Correct residues management

In order to perform a correct recycling process, the residues are segregated in the place they are produced and introduced in specific containers depending on their nature, dangerous and not dangerous, inert, recyclable, etc.

All those residues that cannot be recycled at our premises are labelled and stored in the areas provided for this purpose, following the indications for each type of residues. After this process, they are given to the authorised managers to ensure a correct treatment, such as the carton, plastic or wood recycling generated in the packing process.

Residues 100% recycling

In Azulejos Vives, S.A. and Cerámica Vives, S.A. production plants, we recycle the 100% of the mud and ceramic watery suspensions produced at glazing sections, the tiles residues and the dusty materials produced in the depuration filters. These residues are sent to our atomised ceramic dust supliers to be recicled during the production process by including them in the clay used for preparing the ceramic tiles.

Promoting good practice

At the same time, we have started to separate the urban residues produced in the resting areas and dining rooms by installing different coloured containers : brown for organic residues, yellow for plastic, red for cans and blue for paper and carton. This initiative has the goal to encourage the staff to perform a correct residues management.

Efficient water management

Being aware of the importance of a good management of natural resources and following the performance addressed to minimize the impact in the environment by the industrial activity, VIVES has always had in mind the water management, adopting in its premises measures to get an efficient use of water in the production process.

These measures are performed through simple actions as for example to transmit to all the staff a responsible use of the water in the course of work, periodic revisions of plumber installations to detect escapes and the priority of dry cleaning systems to the ones that use water.

Reducing water consumption to a minimum in the process of increasing demand

There are also some other complex measures to minimize the use of water in processes that require big quantities of it, such as special pieces cutting systems or porcelain polish and bevelling sections. This measures present systems that allow us to control the circulation of the water used during the processes. For this objective we have devises to recover the residual water generated in the process lines, which through a physical and chemical treatment, are able to eliminate the solid materials coming not only from the processed product but also from the abrasive elements of the polish machines.

100% recycling of sewage

Likewise, Vives Azulejos, SA recycles 100 % of the used water as well as the mud water coming from the glazed and glaze preparation lines. These are sent to our atomised ceramic dust supliers so they can incorpore them as a filler in grinding clays for the preparation of ceramic pastes. So dumping is prevented and at the same time the consumption of clean water supply of the entire facility is reduced.

Saving energy

Energy is a key element in the ceramics industrial processes since they require a considerable quantity of heating energy to produce these materials. One example of this would be the drying of the atomised clay to produce the atomised ceramic dust.

Emission limits

VIVES performs periodic official controls in all the emission points (atomisation machines, dryers, kilns, dust depuration filters) and voluntary inspections by accredited organisms to certify the fulfilment of the environmental legislation.

Self-control atmospheric emissions

Furthermore, in order to adapt to the new regulatory requirements regarding air emissions our bag filters that purify the dust caught in suction systems measure continuously the differential pressure, which control its proper functioning by detection of breakage or excessive soiling filtering sleeves .

Minimize dust emissions

VIVES also performs activities addressed to minimize the dust emissions in the clay provisions such as the periodical cleaning processes of premises to avoid the dust dispersion.

Acoustic audits

Current law for acoustic contamination establish the limited levels of noise indoor and outdoor depending on the placement of an activity. For this purpose, acoustic auditoria are made periodically in the premises that may be noisy and are accredited by official organisms which certify the fulfilment of the established levels.

Reduce noise encapsulation

On the other hand, Ferraes Ceramica, our new porcelain production plant, has been provided with measures to reduce the noise. An example of it would be the soundproofing of ball and press mills.

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 when the International Community became aware of the importance of the climate change and its relation with the greenhouse gas emissions. The developed countries intended to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Kyoto protocol created a range of tools to ensure the fulfilment of the agreements, such us the emission trading.

The emissions trading

Vives participates in the emissions trading through Ferraes Ceramica and Ceramica Vives within the trading period 2013 - 2020, receiving a free annual allocation of allowances. Vives annually checks its CO₂ emissions by an authorized control organism and delivers to administration an amount of emissions allowances equal to the tonne of CO₂ emitted. CO₂ emissions covered are both the produced by the combustion of natural gas in their fixed installations, such as the emissions of CO₂ emitted baking high temperature tiles due to decomposition of clays.

A small contribution to the fight against climate change

On the other hand, we have incorporated into our facilities Ferraes Cerámica, S.A. a new pioneering system in the sector for the plasticizing of our palletized products that does not consume natural gas. This system uses a tubular elastic film reel that fits directly on the palletized load and does not require heating by natural gas burners as in conventional systems, thus reducing CO ₂ emissions. It is estimated that with this new system we can reduce the consumption of natural gas by around 2400 Nm ³ / year in the plasticizing of palletized products, equivalent to a reduction in our emissions of 5.2 tons of CO < sub> 2 / year, thus making a small contribution to the fight against climate change.

90TILE

90Tile manufactured by Vives is a range of ceramic products made with more than 90% recycled material, and comes from the result of our strong research in environmental and sustainable matters.

This high percentage of recycled material (including raw materials, water and minerals) is incorporated during the first phase of the tile manufacturing process, that is, in the production of the atomized ceramic powder used to make the core. Due to this a product with excellent technical qualities is achieved while at the same time the reuse of waste is guaranteed. This allows us to achieve new goals within our commitment to the environment and in terms of saving natural resources.

See collection: 90Tile Recycled Ceramics

Here you can download the pdf file with all the information: 90Tile Recycled Ceramics

Chronology

As our productive activity and presence in the market have consolidated over time, our environmental commitment has equally evolved and grown: