreme temperatures.
The group also provides cables for biomass power stations. The largest power station of this kind is located in Scotland. The plant can convert 480,000 tons of waste timber into 44 MW of energy.
Discover Nexans' offer for windfarms, wind turbines and power networks
|
Regular audits and EHP label
The Group’s voluntary internal environmental management system has been operational for several years. Under this system, twelve environmental issues – covered by an in-depth survey sent to all Group’s manufacturing plants – are audited. Following the audit, plants can be awarded the Nexans EHP label (Environement Hautement Protégé or Highly Protected Environment).
By the end of 2007, almost all Nexans’ sites had once again participated in this ongoing improvement program, and 50 of them had already received the internal EHP label, specially adapted to the risks posed by the Group’s activities. Sixteen sites received this label in 2007, and 37 sites had already obtained the ISO 14001 certification.
Nexans also undertook a program for analyzing historic soil studies and defined a method for calculating greenhouse gas emissions, which will be tested at three sites in 2008.
Investments of 4.49 million euros
Nexans’ environmental priorities include protecting the soil, managing water and hazardous fluids, eliminating PCB transformers, replacing oil-burning boilers and old heating systems with less polluting gas boilers and systems that consume less energy, and treating air and gaseous effluents. The Group is particularly focused on phasing out single-wall underground storage tanks. Ongoing improvements are also being made in the retention of liquids, fire extinction water and wastewater.
In 2007, investments in wastewater management and treatment were made at many sites, including Halden in Norway, Fumay in France, Chester in the United States and Montréal in Canada. Investments to replace heating units or save energy were made at Chauny in France, Mönchengladbach in Germany, and Milton in the United States.
| |
|
 AIR-FILLED CABLES, THE LIGHTWEIGHT SOLUTION
A new process involving the injection of air during the extrusion process can reduce the weight of cables by up to 10% while maintaining performance levels. The weight-saving can be as much as 6 kg for 1km length of 3G1.5 cable, bringing the total weight down from 107 kg to 101 kg.
AN ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY SOLUTION
Hamilton Island, close to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, receives its power supply via a 22kV XLPE submarine power cable. By avoiding the use of noisy and polluting diesel generators, this solution protects the island’s superb landscape, is more cost-effective than a power plant, and has zero impact on the underwater flora and fauna.
|
A major player in recycling
The Group is highly committed to recycling its manufacturing waste, and in 2007 recycled a total of 26,930 tons of waste, including 21,993 tons of production waste from most of its European sites, and 4,937 tons of end-of-life cables collected directly from customers. In 2008, Nexans set up a partnering arrangement between its subsidiary RIPS and Suez Environnement subsidiary Sita, with a view to strengthening recycling activities.
| |
|
A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF RECYCLED COPPER
In 2007, Nexans started the continuous transformation of bare copper waste into wirerod at its plant in Lens, France. The Group invested 10 million euros in this exclusive and competitive process that should enable it to recycle 50,000 tons of copper and secure part of its supply. A total of 23,000 tons of wirerod were produced in 2007.
|
NB : Key environmental data is given on page 60 of our Activity report.
|
