Air emissions

Effective reduction of air emissions is one of our key environmental protection tasks.

Air pollution by sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and solid particles has an impact on health and quality of life more than any other environmental factor. In Europe it is the number one environmental health risk.

AIR IS PURIFIED USING CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

Besides legal requirements, we also comply with the strict requirements of the pharmaceutical industry to prevent any cross-contamination. We reduce air emissions with treatment systems fitted to all outlets that may be a potential source of pollution. We use effective de-dusting systems, filters, wet-type filtration systems, condenser columns, and thermal oxidisers to keep air emissions below the legal threshold, or the levels allowed for by the best available technology.

We treat waste air with advanced thermal oxidation devices. This technological solution is highly efficient in eliminating organic matter and minimising air emissions.

WE PURIFY THE AIR BEFORE EMITTING IT INTO THE ENVIRONMENT

Slovenia and certain other European countries are still faced with poor and at times excessive air pollution with PM₁₀ particles and certain other pollutants, for example PM_2,5, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and benzo(a)pyrene. PM10 particles pose a health hazard as particles travel deep into the lungs and cause several health issues. They also adversely affect the environment and cause damage to various materials.

At Krka, absolute air filtration is applied to all airborne particle emissions so that all particulate matter, or at least over 99.7% of all particles, are removed. This means that our air emissions are not polluted by particulate matter and do not increase air pollution with PM10.

AIR EMISSIONS

We generate direct emissions of CO₂  by using fuels and emitting ozone depleting substances from our cooling devices, and indirect emissions by exploiting electricity from the public utility electricity grid, which is produced by burning fossil fuels at thermal power plants. We have seen a significant reduction in CO2 emissions since 2021 when Krka started using clean, carbon-free electricity sources. This means that our activities in Slovenia do not lead to indirect CO2 emissions (Scope 2), cutting Krka’s annual CO2 emissions by 45,000 tonnes. The downward trend in total emissions continued in 2022, which we attribute to Krka’s sustainable management of natural resources and atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions.

Total greenhouse emissions according to GHG – Scope 1 and Scope 2

Carbon footprint relative to revenue, employee total, and production volume