SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental Management

Our ceramic products are based on their raw materials and firing process, in other words a transaction of nature with all its force and energy At the manufacturing premises of TAU, the largest artificial lake and water park exiting in an industrial centre in Castellon lie side by side. TAU Ceramica widely recognises the asset of incorporating the environmental variable in its business management, and the industry environment relationship is seen as a factor of competitivity in a market that is becoming more and more sensitive to respecting the quality of the environment. Tangible evidence of the good environmental practice developed by TAU Ceramica is the initiatives developed in environmental matters such as water purification, solid waste management, atmospheric emissions and noise pollution.

The first step has been the assessment of the environment, by examining the operational practices and controls introduced, and comparing them with the prevailing legal provisions. The Institute of Ceramic Technology (I.T.C.) carried out the examination, while NOVOTEC simultaneously made a study of levels of atmospheric emissions.

The environmental assessment was the first stage in the design and implementation of an Environmental Management System which, given the exporting vocation of TAU Ceramica, takes standard ISO 14001 as a reference.

Waste Management

1. Water Treatment: The treated water is re-used in the production process. Water consumption has been reduced through the development of a system to transport surplus water and mud solution from the water treatment plant to the atomizer to incorporate it in the pastes of the latter, with the result that the water loss has been reduced to zero.
2. Solid Waste Management: Solid waste is classified by categories and following currently valid legal stipulations, is treated according to type; Sieve rejects, dust from hose filters and un-fired broken pieces (glazed and un-glazed) are stored in suitable containers and transported to the atomizer to be reused in the preparation of pastes. Fired test pieces, broken or rejected in selection, ceramic rollers and refractory material are inert waste and are sent to authorised dumping sites. Waste and containers contaminated by toxic or dangerous products, resulting from the ceramic process or from machinery maintenance operations, which appear in the list of dangerous waste passed by R.D. 952/1997 are transferred to an Authorised Management Company.
3. Atmospheric Emissions: Corrective elements have been installed at the sources of emissions of gas and smoke into the atmosphere. These corrective elements are dry channel filters (of sieves) or wet channel filters (cyclones).
4. Noise Pollution: The noise emitted in the industrial installations is controlled by means of the incorporation, at various sources of emission, of elements made of an absorbent material which reduces the decibels. To find a way of defining the environmental strategy of TAU Ceramica we have to speak of a growing awareness which enables us to establish the corrective and preventative actions necessary in such a way that apart from meeting current legislation, we also reduce the risk of new and potential infractions of the law.

TAU Ceramica's Environmental Policy (TAULELL, S.A.)

TAU Ceramica (TAULELL, S.A.) is a company which manufactures ceramic floor and wall tile products and is committed to developing and administering its environmental policy in line with the Company’s values and mission statement, through personal protection and environmental friendliness. Our environmental policy is based on the following guidelines.

1. Setting up programs to achieve a dynamic and ongoing improvement to our environmental behaviour, introducing the appropriate methodology and practices to define the environmental target and goals.
2. Taking on a commitment towards both customers and the end market in order to encourage the prevention of contamination, environmental friendliness, production, transport, storage, use, recycling and waste disposal of our products.
3. Complying with the applicable legal requirements at all times and also with any other environmental requirements to which the organisation has signed up, thus aiming to achieve the early adoption of trends, changes and alterations.
4. Periodically assessing the environmental impact caused by our activities and products, setting environmental targets and goals with the aim of preventing, eliminating or reducing this impact to the minimum.

Date: 18 March 2000, D Carlos Camahort, Managing Director