Sustainability Report 2013 Lek d.d.

Sustainability Report 2013 – Lek d.d. Environment 38 2.6.6 Volatile organic compounds (VOC) 59 In accordance with Novartis' recommendations on the use of alternative solvents in production, a systematic process of replacing halogenated solvents with non-halogenated ones in technological manufacture processes is underway. In 2013, total VOC emissions again saw a decrease (by slightly more than 11%), whereas the efficiency per tonne of product improved significantly. At the Menge‰ site, a device for removal of halogenated solvents from exhaust air using state-of-the-art cryogenic condensation is in operation. With the final replacement of methylene chloride with ethanol, the quantity of haloge- nated solvents at the Prevalje site was reduced even prior to that. 2009 t 24 70 203 2.7 300 0.083* 2010 t 25 58 170 5.5 258 0.082* 2011 t 24 36 146 6.2 212 0.057* 2012 t 23 43 71 5.4 142 0.038* 2013 t 24 28 68 5.8 126 0.033 Year Unit Lendava Ljubljana Prevalje Menge‰ Lek (Total) Efficiency (Lek) t VOC/t product) Table 17: Total emissions of volatile organic compounds * Changes of data as a result of changed data on production output for the Ljubljana site. 59 RC KPI 9 60 GRI G4-DMA 2.7 Water releases 60 Wastewaters are directed into the public sewage system through technological, cooling and municipal ducts. For indus- trial wastewaters, all the sites have equalization basins in- stalled before the release duct, whereas at the Prevalje site, industrial wastewater is also technologically neutralized. Into the cooling sewage system we only release non-contact cooling water. Unpolluted cooling water is discharged directly into the surface water course whenever possible. Roof preci- pitation wastewater is discharged into surface water courses directly or indirectly. Reports on the Monitoring of Industrial Wastewaters Dis- charge for 2013 show that, with the exception of exceeding the temperature in one of the three measurements at the Ljubljana site, no excessive pollution was identified at any of the four sites. In the case of this deviation it is necessary to take into account that the maximum temperature measured over a period of 24 hours was 41.3 °C and that the water flow from the equalization basin later joins with water flows from other waste waters from the site which also means cooling the temperature of the water flow under consideration. The statutory prescribed limit value for the parameter temperature upon discharge into the sewer system is 40 °C. 2.7.1 Wastewaters Protection of waters from pollution is one of the most complex areas of environmental protection and an important aspect of a comprehensive water management. We are aware that pollutants pose a risk to human health and the environment therefore we are looking for solutions to achieve the set goals in a technically and cost effective manner. At the Menge‰ and Lendava sites, waste cooling waters account for more than 80% of the total water quantity. In 2013, their consumption increased slightly, as did the consumption of industrial water (in total slightly less than 4%). After use, unpolluted waste cooling waters are discharged into the surface water course, a procedure for which environ- mental permits have been obtained.