Waste management

Secondary fuels replace fossil fuels

At our production sites in Mertingen and Günzburg, we implement selective and extensive separation of generated industrial and residual waste as well as so-called secondary fuels. The replacement fuels are sent to neighbouring cement and plaster factories which thus save valuable fossil fuel resources in their production plants. With these replacement fuels, almost 320,000 m3 of natural gas could be saved in 2014 by the participating consumers. This results in a reduction of CO2 emissions of 3,000 t CO2eq in the last five years.

Due to extensive waste separation procedures, the proportion of residual waste in both German facilities dropped by around 23 % and the proportion of secondary fuels increased by almost 38 % compared to 2012.

Recycling of residual materials

Since we have consistently been separating the recyclables at our production sites in Mertingen, Günzburg and Opole for years, we have generated valuable substance flows for a variety of recycling branches.

Biological exploitation of residual materials

In a producing system, a wide variety of recyclable materials are produced. Zott works in conjunction with a partner to implement a concept in which all biologically recyclable materials are decomposed via a biogas system in order to produce power and heat from biogas.  

The quantity of regenerative power produced from these materials has covered, in recent years, the annual power requirements of around 400 private households (4 people / 4,940 kWh).

This results in the following CO2 savings: 

2008: 1.269 to CO2eq
2009: 1.499 to CO2eq
2010: 1.539 to CO2eq
2011: 1.252 to CO2eq
2012: 1.077 to CO2eq
2013: 1.220 to CO2eq

 

CO2eq (to) = CO2-Equivalent in tonnes compared to the use of electricity