Geneveys-sur-Coffrane – Optimum use of resources and materials at FELCO lies at the very heart of the company's strategy. For the specialist manufacturer of pruning and cutting tools, the constant search for optimum environmental performance makes, first and foremost, economic sense: good management of energy and material consumption means greater efficiency and, hence, higher levels of profitability. For this reason, over the last few years, special efforts have been made to reduce water, electricity and natural gas consumption.

Water:
Water is an essential element at FELCO, particularly in thermal treatment and grinding processes. About ten years ago, the average water consumption per finished tool was 24 litres. As a result of far-reaching measures taken at the production level, water consumption per finished tool is now only 2.4 litres, a reduction by a factor of 10. This performance was partly made possible by the operation of an ingenious piece of machinery that somehow uses the waste material contained in the water emitted by the grinding machines as a reprocessing filter. Earlier machinery, based on sediment filtering techniques, required much greater volumes of water.

Natural gas:
The purchase of a new boiler has also allowed FELCO to considerably reduce its consumption of natural gas. In addition, the heat given off during the grinding processes is reintroduced into the heating system using a heat pump. As a result, between 2003 and 2008, consumption levels were halved, as were the amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

Electricity:
These efforts have also paid off as seen in the company's reduced electricity consumption levels. Between 2007 and 2008, electricity consumption has been reduced by just over 10% as a result of more efficient adjustments to the machinery settings and efforts to optimise the organisation of the production process.

Wastewater:
Wastewater is no longer released into the drainage system but is disposed of by a specialised company. Wastewater volumes are also being decreased. New production processes are making multiple operations on just one machine possible, thereby limiting the consumption of chemical agents and reducing waste.

Other:
Less spectacular efforts, but just as important for the protection of the environment, are also made every day within the factory at every level. A systematic sorting and intelligent recycling policy tackles paper, cardboard, wood, plastics, steel, aluminium and organic waste products.

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