• On both its site, Minakem has implemented a state-of-the-art Safety Management System and enforced high level Environment protection. These efforts in safety, hygiene and environment protection have qualified Minakem’s factory as SEVESO-2 approved industrial site.
  
  
• Minakem has a state-of-the-art waste water collection and treatment system and a dedicated unit for distilling and recycling solvents in accordance with cGMP procedures.  This environmentally-compliant treating and storage area provides for all kinds of solid, liquid and gaseous chemicals. The wastewater treatment facility uses a membrane bio-reactor system, with ultra-filtration through ceramic membranes and distillation.

■ Safety and environmental are key to us :

• By adhering to the "Progress Agreement¡ (Engagement de progrès) of the French Association of the Chemical Industries MINAKEM demonstrates a clear commitment and engagement in sustainable development.  As a leading fine chemicals European manufacturer and responsible company, MINAKEM's management makes sure that such values are shared by all our employees, and a general policy is enforced on our sites.  The Group's SHE policy is integrated in rationale processes with a continuous performance improvement and monitoring of indicators by a management committee.  As part of its waste-control management systems, MINAKEM systematically proceeds with an impact assessment for all products as regards safety, health and environmental issues.
  
  
• MINAKEM is actively participating and following-up on the evolutions of European standards. Such changes are implemented by our internal experts in relation with national and European agencies.  Prevention and training are key in our risk-management approach.
  
  
• Every new process developed by MINAKEM or transferred to our facilities is subject to a full risk evaluation (stability, thermal degradation studies, process safety¡­). This process is driven by the technical project management teams with the expertise of our Process Hazardousness Prevention laboratory. 
  
  
• The risk-management and prevention procedures are part of the SEVESO commitment, our industrial site in Beuvry and Dunkirk is subject to SEVESO II regulations.
  
  
• Safety programs on site are regularly monitored by indicators, enforcing when required the need for corrective action plans.
  

■ We control the impact of our activities on the environment :

• All plants are regularly inspected by the relevant authorities (DREAL: French public body controlling industry and in charge of risk prevention…). 
  
  
• Environmental protection activities of MINAKEM are in various fields :

1. Strictly comply with water quality standards, through management of limited water use in processes, and proper effluents disposal through a state of the art treatment plant including membranes (equ. 30.000 inhabitants), distillation and sludge controlled external incineration. 
2. Implement gas-emission control plans to limit the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) discharge in the atmosphere.
3. Reduce the amount of utilized solvents and generated waste (substitutions, recycling, process-improvements…)
4. Long-term reduction of water and energy consumption in our processes by technical improvements and investments.
5. We make local integration a permanent concern.

■ We make local integration a permanent focus :

• Our recruitment programs make local employment a priority in an area subject to high unemployment levels.
  
  
• We train job applicants with required potential but low scholar qualification levels for positions within the organization. We have on-going relations with both schools, universities and local administration to achieve this goal.
  
  
• We have regular meetings with local authorities, we communicate with local associations and neighbours to keep them informed of our activities, developments and all related safety measures enforced on site.