Environmental policy

Environmental and energy management

In line with the strategy of Piston Rings Komarov (as a part of BUZULUK), a major global manufacturer of piston rings, decided to introduce an environmental management system in 2001 and since 2002 the company has been certified to ISO 14001. It defines the company's management methods reflecting prevention and continuous improvement of the environment. In 2023, the company decided to implement an energy management system and in 2024 received the ISO 50001 certificate.

Consumption of natural resources

Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. has a direct impact on the environment through its activities. Therefore, it tries to take a preventive approach and minimize the consumption of energy resources and aims to limit its impact on the environment.

Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. complies with the relevant legislative and other requirements in the field of energy management, and energy flow measurements are monitored in accordance with developed procedures. Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o.'s main environmental sources include electricity consumption, natural gas consumption, potable and domestic water consumption and coke consumption.

The company's consumption of electricity and raw materials is directly dependent on production. All purchased materials used for production purposes meet the applicable legislative and safety requirements for toxic and hazardous materials and other relevant environmental requirements applicable in the Czech Republic and the EU.

Waste management

One of the most significant and important environmental aspects of Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. is the production of waste.

The procedures applies with the waste management are defined mainly in order to fulfil the below needs:

• the requirements of Act No. 541/2020 Coll. on Waste and related regulations, as amended.
• the requirements arising from the EMS and ISO 14000
• requirements arising from technological needs
• economically motivated requirements

The requirements arising from legislative regulations, other requirements and the ISO 14000 series of standards are respected without fail and, where possible, material recovery of waste is preferred (in accordance with the Waste Act).

All legal requirements, such as the keeping of ongoing waste records, waste prevention, waste collection and collection equipment requirements, waste analysis and the obligation to only pass waste to authorised persons for disposal or subsequent recovery, are a matter of course for Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o.

Chemical substances; REACH

The management of chemical substances and mixtures at Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. is carried out exclusively in accordance with the legal provisions. Employees are regularly briefed and trained on legal requirements and technical measures for safe handling.

All chemical substances contained in chemical mixtures used at Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. are continuously compared with the list of Annex XIV of REACH Regulation No. 1907/2006 as amended, which lists substances whose use is subject to authorisation.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has issued, and is continuously updating, a list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) and these are compared with the list of substances used at Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. Our customers are informed about all substances entering the subject matter that are included in the Candidate List in full compliance with Article 33, paragraph 1 of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).

Air protection

Air protection is one of the fundamental environmental issues that visibly affect people's health and lives. The company is aware of its commitment to clean and healthy air and complies with the legal emission limits at all its operating air pollution sources.

For Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o., the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Act is one of the important tools for air quality management with respect to emissions from stationary sources.

It uses the best available technologies for air protection within the framework of the integrated permit.

Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. operates the following technological sources in its production activities with regard to air pollution:

• Combustion of solid fuels
• Ferrous metal foundries
• Metal surface treatment
• Metal working
• Application of coatings

Water protection

The aim of water policy is to ensure sustainable management of the Czech Republic's limited water resources.

Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. is aware of its responsibility for the local watercourse - the Red Brook, which flows through the company's premises, and for this reason high demands are placed on the quality of the discharged water. All possible sources of contamination of this watercourse are under strict control to avoid pollution of the Red Brook and endangering aquatic ecosystems. In this area, Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. cooperates closely with VaK Beroun a. s.

Emergency preparedness and training of all water protection personnel is a matter of course.

The company has long been striving to ensure that its operations do not negatively affect surface and groundwater. It pays constant attention to wastewater pre-treatment and treatment systems, chemical storage facilities and the handling of hazardous substances. The quality of groundwater in the Piston Rings Komarov s.r.o. area is regularly monitored in hydrological boreholes.