USER
PROCEDURES
VECAP
Commitments
External Reporting
Third Party Audit
USER
SELF-AUDIT
SUPPLIER SUPPORT
IMPROVEMENT PLAN
EMISSIONS
REPORT
VECAP
PROCESS
IMPROVEMENT
IMPLEMENTATION
FIGURE 14:
VECAP Process
The Voluntary Emissions Control Action Programme
ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2012
15
THE VECAP TEAM AND EMISSIONS
SURVEY TOOL
VECAP’s success is due to the combined
efforts of a team of professionals with
knowledge of flame retardants production and
application processes. Members of the Product
Stewardship Team include a Product Steward,
the three flame retardant suppliers within
EFRA, which going forward will include
Everkem, as well as Cefic representatives and
members of the European Polystyrene Foams
Producers Associations (Plastics Europe and
EXIBA). The VECAP Product Steward, supported
by the Product Stewardship Team, develops the
tools needed for the methodology, including
the questionnaires used for the estimation
of potential environmental emissions.
For each of the two types of flame retardant
applications - plastics (additive and reactive)
and textiles - different questionnaires are
developed in collaboration with downstream
users, considering every step in the user
process in order to cover all potential emission
points. Once the user has completed the
questionnaire, a survey report is issued by
the supplier highlighting potential emissions.
Consequently, the user receives recommendations
on how best to achieve emission reductions.
If these recommendations are implemented,
an updated emissions report is issued and
sent to the user.
A full survey of every user is not undertaken
each year, as the VECAP team focuses on
‘new’ participants and areas where the
greatest emission reductions may be
expected, based on analysis of the previous
year’s survey.
The VECAP process is driven by the principle
of continuous improvement, namely, taking
advantage of experience gained by adapting
the methodology to better address any new
issues that may arise. The VECAP programme
focuses on the producers and downstream
users of the three main flame retardants.
However, in principle, the VECAP
methodology can be applied to reduce
emissions of any type of chemical.
VECAP does not physically measure emissions
from chemical production processes, but rather
calculates or estimates, based on practical
experience and studies, potential emissions
associated with user and producer processes
and practices. Nonetheless, it is possible for
users to insert their own values in the
emissions calculation tool, whenever they have
measured or more accurate data than the
default values available.
VECAP CERTIFICATION
Since the programme’s inception, independent
certification has been the final step in the
continuous improvement process. In 2009, a
certification scheme was launched based on
ISO 9001/14001 principles. The scheme was
developed in association with Bureau Veritas,
with environmental audits carried out by
independent auditors. For SMEs, it applies only
to the process and use of best practices, while
for larger companies it can be extended to their
management system, in line with other
standards like ISO 14001 or Responsible
Care® management systems.
HOW DOES VECAP WORK?