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persistent bio–accumulative chemicals
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- Toxics (Operations)
- CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs (Operations)
- PVC (Raw Materials) (Operations)
- Reduce the emissions of organochlorine gases during 2002. TARGET ACHIEVED
- Ensure that, wherever feasible, the bank's preferred ecological options are utilised for all replacement air conditioning systems. ACCEPTABLE PROGRESS
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performance
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i Data includes 17 kg housed within water coolants and vending machines.
ii Hydrocarbons, Ammonia, Lithium bromide.
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commentary
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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.i
'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 ii, together with Bisphenol A and PVC. From 2003, this
list will also be the basis for priority phase-out across the
Co-operative Group, with the exception of Farmcare which has
its own well developed toxicologicol screening programme.
During 2002, attention focused on the bank's network of
branches, which are periodically refurbished. All major interior
fixtures and fittings have now been assessed. These include
carpets and flooring, ceiling tiles, wallpapers, paints and cash
desks. Specifications for the 'Green Branch' iii include a
requirement that plastics be PVC-free and that toxic chemicals
be reduced or eliminated. Ultimately, the bank's green
branches will not only minimise environmental impact, but also
improve the indoor air quality for staff and customers (to read about the bank's green branches follow this link). Also during 2002, in relation to the bank's main offices,
toxicity reviews were undertaken of print management,
customer stationery, air-conditioning refrigerants and floor and
wall coverings. Progress on the bank's drive to pursue totally
chlorine-free paper is described in the paper and printing section of the report.
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 been removed
from the inks of some cards. In 2001, it was agreed with the
bank's card suppliers that no more orders of PVC would be
placed. However, in 2002 it proved difficult to produce a
specific card design on PETG, and it was felt necessary to
produce a batch of 3,000 debit cards on PVC. These technical
problems have since been resolved.
Safer chemicals In March 2003, the bank joined WWF and
other environmental organisations to call for a more
precautionary approach to chemical legislation; one which
advocates phasing out chemicals known to be persistent and
bio-accumulative and replacing them with safer alternatives.
For an update on the campaign, follow this link.iv
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 less than that of
organochlorines. As a result, the global warming potential of
the bank's air conditioning systems has reduced by 66% since
1999. All HFCs and HCFCs removed are passed to third
parties for recycling. During 2002, 45 hydrocarbon systems
were installed across the bank's main offices, resulting in
86.3kg of the HCFC R22 being replaced with 57.3kg of
hydrocarbons. In the branch network, air-conditioning units
were replaced at 15 branches, resulting in 111kg of the HCFC
R22 and 1kg of the HFC R407 being replaced with 50.1kg of
hydrocarbons/ammonia. During 2002, there was a slight
increase in the amount of HFCs in use in bank operations. This
is a temporary situation and will be rectified in 2003. In order to
increase the usage of hydrocarbon split system chillers, the
bank usually purchases organochlorine systems, recovers the
offending gases (which are recycled) and replaces them with
natural refrigerants. This is normally undertaken off-site,
however, in 2002, a situation arose at Manchester Head Office
where a chiller was required of such a size that off-site
installation of hydrocarbons (which are flammable) would have
breached transport health and safety regulations. It was
therefore necessary to 'test' the systems on-site with the
organochlorines in situ, prior to refrigerant replacement.
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). As a
result, the combined global warming potential of the bank's
air conditioning/fire control systems has reduced by 91%
since 1998.
Emissions Emissions of organochlorine refrigerants reduced
by 58% compared with 2001. 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 96 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
However, from 2002 onwards, the bank is committed to
counter the global warming potential of any organochlorine
emissions. To this end, a payment has been made to Climate
Care, who, via a process of carbon offset (read more about our biodiversity impact),
effectively neutralise the bank's emissions and render them as
zero in terms of net global warming potential.
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- Institute of Occupational Medicine, 2000
- www.ospar.org/eng/html/sap/Strategy_hazardous_substances.htm#Annex_2
- www.co-operativebank.co.uk/ethics/partnership2002/pr/green_branch.html
- www.co-operativebank.co.uk/ethics/cwcc.html
To follow any of the links mentioned within the Partnership Report 2002, please visit the links page.
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ethical and ecological value analysis
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- Annualised additional cost of switching plastic cards from
PVC to PETG £9,000
- Additional cost associated with purchase of environmentally
sound air conditioning systems £45,000
- Additional cost associated with carbon offset of air
conditioning greenhouse gas emissions £600
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new targets
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- Reduce the emissions of organochlorine gases during 2003.
Andy Farrell, Facilities Manager
- Ensure that, once the organochlorine chiller installed in Head Office is fully operational, the HFC refrigerant is switched to hydrocarbons as planned.
- Ensure that, wherever feasible, the bank's preferred ecological options are utilised for all replacement air conditioning systems.
Andrew Hill, Property Manager
- Ensure that 15 branches switch to the bank's preferred ecological options for air conditioning systems in 2003.
Alan Green, Operations and Compliance Manager
- Commence discussions regarding the phase out of organochlorines from the bank's water coolants and vending machines.
Eric Boshell, Procurement Consultant/Jos Mister, Ecological Analyst
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1999
2000
2001
2002
2002
