KIMMCO demonstrates its EHS leadership in a number of ways. The company has been awarded ISO 9001 (2000) (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (2004) (Environment Management System) and OHSAS 18001 (2007) (Occupational Health & Safety Management System) international certifications; and operates its factory at a level that is better than European and American standards for emissions charged to the atmosphere. As part of its efforts to continuously improve its manufacturing processes, KIMMCO has had a CEMS (continuous emissions monitoring system) in place since 2005 that checks and records its factory’s emissions.These recordings are made available to Kuwait EPA for review.
In addition, in 2008 KIMMCO proactively implemented a one-year, extensive re-engineering program to eliminate its plant’s waste water discharge. Although waste water has always been disposed in an environmentally responsible manner and with municipality approval, the company was committed to removing the waste altogether. In 2009, KIMMCO completed the re-engineering program and, as a result, has successfully eliminated all of its waste water discharge, reducing water disposal from 60 trucks (1,140 M3) per month, as of September 2007, to zero trucks in December 2009.
Eco-Friendly Building KIMMCO’s commitment to the environment goes well beyond certifications, standards and testing. KIMMCO believes it is uniquely positioned, as an insulation manufacturer, to offer products that help protect and preserve the environment.
The company’s ongoing efforts to provide innovative, eco-friendly and energy-efficient insulation solutions show that it is well on its way to achieving its goal of becoming the regional leader in developing environmentally-friendly building solutions.
Insulation products can provide valuable environmental benefits. For example: - Insulation can reduce energy consumption on a large scale. With adequate thermal insulation, a home’s energy performance can be improved dramatically reducing monthly cooling costs and CO2 emissions up to 90 percent. This will help the Kuwait Government reduce investments required in power plants and energy. In addition, according to a May 2009 study by Saint Gobain, the world leader in insulation, and of which KIMMCO is a licensee, a typical glass wool insulation product saves more than 100 times the energy consumed and the CO2 emitted in its manufacture, transport and disposal, over its installed life (usually 50 years). The CO2 and energy balance switches to positive only a few months after installation.
- Mineral fiber insulation is made from abundant natural raw materials and therefore highly sustainable, recyclable and remains energy-efficient for over 50 years.
- KIMMCO uses approximately 50% glass cullet (recycled glass) in its manufacturing process, which reduces the consumption of virgin raw materials, and reduces its manufacturing energy consumption.
- Insulation finished products are highly compressed, requiring fewer trucks to transport products from the factory to the customer resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
Active Collaboration More than just a supplier of eco-friendly insulation products, KIMMCO actively engages with various organizations in Kuwait and the GCC that are working to improve the environment, such as the Public Authority for Industry, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), the Dubai Municipality, and MASDAR city in Abu Dhabi, to develop regional eco-friendly building standards, assess environmental impact and conduct energy-saving studies.
Specifically, as Kuwait’s only locally-based manufacturer and sole provider of mineralwool, KIMMCO has a long history of working with KISR to develop Kuwait’s building code of practice to deliver energy savings. KIMMCO is also collaborating with KISR to identify the role insulation products can play in addressing the country’s growing energy needs, thereby reducing the need for future government investment in power plants.
In addition, in line with the suggestion from Hussein Al-Kharafi, Chairman of the Industrial Union, and Dr. Hamad Al-Matar, environmental activist, on Al Watan TV on Saturday 5th December 2009, KIMMCO would like to play a leading role in re-establishing a national environmental council, in cooperation with the private sector, government and environmental experts, that would help establish standards and implement strategies to confront and resolve the environmental challenges that Kuwait faces today.
The company is also proactively investigating the feasibility of establishing a glass collection/recycling program in Kuwait which would enable KIMMCO to purchase locally recycled glass to use in its production process.
Regionally, KIMMCO’s firm commitment to environmentally friendly building standards and its low carbon “footprint” were recognized earlier this year when the company was selected as an insulation supplier and collaborator for Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, the world’s first green, zero carbon city. This partnership is a benchmark for all future environmentally friendly building projects in the region and establishes KIMMCO as a leader in sustainable development.
Employee Health and Safety In addition to its focus on environmental protection, KIMMCO is committed to delivering continuous improvements to the work environment and the health and safety of its employees on the factory premises. The company has invested in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for all its employees and has launched educational initiatives about safe working practices that have significantly reduced the number of workplace accidents.
In 2008, for example, the company implemented a ‘5S’ program that concentrated on organizing and managing the workplace to eliminate waste while improving efficiency and safety. As a result, the employees’ work environment improved drastically as did their on-the-job safety.
KIMMCO also works in close collaboration with the Shuaiba Medical Clinic to provide medical check-ups for its employees, and to monitor and help improve the work place environment. This enables KIMMCO to establish baseline medical health data to detect, manage and eliminate occupational health issues for employees. KIMMCO employees have access to a full-time company doctor and on-site male nurse, as well.
KIMMCO will continue its implementation and oversight of environmental protection, health and safety standards throughout its manufacturing process, viewing these standards as an integral part of the way it conducts business. Moving forward, the company will continue to focus its efforts on providing insulation solutions, working to improve and expand the eco-friendly building industry in the region and around the world.
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