Three of Arauco’s Panel Business facilities in Chile received Clean Production certificates during a ceremony held on June 30, in recognition of the fulfillment of 100% of the goals agreed upon with the public sector in 2007. These goals refer to environmental and occupational health and safety performance in this business area. The ceremony was attended by Bío Bío Region Intendant, the Environmental Regional Secretary of Chile's Bío Bío Region, representatives of Corma’s Board of Directors for the Bío Bío Region and representatives of the public and private sector, who actively participated in achieving these goals.
Representing the company's Panel Business area were Panel Area Managing Director Gonzalo Zegers; Masso and Development Managing Director Ricardo Busch; Chile Operations Manager, Saul Espinoza; and the Managers of Arauco Plywood Mill, Jaime Castro; Nueva Aldea Plywood Mill, José Rojas; Trupan Mill, Patricio Osses; all of whom were accompanied by joint committees, workers and people who participated in achieving the Clean Production Agreement goals.
The Clean Production policy’s objective is to "generate and consolidate a critical mass of public and private actors who conduct clean production, to reduce pollution and increase business competitiveness", within a framework of initiatives that are voluntary, thus adding a preventive vision to the labor of inspection. In this context the Clean Production policy is subject to follow-ups, assessment and control by means of the National System for Clean Production, in order to monitor, assess and control actions.
The forestry sector, represented by the Chilean Wood Corporation (Corma) for the Bío Bío Region and its Panel and Veneer department, decided to voluntarily adhere to this agreement, grouping nine Panel and Veneer mills of the Bío Bío Region and two mills of the Los Ríos Region. This initiative’s objective is to incorporate clean production measures and technologies into the panel and veneer industry to increase production efficiency and reduce pollution at its point of origin, therefore promoting technological innovation; the implementation of good practices in the management of solid and liquid residue as well as air emissions; the efficient use of resources (water and energy); and the reduction of labor risks.
Six companies received the Clean Production Certificates: Masonite S.A, Industria Río Itata S.A., Paneles Arauco S.A, Masisa S.A, Infodema S.A and Tulsa S.A; with a total of eleven production facilities, whose workforce adds up to 3,102 direct workers and 2,884 contracting workers, reaching a total number of 5,986 employees.
The goals set for the panel and veneer industry are focused on seven management areas: industrial liquid waste, industrial solid waste, efficient use of water, energy efficiency, air emissions, sector management, and occupational health and safety
