Electrolux 1997 Annual Report Download - page 67

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Electrolux Annual Report 1997
impact. In 1995, a system was introduced
in the EU for energy labeling of white
goods with labels that among other things
show energy-efficiency on a 7-point scale.
To date, the system has been applied
for refrigerators and freezers, washing
machines, spin-driers and combined
washer/driers. A similar system for dish-
washers will be introduced in 1998. Stud-
ies are in progress regarding room air-con-
ditioners, hot-water units and ovens, and
will probably result in energy labeling of
these products as well. A corresponding
system for energy labeling has also been
introduced in North America.
In 1996, Electrolux became the first
company in the industry to launch a
system for detailed environmental dec-
larations for all white goods in Europe.
The system was developed in response
to demand from professional users such
as construction companies and munici-
palities. Dealers are expected to show
growing interest in this system.
Environmental labeling is another
method for informing customers about
a product’s environmental performance.
Group products with environmental
labeling include cadmium-free nickel-
hydride batteries for cordless vacuum
cleaners, a series of cleaning agents
from Euroclean, and a garden tractor
from Husqvarna.
Phase-out of freons
Ten years after the international agree-
ment in Montreal for phasing out ozone-
depleting substances, the white-goods
market in developed countries is free
of CFC, i.e. hard freons. Electrolux has
been a leader in this process, and the
Group’s refrigerators and freezers in
Europe are completely free of sub-
stances that affect ozone.
In 1995–96, Electrolux acquired
refrigerator plants in Brazil, India and
China that used CFC in production.
In connection with investments in new
models and production equipment in
these plants, freon-free technology is
being introduced. In Brazil, Electrolux
launched the market’s first CFC-free
products in 1997. Production of refrig-
erators and freezers with no substances
that affect ozone was also started in
China during the year.
Emissions and noise
Stricter legislation regarding emissions
from equipment with two-stroke
engines is expected during the next few
years in the US and the EU. Customers
as well as public authorities are increas-
ingly demanding products with lower
noise levels.
In the autumn of 1996, Husqvarna
launched a new generation of 2-stroke
engines, designated E-tech, which com-
bine new combustion technology with
catalytic cleaning, and comply with the
strictest emission standards by a margin
of 40%. In 1996, 9% of the Group’s
portable garden equipment was fitted
with E-Tech engines or featured cata-
lytic exhaust-gas cleaners, and accounted
for 1% of total sales of these products.
In 1997, the share of sales of these pro-
ducts rose to 60%, and half the product
range is currently fitted with E-Tech
engines or catalytic cleaners.
Electrolux was first-to-market with
a portable vacuum cleaner featuring
rechargeable cadmium-free batteries.
The Group played an active role in
development of the cadmium-free
nickel-hydride battery that replaced
NiCd in this application.
Environmental management
in production
An environmental management system
is an efficient tool for goal-oriented
environmental activities. In 1995, the
Group started introducing ISO 14001
certified systems for environmental
management at production plants, all
of which will be certified by 2000. By
year-end 1997, 24 plants had been certi-
fied, all of them in Europe. The leading
countries within the Group in this
respect are Italy, Sweden and Germany.
Electrolux has the largest share of
environmentally certified plants among
all industrial companies in Italy.
The certified plants account for
27% of Group plants in Europe, but
represent 50% of total factory floor
area. Introduction of ISO 14001 has not
yet begun in North America, nor at the
plants recently acquired by the Group
in new markets. Most of the changes
that have been made involve reductions
in consumption of water and energy
and the volume of waste.
Environmental investments
Environment-related investments are
now an integrated component in the
Group’s total investment in new prod-
ucts and processes, and in most cases
cannot be individually reported. Dedi-
cated environmental investments for
1997 are estimated at less than 1% (1)
of total authorized investments.
Acquired companies and plants are
analyzed in order to estimate the risk
of environmental liabilities related to
previous operations, and to assess the
investment requirement for environ-
mental adaptations.
Husqvarna’s new, environmentally adapted E-Tech
2-stroke engine is featured in a growing number of
the Group’s products for forestry and gardening.
Recycling and waste
Legislation regarding producer respon-
sibility is being discussed in most Euro-
pean countries. Proposals were pre-
sented during 1997 in such countries
as Sweden and The Netherlands. This
issue is also being discussed at the EU
level on the basis of a draft directive.
All proposals require that the producer
take responsibility for recovery and
recycling of products at own expense.
Electrolux is participating actively in a
dialogue at national levels and within
the EU, and has also in practice assumed
producer responsibility for white goods
in Germany and Switzerland, as well as
for professional appliances in Sweden
and Finland.
Additional information on the Group’s environ-
mental activities is given in a separate report for
1997, which is available at www.electrolux.com
and on request from Electrolux Environmental
Affairs, tel. [phone], fax [phone].