Sustainability

Sustainability? zeroproblems

Environmental respect and responsibility are a Rosa Gres priority.

Rosa Gres sets and meets demanding sustainability criteria in all of its industrial processes. Three core aims guide the company’s day-to-day operations: to conserve; to reuse and recycle resources, and to optimize our energy use and put in place viable energy-saving systems.

Our commitment to the environment is real, and we are sincere in involving all our personnel, who receive continuous training. This is why, in addition to improving our processes, we work together with a number of organizations to improve understanding and implementation new environmental protection systems:

  • Rosa Gres participates in the committee for the creation of Spain's first type III Eco-labelling system (UNE 150025/2005 IN), focused on products and services for construction. This Eco-labelling is a voluntary tool for continuous environmental improvement in the construction sector.
  • Rosa Gres is in the process of implementing an environmental management system for all its sites. This is based on both European Regulation 761/2001/EC (EMAS II) and the UNE-EN ISO 14001:2004 standard.
  • Rosa Gres, whose production centres are included in Annex I of Spanish Law 16/2002, already has environmental authorisation (AAI, Autorización Ambiental Integrada) under No. TA20060089 for its new production plant in Vallmoll, Tarragona. In this sense, what are known as BATs (Best Available Techniques) were taken into account in the design of all the processes in the project for the new plant. BATs are reference documents specifically applicable to certain sectors of activity. These are edited by European Union technical committees and are aimed at optimising the environmental performance of the activities.

Implementation of these regulations makes us pioneers in our sector once again.

SPHERE OF ACTIVITY

We are active on two fronts: production processes and new product development and construction methodology.

A. Productive processes

  • Natural resources
  • Wastes
  • Energy consumption
  • Climate change

B. Manufactured products and Sustainable Construction

  • Products
  • Construction systems

We have incorporated the following improvements in each of these areas:

A. Productive Processes

Natural Resources

Water: Objective: 100% usage of water

  • All the water used in production processes is reused, guaranteeing the absence of waste.
  • We have installed physical-chemical treatment systems for the reuse of water after purification.
  • We have installed high pressure washing equipment which reduces mains water consumption by 50%.

Achievement: Water savings of 13.700 m3/ year*
*equivalent to filling 285 pools of 4 x 8 m

Raw Materials

  • We use inert raw materials to manufacture ceramic products.
  • We select raw materials suppliers who comply with and respect all the environmental requirements in their pits and production centres.

Packaging

  • We have replaced kraft packing paper with recycled paper in all packaging (since 1997).
  • We have replaced chlorine-bleached white paper with chlorine-free natural paper in all our ceramics packaging (since 1997).
  • Automatic lines with "Wrap Around" system have been installed for packing of ceramic materials. These systems minimise packaging waste at our clients’ sites.
  • High density polyethylene bags are used in the wrapping of our pallets. This is a 100% recyclable and recoverable from waste.

Achievement: 52% reduction in corrugated cardboard

Waste. Objective: Minimising waste and sorting for recovery

In productive process our objective is optimisation and minimisation in waste generation. The company’s policy is therefore based on reduction, reuse and recycling of the materials used in all our production processes.

  • Ceramic rejects, both in the raw and fired phases, are recovered and 100% reintroduced into the slip formulation.
  • The muds from the physical-c
  • Chemical purification of the industrial water are reintroduced into the ceramic slip and so made inert.
  • Conventional industrial oils used in the process have been replaced by long-life oils and these are submitted to periodic analysis to extend their working life to the maximum.

The whole organisation is implementing an environmental management system which includes an internal waste management plan, enabling maximum segregation in waste collection.

  • Creation and management of 31 collection points which exhaustively separate all types of wastes classified according to the EWC (European waste code). From office materials (where toner from printer cartridges is separated, for example) to cables, remains from copper materials or different types of plastic, each of the points is clearly signed with risk pictograms and handling recommendations (Spanish Royal Decree 833/1988).
  • Contracting specialised suppliers to manage the different types of wastes.

Energy Consumption. Objective: Optimal energy management

  • All lighting equipment for our facilities has been replaced with highly energy efficient equipment with high illumination performance. These measures mean a direct reduction in electricity consumption and an indirect reduction in CO2 emissions associated with securing energy for illumination.
  • Full use and reuse is made of all the heat sources in the firing and drying processes, ensuring the minimum energy consumption. ç
  • Installation of frequency changers in all high power ventilators.

Achievement: 24% reduction in energy consumption in ventilators

Atmospheric Emissions. Objective: Minimising CO2 emissions

  • All the diesel combustion engines for internal use have been replaced by electric motors or gas powered engines.
  • Maintenance plans have been implemented for the kiln burners to minimise CO2 emissions.
  • Natural gas is used in all installations and the old combustion systems have been replaced by new burners which minimise gas emissions to the atmosphere.
  • All our production facilities have suction and filtering systems to ensure our workers' health and to ensure that solid particles are not emitted into the atmosphere. Recovered products are reintroduced into ceramic products.
  • The sales team’s cars use biodiesel fuel.

Achievement: 33 % reduction in diffuse CO2 emissions

B. Sustainable Construction

Construction Materials: Ceramics

  • Ceramic products are fired at a temperature of 1,200 °C, hence they are completely inert, there being no danger during installation and use. They are not flammable or polluting. They can come into contact with foodstuffs with no risk.
  • Life cycle: In our porcelain ceramic materials Series, all of low absorption, less water is used in cleaning during their life cycle as the material with practically zero porosity. Consumption of water and cleaning products is reduced. Rosa Gres’ Natural ceramic products do not stain. Our customers do not need to use chemical products to clean our products.
  • Final phase: Ceramics are recoverable inert wastes and therefore respectful of the environment. They do not present any problems in dumps, unlike other materials which generate leachates, for example.
  • Our products are used in all types of facilities – hospitals, schools, sports facilities, hotels, restaurants, industry, etc – guaranteeing the required maintenance and cleaning conditions.

Construction Materials: Wood

The IPE wooden grilles used to cover the perimeter channel for infinity pools have FSC certification. This is the only certification accepted by all organisations worldwide and guarantees that the wood has been obtained from plantations with the minimum adverse impacts on forests and not from uncontrolled deforestation.

Construction Systems: System 9 and System 10

  • We develop prefabricated construction systems which promote and help to achieve sustainable architecture.

These are 2 systems which facilitate the construction of infinity pools and which are clearly committed to sustainable architecture. Construction of an infinity pool by means of these systems promotes:

  1. Speed of assembly. This implies a significant reduction in construction time, with the corresponding energy savings.
  2. Reduction of works waste generated during construction. 
  3. Savings in materials used in the work. Dry construction or assembly of the pool walls is possible with the prefabricated elements. It is not necessary to use formwork or mortar to make the walls uniform. 
  4. Greater energy inertia as against other prefabricated systems for pools. The concrete panels impede rapid heat loss from the water, so reducing consumption of energy aimed at keeping the water at a constant temperature. 
  5. Making externally accessible pools, meaning thick-wall works are not necessary for external maintenance of the basin or possible repairs. 
  6. Lining the pool with Rosa Gres ceramic products which provide significant environmental advantages based on their durability and low maintenance cost.

Achievement: Pools built using System 10 do NOT lose water

With its environmental policy Rosa Gres’s goal is to obtain products which respect nature and offer our customers the chance to take part in achieving this objective.

Offering our clients environmentally-friendly products is our way of sharing a common commitment to a sustainable world.