While implementing investment projects for years, we are guided not only by short-term economic benefits, but also by current and expected future environmental needs. Therefore, the most important criteria for introducing new technologies or devices into the production plants of the District Dairy Cooperative in Radomsko are: the lowest possible consumption of natural raw materials (water, fuels) and other energy media (electricity and heat), requirements for the auxiliary agents used, as well as the expected type and the amount of waste generated. Such behavior results from deep awareness and understanding of problems related to the effects of environmental exploitation.
We are the first dairy cooperative in the country which, in 1993, based the production of thermal energy for technological purposes on boilers fired with high-methane gas, additionally equipped with devices for recovering heat from exhaust gases.
The washing processes of production lines were automated and water circuits were closed, which significantly reduced the consumption of water and cleaning agents.
In addition, we have made a number of improvements and changes:
- water obtained from milk condensation feeds the boiler room and is used for pre-washing of non-process equipment,
- washing agents traditionally used in the dairy industry (sodium hydroxide and nitric acid solutions) have been largely eliminated
in favor of modern, biodegradable cleaning products.
Other projects implemented in our company and serving the environment are:
- sewage pre-treatment plant,
- a battery of fabric filters that effectively eliminates the possibility of milk dust being released into the air,
- using a number of solutions to improve the acoustic climate.
We strive to reduce the amount of waste generated by implementing the principle of “minimization at source” among employees and the absolute requirement to segregate waste that cannot be avoided.
Our concern for the environment is expressed through the implementation of procedures and continuous improvement of activities in the quality system that has been operating for years, also to reduce the impact on the environment.
The techniques and technologies used in the production processes, recognized in the dairy industry as BAT – the best available techniques, allow us to obtain the lowest energy consumption rates in the country, comparable to the results obtained in EU countries, and in some cases even more favorable.
We have obtained an integrated permit – a document that is the most important “certificate” of compliance with the standards required by law in terms of environmental impact in manufacturing processes, and we are currently participating in the “Environmentally Close Company” competition announced by the European Forum for Ecological Responsibility.