Resource and energy management

ERCO considers the increasing importance of environmental protection by ensuring that the conservation of resources is applied to all new production methods. Optimisation in the use of electrical and heat energy is achieved by energy-saving measures and heat recovery systems. Water consumption has been reduced by recycling, including the use of processes where baths are used for long periods and by reducing tank sizes.

Materials cycle

A range of waste products arise during the production of our luminaires. To deal with this ERCO has a waste concept ? prioritised as: avoidance, reduction and recycling ? the objective is to reduce the overall amount of waste and to raise the proportion of recyclable waste. To do this, any option for internal recycling is used before the waste is separated and sorted and returned to the specific materials cycle for recycling other materials or are to be used for heating. We only use certified waste disposal companies to be sure that our waste is transported and treated correctly when it leaves our premises.

Use of process materials

Where process materials are used for the production of luminaires, ERCO's intention is to limit the impact on people and the environment throughout the entire product life cycle. For example, ERCO uses water-based paints and innovative mild cleaning agents, instead of aggressive solvents, while avoiding the use of chromium-based (VI+) coatings. As this is not always possible, the impact on people and the environment is kept as low as possible through technological and organisational measures.

RoHS

RoHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances) is the 2002/95/EG Directive of the European Parliament and Council restricting the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. As of its effective date of the 1st of July 2006, it is no longer permitted to use certain materials in the production of new equipment or to bring them into circulation (exemptions for certain applications are listed in the annex of the directive). The prohibited materials are: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE). As legally required, ERCO therefore offers its products on the market pursuant to RoHS. All products and components that fully conform to the substance prohibition of RoHS are marked on their packaging with the corresponding symbol. This means that, to the extent dictated by the statutory regulations, mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and compounds containing chromium (VI) are not contained in our products.