The A2A Group takes stock of the results achieved in terms of environmental responsibility, which were sealed by the launch of a new policy on "Quality, Environment and Safety".
A2A's Environmental Management Systems cover the entire hydroelectric and thermoelectric production park and waste treatment plants, while the number of plants in possession of EMAS environmental registration has increased from 13 to 18.
Also thanks to the contribution of Edipower's hydroelectric units, in 2013 the share of electricity produced from renewable sources rose considerably, going from 35,9% to 41,8%. In the production of thermal energy, A2A continued on the path of diversification of sources and the development of high-efficiency cogeneration and reached 47,4% of thermal energy produced from waste out of the Group's total production. The use of green technologies – hydroelectricity, cogeneration, recovery of energy from waste – has resulted in substantial environmental benefits: over 3 million tonnes of CO2 avoided in 2013 thanks to savings on fossil fuels and less use of landfill disposal.
As regards air quality, 2013 saw an appreciable improvement in the average CO2 emission factor per kilowatt-hour produced (-4%). Furthermore, the total quantity of dioxins emitted by the Group's plants was reduced by 27%, equal to just one hundredth of a gram, thanks to the maintenance of concentrations in the fumes much lower than the legal limits.
In the environmental sector, where A2A Ambiente is the national leader, almost all of the municipal waste collected (1,2 million tonnes) was recovered as material (50%) or as energy (49%) and only a lower share than 1 % was sent to landfill. The separate waste collection index had the most consistent improvements in Milan (+6%), Bergamo (+7%) and Varese (+3%). A2A Ambiente treated a total of 2,5 million tons of waste in its plants.
In the management of water services, A2A has increased the levels of attention paid to monitoring water quality, analyzing up to 3.224 parameters per million cubic meters supplied (+30% compared to 2012).
The 2013 Sustainability Report of the A2A Group can be consulted on the website www.a2a.eu in Italian and English.
Attachments: A2A � 2013 Sustainability Report and responsibility towards customers
