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Reduces nitrogen emissions by 80%
EU funding for new treatment plant
Elmo leather will become the first leather manufacturer to reduce
nitrogen emissions by 80% when the company invests around SEK 40
million in a new treatment plant at Svenljunga. The project, based
on new technology for the biological treatment of the company's
wastewater, has been recognised by the EU's environmental fund,
LIFE, via a grant of SEK 9 million.
The innovative project takes wastewater from the companyís
processes and filters it through a nitrification/de-nitrification
process. The technology has been tested by the municipal sewage
treatment works but never put into operation in the tanning industry
because it wasn't con-sidered technically possible because of the
wastewater's character.
Nitrogen emissions are expected to fall by 80% compared to the normal
30% using traditional treatment methods for tanneries' wastewater.
New purification technology
The current method for reducing nitrogen pollution in wastewater
from the tannery industry consists of a combination of chemical
and biological treatment. The new technology that Elmo intends introducing,
uses a process called nitrification/de-nitrification, and is an
advanced form of a completely biological treatment.
In summary this technology means that water pollutants are broken
down using the micro-organisms that exist in the wastewater. This
occurs in a series of processes where wastewater is treated step-by-step
in separated, but linked, tank systems. The first link in this system
consists of an oxygen infusion tank where micro-organisms live and
grow. During the second link the wastewater is oxygenated, which
starts the nitrification process where nitrogen (NH4-N) mainly in
the form of Ammonia, is oxidized into nitrate (NO3-N). The supply
of oxygen is cut during the following de-nitrification process and
nitrate is reduced into nitrogen gas (N2). The nitrogen gas is emitted
into the atmosphere, which consists of 79% nitrogen gas.
In simple terms this new purification technology means that the
micro-organisms in the waste-water are first allowed to grow and
multiply. To survive they are forced to use up nitrogen pollutants
due to the lack of oxygen. The result is that the dominating part
(around 80 %) of the pollutants disappear because they have been
reduced to nitrogen gas, i.e. the same gas that dominates the atmosphere.
Investing for a better environment
Provided that all permits are granted, Elmo Leather estimates it
can start building the new treatment plant in October 2003. The
investment will depend on the county administrative board authorising
the expansion of the production limit at Svenljunga from the current
3.5 million sq m to 4.5 million sq m of finished leather.
The new wastewater treatment project is underway and the plant is
expected to be up and running from autumn 2004, thereby considerably
reducing the companyís environmental impact. Until the new
plant reaches full capacity, the company's wastewater will be treated
at the municipal sewage treatment works using the current method.
In the long-term, Elmo Leather expects investing in a treatment
plant to benefit the company by spotlighting its environmental profile.
"In the short-term our profitability will not benefit, but
over the longer term we believe that the project will strengthen
our competitive edge and position on the market by emphasizing Elmo
as a more environmentally aware company," says Nalle Johansson,
President and CEO of Elmo Leather AB.
EU grant for innovative technology
The EUís environmental fund LIFE makes environmental protection
and nature conservation grants within the European Union. The main
purpose of LIFE is to drive the implementation and development of
the EUís environmental policy by supporting pilot projects
that illustrate innovative technologies or methods. A LIFE project
should serve as a good example and turn environmental policies into
practical action. LIFE projects in Sweden are administrated by the
National Environmental Protection Agency.
Elmo Leather has applied for, and been granted, funding of EUR 1
million (around SEK 9 million) from LIFE for building its new treatment
plant.
The company has produced a preliminary technical design of the new
plant based on laboratory tests. The design will now be planned
in detail and the plant will be built following a detailed test
programme where special attention is paid to the sensitive nitrification/de-nitrification
processes.
The company has also guaranteed that for 18 months, to May 2006,
it will measure the effectiveness of the plant and distribute information
about the result to other tanneries and other relevant industries,
e.g. the textile and paper industries, water purification plants
and the authorities.
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Elmo Leather expects at least 75 % of the European tannery industry
to have been informed about the new technologyís environmental
and financial benefits by the time the project is completed.
The Commission granted 104 of 530 applications, i.e. 20 %, illustrating
the stiff competition.
Svenljunga, Sweden on the 9th September 2003
Elmo Leather AB
Questions can be answered by Nalle Johansson on: +46 (0)325 661400
or +46 (0)705 817738.
 To
the editor:
Elmo Leather is the world's largest manufacturer of exclusive furniture
leather and one of the six largest suppliers of leather to the international
automotive industry.
The company operates in some 40 markets worldwide and about 90%
of sales are generated in markets outside Sweden. Of the Groupís
total sales of around SEK 816 million in 2002, furniture leather
accounted for 50% and automotive leather for 50%.
Elmo Leather is a strong international brand for some of the worldís
finest leather. The Group works in a small niche of the international
leather market, where high prices are accompanied by high requirements
for quality, design and comfort. The company's management system
fulfils the requirements of ISO/TS 16949 and ISO 14001.
The Elmo Leather Group consists of the parent company, Elmo Leather
AB, in Svenljunga, Sweden, and the two wholly-owned subsidiaries
Elmo Leather Inc. in Edison, New Jersey, USA and Elmo Leather A/S
on Fyn, Denmark.
Manufacturing is concentrated in Scandinavia, at facilities in Svenljunga,
Sweden and Svendborg, Denmark. In autumn 2003, Elmo Leather will
open a new production plant at Wismar on the Southern Baltic coast
in Germany, for cutting leather for automotive interiors. Production
at Wismar will be run by a wholly-owned subsidiary, Elmo Leather
Trim GmbH, and will employ around 50 people.
At the end of 2002 the Group employed around 450 people, of which
71% worked in Sweden.
Elmo Leather is owned by investors in Nordic Capital (52 %) and
investors in Accent Equity Partners (47%) and jointly by Den Danske
Bank, Sydbank and Unibank (1%).
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