We pursue our five-year environmental management strategy and objectives with a sense of urgency and responsibility.
Responsible environmental management policy leads to long-term competitiveness since our customers value our our sustainability stance.
We take care of the environment and respect environmental regulations, and also cooperate with the local community and beyond. Responsibility to the natural environment is included in our environmental and energy policy as well as the Krka Group’s sustainability policy. In 2001, we were awarded the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) certificate, which requires us to constantly reduce our environmental impacts. We integrated environmental care in the earliest development stages of our activities and projects.
The aim of the comprehensive environmental management system is: (i) a high level of environmental protection throughout the life-cycle of a product; (ii) constant reduction of our environmental impact; and (iii) to provide regulatory compliance. We are aware that the best effects can be achieved at the start of a process. In our case this is at the product development stage, selection of a raw material with a lower environmental burden, and in the production process.
We use the best available techniques to manage the waste that remains after certain processes and must not be reused according to strict requirements applicable to the pharmaceutical industry.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
We have committed ourselves to:
- Consider the sustainability aspect throughout the life cycle of a product;
- Constantly reduce our impacts on the environment and improve the situation as regards our environmental impacts in every way as we aim to achieve the goals of the European Fit for 55 package, the European Green Deal, carbon neutrality by 2050, the Resolution of the Republic of Slovenia on Long-Term Climate Strategy until 2050, and the taxonomy regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment), and national legislations of the countries where we operate;
- Undertake the planned activities from the action plan for reducing our carbon footprint in the Krka Group,
- Reduce impacts on climate change in accordance with the best available techniques, guidelines, and legislations;
- Incorporate the efficient use of energy, water and other natural resources in our current operations, development strategy and investments;
- Increase the proportion of utilities using alternative and renewable resources;
- Apply the circular economy system in the waste management process;
- Upgrade the hazardous materials management system and reduce the environmental risk;
- Regularly monitor emissions for compliance with legislation and environmental protection permits;
- Ensure constant monitoring of direct and indirect carbon emissions in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol);
- Include the responsibility towards the natural environment to the largest extent possible in the activities of subsidiaries outside Slovenia;
- Increase employees’ responsibility for sustainable development through education and increased awareness about the environmental issues and promote the responsible environmental policy also throughout the value chain;
- Ensure the preservation of the ecological, biotic and landscape features of the natural world; Encourage the use of alternative, for the environment less harming means of transport to commute to work and act towards sustainable mobility.
ENVIRONMENTAL MILESTONES
Over the last five years, we have allocated more than €50 million to environmental protection, of that €10,9 million in 2023. Direct costs amounted to €8.1 million and included costs of waste water discharge and treatment, waste management, waste air treatment, noise reduction, monitoring costs, environmental levies and other direct costs of environmental protection. We invested €2.8 million in equipment and technology for environmental protection to further reduce environmental impacts.
We reduced disposable waste by 10%.
We reduced waste packaging by 43 tonnes through our returnable packaging system and solvent supply system employing reusable intermediate bulk containers.
We handed over a total of 567 tonnes of waste composites for processing, from which the contractor recovered 187 tonnes of aluminium and 332 tonnes of plastic.
We cut the specific energy use measured in TJ per billion product units by 5.4% compared to 2022.
We reduced our carbon footprint by 275 CO2-eq per year through our energy efficiency improvement projects.
River water consumption was reduced by 18%.
We substituted 5.6% of river water used to supply cooling towers with rainwater.
We collect and analyse data about environmental management system by various methodological tools. We use all available resources, such as monitoring results for our processes or activities that can significantly impact the environment, findings of self-inspections and audits, internal audits, security checks, inspections, customer claims, and risk analyses. This demonstrates that the environmental management system is performing properly and efficiently, and also gives us an opportunity to make improvement. We report our findings on the efficacy of our environmental protection system to state authorities and other stakeholders.
The European Union has set down strict environmental standards for all Member States. We comply with them on all our markets around the world, incorporating our responsible approach to the natural environment in all our subsidiaries abroad to the highest extent possible.
We transfer good environmental protection practices to all subsidiaries through permanent cooperation, information exchange, and investment, always taking local legislation into account.
Each and every employee can contribute to better environmental protection results. We encourage our employees to constantly upgrade their knowledge and handle the environment with a high level of awareness. We significantly improved the response of individuals and groups by regularly raising awareness through our communication campaign Environment Counts which promotes energy saving, print savings and separate waste collection. We inform the public about our environmental activities via public announcements in the media and at seminars, symposia and round tables. We actively participate in the preparation of environmental legislation. We cooperate closely with professional and scientific organisations in Slovenia and abroad. Sustainable improvement of the environment also depends on good relationships with social environment representatives, especially our closest neighbours, since our activities have an impact on their living space and the quality of life.
Every other year we organise a traditional meeting with local residents, informing them of our actions, results and environmental protection plans. These meetings help us maintain an open dialogue and exchange opinions. We learn what the local community thinks and consider this when planning environmental goals and programmes.
Goals
- Comprehensive management of the environmental management system, ensuring sustainable development, and continuously improving conditions in all areas of environmental protection, following the Krka Group Development Strategy and Krka Group ESG Policy, Chapter Planet, and climate change.
- Ensure an environmental management system in line with national legal requirements, EU directives, and ISO 14001 standards.
- Ensure a high level of environmental protection throughout the entire product life cycle.
- Ensure efficient management of raw materials, products, waste, and other materials, as well as the efficient use of energy and water.
- Implement circular economy practices (use of regenerated solvents, reuse of water, separate collection and delivery of waste for processing, etc.).
- In line with the action plan and considering the availability of new technologies and carbon-neutral energy sources (e.g., renewable energy, carbon-neutral electricity, and fuels), undertake activities to reduce the carbon footprint.
- By reducing environmental impacts, ensure the preservation of biodiversity.
- Gradually increase the share of electric vehicles in its fleet.
OBJECTIVES BY 2028
Specific use of energy (TJ/billion pieces): < 80.00
Scope 1 and 2 emission reduction compared to 2019: -48%*
Reduction of specific waste: -3%
* Objective by 2030
Specific use of energy by production volume (TJ/billion pieces) in last years
Objectives for reducing the Krka Group’s carbon footprint by 2050
By 2050, the Krka Group will continue its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. We will follow trends and utilize the best available decarbonization technologies in the fields of transport and the supply of carbon-neutral energy sources (RE, hydrogen, etc.), incorporating them into our processes to the fullest extent possible. We will monitor the content and requirements of the CS3D directive regarding the preparation of decarbonization plans in line with the Paris Agreement and climate neutrality by 2050. The successful implementation of sustainable environmental policies in the coming period will be influenced by newly available techniques and carbon-free energy sources in the market, as well as new legislation. It is crucial for Krka to maintain growth and development and competitiveness in the global market.
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