Environmental management
The Grupa Azoty Group companies have in place an integrated environmental management system.
The Grupa Azoty Group companies have in place an integrated environmental management system. Its scope was defined with due regard to the context of the organisation’s operations, its business, products and services as well as relevant stakeholder requirements. The system encompasses all of the Group’s activities and covers:
- production and sale of nitrogen fertilizers, plastics, plastic products, catalysts, organic and inorganic chemicals, heat and electricity;
- research and development services and laboratory services;
- design and development of chemical products and plastics;
- supervision of the joint activities of the Grupa Azoty Group companies.
The integrated management system is based on the process approach and interaction of processes, in compliance with legal and other requirements. Process management is governed by relevant procedures.
Processes are classified according to two criteria:
1.Impact scale:
- corporate – managed at the Group level
- dual
- separate – operated only at the company level
2. Nature:
- management processes – decision-making processes related to the management and supervision of the Group, collection and processing of data needed to make management decisions and supervise their implementation
- business processes – product and sales processes that deliver added value to the Group
- support processes – processes improving the effectiveness and efficiency of business processes
This approach was the basis for the establishment of a system of responsibility and accountability for the management of the Company's key activities. Process leaders, with responsibility for supervising and coordinating the process operation, and process administrators, providing operational support to the leaders and responsible for direct process supervision, have been appointed. Process administrators are responsible for risk management in the area of their activity. The Grupa Azoty Group's environmental management system complies with the ISO14001:2015 standard: ‘Environmental management systems — Requirements with guidance for use'. In addition, it takes into account the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 and the recommendations of ISO 14004:2016-04: ‘Environmental management systems – General implementation guidance’.
The process approach to environmental management facilitates oversight of relations and interactions between the identified processes and performance improvement. Those with relate to risks and opportunities have been integrated into the processes included in the environmental management system. Responsibility for environmental matters at the Grupa Azoty Group rests with the Management Board.
The environmental management system is verified by both internal and external auditors. Internal audits are carried out to determine the system's compliance with the requirements of ISO 14001 and corporate arrangements and to verify whether the system is effectively implemented and maintained. Audit planning and administration are governed by a separate procedure.
The audits are carried out by internal auditors, i.e. employees holding relevant authorisations. One condition in selecting members of the audit teams is that they have no organisational connections to the area to be audited. The internal audit planning process is informed by the outcomes of risk analysis. Internal audits include an analysis of information on incidents that may affect the level of specific risks or indicate the emergence of new, previously unidentified risks. The adequacy of risk mitigation efforts is also assessed. The audit results are presented in a report, complemented by lists of irregularities, threats, and opportunities. Any detected irregularities are analysed in accordance with specific procedures, while risks and opportunities are reviewed in terms of need for action. The reports are submitted to the President and selected member of the Management Board as well as other persons.
External audits of the environmental management system are carried out by the certification body. Periodic external audits are performed annually, and a recertification audit is carried out every three years. The recertification audit is followed by extension of the certificate for the environmental management system.
BEST PRACTICE
In 2020, we signed a memorandum of understanding with Air Liquide of France. The memorandum provides for joint analysis of the possibility of implementing a pilot project to produce biomethane from agricultural waste, optimum use of waste and post-absorption gases from Grupa Azoty's industrial units in order to reduce direct emissions, and optimisation of hydrogen and CO2 management. The planned activities also include assessment of the possibility of using Air Liquide's carbon capture technology by Grupa Azoty.
If the assessment findings are positive, the biomethane project will be implemented at Puławy. Air Liquide previously built an air separation facility at the Puławy Subzone of the Starachowice Special Economic Zone, and has supplied oxygen and nitrogen to Grupa Azoty Puławy since 2011. Air Liquide is a global leader in gases, technologies and services for industry and the healthcare sector.
Grupa Azoty S.A.
The company has designated management level positions with responsibility for economic, environmental and social matters:
- -environmental matters: Head of the Corporate Technology and Energy Department;
- social matters: Corporate Director for Organisation and Human Resources;
- economic matters: Head of the Corporate Finance Department and Head of the Corporate Controlling Department.
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN:
The responsibility for economic, environmental and social matters is governed by the IMS Policy of Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn S.A. – Appendix 1 to the Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn S.A. Integrated Management System Book, edition 09, in effect since December 10th 2020.
Grupa Azoty PUŁAWY:
In accordance with the company’s Articles of Association, in 2020 its structure included designated management level positions with responsibility for:
- economic matters: Head of the Finance Division/Chief Controller;
- environmental matters: Head of the Support Division;
- social matters: Head of the Human Resources Division/ Head of the Corporate Division.
The managers are accountable and report directly to the Company's Management Board.
A person in the position of Chief Controller reports directly to the Head of the Finance Division.
Grupa Azoty POLICE:
The company has designated management level positions with responsibility for:
- economic matters: Head of the Finance Department and Head of the Controlling Department;
- environmental matters: Head of the Plant Safety Department and the Project Manager for GHG Emissions, Technological and Environmental Analysis;
- social matters: Head of the Human Resources and Management Department.
Persons employed in the above positions report directly to the Management Board.
