Environmental Management System
Hovione has an Environmental Management System (EMS) in accordance with ISO14001, which requires a continuous improvement of the environmental performance.

The EMS follows the cycle PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) and involves a group of basic activities:

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Greencycle Technologies
Hovione received in 1992 an European Better Environment Awards for Industry (Winner in the Recovery of Waste category).
At Hovione, manufacturing of fine chemicals is in harmony with the Environment. Hovione's tradition of care with the environment since de 1960's was rewarded in 1992 by the European Commission with the European Award for better Environment in Industry. Together with the United Nations, the EU chose Hovione as the best example in Europe of industrial recycling for the Nineties.

We do not believe that the solution lies only in waste elimination - Sustainable development management also involves reducing raw-material consumption. Hovione has achieved this with the development of Greencycle technologies and building dedicated recycling installations. Recycling and re-use is the key: it reduces raw-material costs, it reduces the waste treatment loads, it leads Hovione's scientists to look for elegant solutions. At Hovione, scientists have been able to reconcile profitable production with environmentally-friendly chemistry. Annually 6% of sales are invested in environmental protection and recycling programmes . One example of new technologies being introduced was the installation of the first industrial solvent recovery unit in Europe to incorporate vapour phase membrane pervaporation technology (Vapour Permeation)

Secondary products are treated in a separate industrial award winning installation (F2). The philosophy at Hovione is that these products must, whenever possible, be treated, recycled, and re-used meeting GMP requirements using our Greencycle technologies.

To meet this objective several solutions are available:

All those secondary products that cannot be recycled or treated onsite are sent to specialized external companies licensed by authorities and audited by Hovione.

Air emissions are reduced, confined, monitored and treated. Reports on emissions are sent periodically to local authorities.

Wastewater is pre-treated with neutralization, decantation and steam stripping (to remove volatile organic compounds), and continuously monitored before being sent to the municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Environmental noise is periodically evaluated and corrective actions implemented whenever necessary. Water, natural gas and electricity and other consumptions are monitored weekly for reduction purposes.

The benefit to our Customers is considerable: our clean environment record assures that Hovione's facilities will remain open for business. Recycling and re-use is today a key factor to achieve lower impact in the environment and lower production costs. Hovione's pioneer efforts into recycling serve, ultimately, the Customer: your supplier's low-cost leadership ensures that it is the best Partner in the long-run.