77 / 330
2016 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT
HERMÈS INTERNATIONAL
77
Corporate social responsability
2
Environment
press. Apart from a few minor operating incidents, the treatment plants
at other tanneries (Cuneo, Lafayette, Le Puy and Annonay) had stable
operations throughout the year. In addition, considerable investments
have been made on these facilities to optimise their operations and the
quality of discharges.
The tanneries division’s air emissions primarily result from the operation
of the boilers, the dry degreasing activity and the finishing booths. The
verifications of such equipment, as identified in the prefectural orders
or site permits, are performed in compliance with the applicable regula-
tions. The thresholds were not exceeded on any site.
Finally, each year, in keeping with regulations, the French sites prepared
a management plan for their solvents. Flows of specific VOCs (volatile
organic compounds) were found to comply with applicable requirements.
Measures aimed at reducing the use of solvents or changing processes
used in the past have also reduced VOC emissions. At the same time,
insulation and improved treatment of the air in the skin degreasing
workshops have significantly limited the exposure of employees.
Crystal
Industrial wastewater, pre-separated in the respective workshops and
collected at a single point, has been purified by amodernised phytotreat-
ment facility since 2015. An awareness programme to educate users in
the treatment of water to sustain the performance of the new facility was
initiated in conjunction with these projects.
To further improve the quality of wastewater discharges and prepare for
potential regulatory changes, a study has been conducted in partnership
with the water board and an external partner.
Measurements of air emissions were carried out in the first half of the
year and in December. The first results confirm air emission readings
bearing on the operation of the facilities and resulted in the implemen-
tation of measures to optimise the management of facilities, including
gas-fired washer/scouring sluices.
Textiles
A study of potential improvements to the SIEGL effluent treatment plant
was undertaken in 2016. The aim is to improve our performance in pro-
cessing waste and to increase the proportion of recycled water put back
into processes.
Perfumes
In 2016, releases of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) were well below
the emission limit of 5% set for the perfume industry. These VOCs prima-
rily consist of ethanol, a product that is not bioaccumulative, presents no
measurable risk to animal and plant life, and vaporises and biodegrades
quickly.
Porcelain and enamel
CATE
Wastewater from the enamel activity is pretreated directly on site by a
conventional physicochemical process. Thedehydration sludge is sent to
a suitable treatment company, and pre-treated water is discharged into
the urban network. An external laboratory carries out monthly analyses.
A study was conducted in 2016 with a view to improving the automa-
tion of the installation, reducing sedimentation effluent in the works and
increasing wastewater storage capacity in the event of systems failure
so as to reduce pollution risks. Work will be conducted in early 2017 to
complete this study.
Beyrand
The site has a water treatment station at the exit of the washer/scouring
sluice. It also uses a physicochemical process. Silver recovery units have
been installed at the exit of the film developers.
2.5.7
Reduction of the carbon
footprint and offsetting
As illustrated above, Hermès is gradually taking concrete measures to
reduce its energy consumption and carbon footprint. In addition, the
group decided five years ago to establish a voluntary carbon offset sys-
tem in order to reduce its overall impact.
Since 2013, the Group has been equipped with the tools needed to
carry out an annual update of the overall assessment of greenhouse gas
emissions from its production and distribution sites. This work is carried
out with the help of an independent external specialist, using the Bilan
Carbone
®
method.
In compliance with the requirements of the applicable regulations
(Article75of law2010-788of12July2010), inDecember2015Hermès
published its Bilan Carbone
®
, as per the method and scope indicated by
the legislation (direct emissions generated by fixed and mobile sources,
and indirect emissions associated with the consumption of electricity,
heat or steam).