|
persistent bio–accumulatice chemicals
|
- Chemicals: Toxics (Operations)
- Chemicals: CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs (Operations)
- Chemicals: PVC (Raw Materials) (Operations)
- Significantly reduce the emissions of organochlorine gases during 2001. TARGET ACHIEVED
- Ensure that, wherever feasible, the bank's preferred ecological options are utilised for all replacement air conditioning
systems. TARGET ACHIEVED
- In 2001, identify three new areas where the phase-out of toxics can be introduced. TARGET NOT ACHIEVED
|
|
|
performance
|
* Data includes 17 kg housed within water coolants and vending machines.
*Includes 3.472 tonnes of Halon 1301 that was removed from the bank's fire control systems at the end of 1998.
All conversion factors located on the bank's websitei |
|
|
commentary
|
Background Sixty to seventy thousand synthetic chemicals
are now in regular use world wide. A report commissioned by
the US State of New Jersey found that minimal or no toxicity
data existed for 66% of pesticides and their supposedly inert
ingredients, 84% of cosmetic ingredients, 64% of drugs, 81%
of food additives and 88-90% of commercial chemicals.ii
Enhanced 'toxics' screening The bank's Ecology Unit
continues to screen referred supplier contracts against a range
of toxic chemicals based on the OSPAR List of Chemicals for
Priority Action iii, together with Bisphenol A and PVC. During
2001, reviews were undertaken of print management, the
refrigerant for an air-conditioning chiller, and floor and wall
coverings. Follow this link for an update on the
bank's drive to pursue totally chlorine free paper.
Follow this link for further details of toxic
phase-out, which will be identified as part of the development of an
environmental purchasing manual.
Plastic cards Virtually all credit and debit cards in the world
are made of PVC. The bank has sourced a more environmentally
sound alternative based on the plastic PETG, which does not
utilise highly toxic chlorine for its production. Chemicals, such
as lead chromate and DEH Phthalate, have also been removed
from the inks of some cards. During 2001, it was agreed with
the bank's card suppliers that no more orders of PVC would be
placed. From February 2001, 95% of all cards ordered have
been PETG. The first card to be issued on PETG was the
Barnardo's Visa credit card in March 2001.
Air conditioning Prior to 2000, the bank's air conditioning
systems were dominated by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs). These organochlorines are either potent ozone
depletors or greenhouse gases and, in some cases, both. As
air conditioning systems are replaced, systems based on
water, ammonia, lithium bromide or hydrocarbons are being
utilised. In all cases, the global warming and ozone depletion
potential of these chemicals is substantially better than that of
organochlorines. As a result, the global warming potential of
the bank's air conditioning systems has reduced by 61% since
1999. All HFCs and HCFCs removed are passed to third
parties for recycling. During 2001, the bank purchased five
lithium bromide chillers to replace the existing air conditioning
units that contained the CFC R12 refrigerant at Balloon Street,
Manchester. In addition, 13 hydrocarbon systems were
installed across the bank's major occupancies. In the network,
27 branches had air-conditioning units replaced, and this
resulted in 152 kg of the HCFC R22 being replaced with 75 kg
of hydrocarbons/ammonia. Regrettably, during 2001, a single
HFC installation was purchased to replace the HCFC R22 at
Olympic House Salford. The latter site houses the bank's
mainframe computers, which can run for just 26 minutes
without cooling, after which time the increased temperature
leads to malfunctions. Hydrocarbon chillers have been ruled
out by the bank's insurers as they have no track record in
business in the UK in such critical applications. Similarly,
ammonia units are not available at the desired size with
evidence of critical application. Gas fired lithium bromide
systems were considered unsuitable by the insurers due to the
lack of availability of a contingency gas supply (with electrical
systems one can have a back up generator or, in the normal+1
case, two).
Fire Control Prior to 1998, the majority of the bank's fire
control systems utilised halons, potent ozone depletors. A
halon replacement programme began in December 1997 and
took just over one year to complete. All Halon 1301 systems
were replaced with Inergen (a mixture of nitrogen, CO2 and
argon, all of which naturally occur in the atmosphere).iv As a
result, the combined global warming potential of the bank's air
conditioning/fire control systems has reduced by 90% since
1998.
Emissions The bank saw emissions of organochlorine
refrigerants reduce by 34% compared with 2000. According to
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the HCFC
R22 has 1,700 times the global warming potential of carbon
dioxide, making the described leakage equivalent to 229.5
tonnes of carbon dioxide (which is 7.6% of the total net
emissions of the bank's operations).
|
|
- www.co-operativebank.co.uk/partnership2001/pr/conversions.html
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, 2000
- www.ospar.org/eng/html/sap/Strategy_hazardous_substances.htm#Annex_2
- www.co-operativebank.co.uk/97_suppliers_ecological.html
To follow any of the links mentioned within the Partnership Report 2001, please visit the links page.
|
|
ethical and ecological value analysis
|
- Annualised additional cost of switching plastic cards from PVC to PETG – £19,500
- Additional cost associated with purchase of environmentally sound air conditioning systems – £623,100
|
|
|
new target
|
- Reduce the emissions of organochlorine gases during 2002.
Andy Farrell, Facilities Manager
- Ensure that, wherever feasible, the bank's preferred ecological options are utilised for all replacement air conditioning
systems.
Andrew Hill, Property Manager/John Sheerin, Purchasing and Facilities Manager
|
|
