Energy and water consumption
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Water conservation and greenhouse gas emissions are key challenges for the company. Electricity, natural gas, oil and other fuels are consumed in the resin manufacturing process.
Australian Vinyls is a signatory to the Australian Government's Greenhouse Challenge Plus and Victoria's Energy Smart programs. We are committed to stabilising our overall energy consumption and reducing our total CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of PVC produced.
Over the past six years, the company has successfully reduced energy consumption by 19% and greenhouse gas emissions by 22% per tonne of PVC produced.
Australian Vinyls' energy achievements have been recognised by both State and Federal government with the following awards:
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- 2001 Best Manufacturer, Energy Smart Awards, Sustainable Energy Authority, Victoria
- 2005 Outstanding Achievement Award in Greenhouse Gas Abatement, Greenhouse Challenge Plus, National Greenhouse Office.
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Production of PVC resin requires large quantities of water and AV’s annual consumption of water makes it one of the top 200 water users in Victoria.
Water is used in approximately equal quantities to VCM in the polymerisation process. All of the water is removed following polymerisation. Additional water is used in other process operations such as flushing, washing, pressure testing, steam-stripping and heat exchanging and cooling.
Over the past 6 years, the company has reduced water consumption per unit of production by 28%.
Its long term goal is zero fresh water use in manufacturing. In 2007, in partnership with the Victorian Government, the company commenced significant investment in a project to recycle a major proportion of its potable water use using membrane technology. The project is expected to be implemented by mid 2009 and would save an estimated 300 million litres per annum in potable water at AV’s Laverton Plant. Future fresh water use reductions will be achieved by purchasing recycled water when available, from the water market.
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