Definitions and terms
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
CO2 is formed in all carbon combustion processes.
The gas is released in substantial amounts when
petroleum products are used. It is likely that
atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide increase
global warming.
Code of Conduct
Behavior code for Trelleborg’s employees. Supplemented
by policies relating to the environment,
workplaces and relations with suppliers.
Environmental aspects
The parts of an organization’s activities, products or
services that interact with the environment. An overview
of the Trelleborg Group’s significant environmental
aspects is included in the “Environment”
section.
Environmental management system
The part of the overall management system that
includes the organizational structure, planning,
activities, division of responsibility, practices,
procedures and resources for developing, implementing,
performing, reviewing and maintaining the
organization’s environmental policy. ISO 14001 is
used as the environmental management standard
within the Trelleborg Group.
Environment-related reserves
Reserves for liabilities and provisions for known
assumptions and necessary measures for preventing,
reducing and repairing damage to the environment
associated with the normal operations.
ETRMA
European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association.
Trelleborg participates, among other areas,
in environment work and the activities of the Work
Environment Committee. The Association’s website
is www.etrma.org.
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
GRI is an independent international organization
working to develop guidelines for sustainability
reporting. Read more at www.globalreporting.org.
GWh
Gigawatt-hour, 1 billion watt-hours. Unit for
measuring energy consumption.
HA oils
Softeners containing a high concentration (>3%)
of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs). Also known as high-aromatic oils.
Hazardous waste
Waste requiring special handling. Different countries
have different definitions and regulations, and
national standards are frequently changed, making
it more difficult to report on hazardous waste. Within
the EU, hazardous waste is classified in accordance
with the European Waste Code (EWC).
ISO 14000
A series of international standards for environmental
management systems (ISO 14001), life-cycle
assessments, environmental audits, environmental
labeling, environmental-performance evaluation and
environment-related terms and definitions. Many
plants within the Trelleborg Group are certified in
accordance with ISO 14001. Read more about ISO
14001 at www.iso.org.
LCA (Life-Cycle Assessment)
A management tool for assessing and quantifying
the total environmental impact of products and
activities over their entire lifetime, based on an
analysis of the entire life cycle of a particular
material, process, product, technology, service or
activity. LCA methodology is described in the ISO
14040 standard.
NOX (nitrogen oxides)
Gaseous oxides formed during combustion processes
through the oxidation of nitrogen. Harmful to human
health and the environment. Causes acid rain and
eutrophication.
PAHs
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Some are carcinogenic.
PAHs are released to the atmosphere from
vehicle exhaust fumes and small-scale wood-fueled
heating, and in conjunction with vulcanization
processes in the rubber industry. PAHs also occur in
extremely low concentrations as a result of bitumen
use within Trelleborg Engineered Systems.
Polyurethane
Group of polymers with structures linked by urethane
bridges. At Trelleborg, polyurethane is used for
O-Rings and solid tires. Various diisocyanates, such
as TDI and MDI, are used in the production of
polyurethane.
PTFE
Polytetrafl uoroethylene is a heat-tolerant polymer
used in the production of O-Rings at Trelleborg Sealing
Solutions. The polymer is best-known in everyday
life as Teflon, used for example as a surface coating
for irons.
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and
Restriction of Chemicals).
REACH is a European Community regulation on
chemicals from 2006 that deals with the Registration,
Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of
Chemical substances. It aims to improve the protection
of human health and the environment, while
maintaining the competitiveness and enhancing the
innovative capability of the EU chemicals industry.
Safety@Work
Safety@Work is the name of Trelleborg’s program
used to record heath and safety risks and ensure
that the Group’s best methods in the area of health
and safety are applied in the entire Group.
SO2 (sulfur dioxide)
Sulfur dioxide is formed when petroleum products are
burned. SO2 contributes to the acidification of lakes,
watercourses and soils, and causes coniferous trees
to lose their needles. Large concentrations in the
environment are harmful to human health.
Sustainability-related expenses
These are costs related to measures for preventing,
reducing or repairing environmental damage directly
associated with operations. The corresponding measures
taken with regard to health and safety in the
workplace are also included. The costs reported
include, among other items, administration and
consulting expenses, fees to authorities, costs for
introducing and maintaining environmental
management systems, and charges for external
inspections and audits. Beginning with the report
for 2005, activities relating to cleanup of contaminated
soil are also included in this concept.
Sustainability-related expenditures
These are investments in assets designed to
prevent or mitigate environmental impact and reduce
resource consumption associated with normal operations.
The corresponding investments made with
regard to health and safety in the workplace are also
included in this category. Beginning with the report
for 2005, activities relating to cleanup of contaminated
soil are reported not as investments but under
sustainability-related costs.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
The VOCs referred to in this report comprise nonchlorinated
and chlorinated solvents. VOC emissions
contribute to local atmospheric environmental
effects, including the formation of ground-level
ozone. Certain VOCs constitute a direct health risk.
Work-related accident
A work-related accident is a sudden event related to
work that gives rise to a physical injury. A typical
injury in the rubber industry is a minor cut or crushing
injury. Trelleborg reports the number of workrelated
injuries that give rise to at least one or more
days of absence (Lost Work Cases; LWC). The injury
rate is then standardized by stating the number of
such injuries per 1,000 employees (LWC/1,000).
Work-related illness
A work-related illness is an illness caused by longterm
exposure to a particular factor in the work
environment. Such factors can include repetitive
lifting or being exposed every day to solvent fumes.