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The sender Email : Theme : Content : <script language="javascript"> var aid = "20090506244427"; var sid = "csr2"; var atitle = "Guangzhou Liby: Determined Commitment to Environmental Protection"; var akeyworks = "Guangzhou Liby,,"; var colname = "Company cases"; var colename = "supply"; var coldesc = " "; var articletype = "转载"; var author = "CSR in China, China WTO Tribune"; var atype = "0"; var subtitle = "新闻"; </script> <table class=aarticle cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0> <tr> <td class="title">Guangzhou Liby: Determined Commitment to Environmental Protection</td></tr> <tr><td class=lline></td></tr> <tr><td class=time>2009-05-13 16:36  <font class =time_source>CSR in China, China WTO Tribune</font></td></tr> <tr><td class=content id=zoom><br>Guangzhou Liby Enterprise Group, based in Guangzhou, was established in 1994. Since then, Liby has grown into a leading Chinese chemical company with an exemplary record of promoting environmental protection during its development, making it a model for other Chinese chemical companies to emulate. At the outset when designing its very first factory, Liby Group was already conscientiously investing in advanced equipment to minimise pollution and waste, focusing on environmental concerns over and above saving costs to build a cheaper factory. <br/> <br/>A pair of leather shoes set the standards <br/> <br/>In its early days, instead of building its own factory, Liby used an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), entrusting the OEM with manufacture of products and then branding them as Liby’s products. At that time, there was a common paradox afflicting the entire washing product industry in China: although producing cleaning products, all major cleaning product companies in this industry were themselves creating serious amounts of pollution in the production process. Almost every company was afflicted by powder and gases swirling in and around the factory vicinity. Visitors to the factory would all leave with their shoes covered with white powder or caked with sticky bleached pulp. <br/> <br/>One day, Chen Qiongxin, Vice President of Liby, accompanied the president Chen Kaixuan to an OEM factory to negotiate a business deal. After leaving the workshop, the two crouched beside the road cleaning the powder off their shoes. <br/> <br/>The President asked the Vice-president, “Must companies producing washing powder be so dirty? Must there be dust and exhaust gases that choke the workers?” He added that if one day they were to build their own factory, it ought to be one that would not make visitor’s shoes dirty. Moreover, workers in Liby’s factory should never need to wear a mask and should be able to breathe freely. <br/> <br/>And so, in 1997, when Liby Group began construction of its first factory in Fanyu city, President Chen set a fundamental principle, “Our factory must use the most advanced equipment and technology available in China so that we can address environmental problems.” <br/> <br/>When the Construction Planning Office enlisted the services of a leading light industry design institute to design an environmentally-friendly factory, designers were surprised by the foresight and environmental-concerns of their new client. At that time, nearly all their clients were focused on maximising production and minimising costs, irrespective of how environmentally friendly the final building was. But Liby Group held firm that environmental standards should not be compromised, even if it would cost more. Upon completion the President inspected the new factory and after leaving the building, the first thing he did was to check whether his leather shoes were clean or not. To his delight they were. <br/> <br/>Increasing investment to meet environmental protection requirements <br/> <br/>Liby’s manufacturing base in Fanyu city emphasised a conscientious approach towards environmental protection, for which a Safety and Environmental Protection Management team was specially established. Liby hoped to achieve a sustainable approach to its development, from impact on the environment during production, to energy conservation and pollution reduction. Moreover, in accordance with the requirements of environmental protection departments, the company installed sewage outlet signs and an on-line monitoring system. These three principles, included in Liby’s construction projects and environmental impact assessments, are strictly applied to every project, whether it involves construction, renovation or expansion. <br/> <br/>System construction <br/> <br/>According to Liby Group’s requirements, Fanyu Company implemented an environmental safety and health management system in accordance with environmental standards ISO18000 and ISO14000. Moreover, it established an environmentally-labeled products security system in line with the “Environmentally-Labeled Products Security System Guide”. <br/> <br/>Wastewater treatment <br/> <br/>In the process of producing washing powder, plenty of industrial wastewater is produced. Strictly observing environmental protection standards, Liby invested in wastewater treatment equipment and specialised technology. Its factory is an industry leader using the most advanced methods available to treat wastewater with chemical reagent and biological products. After treatment, discharged water pollutants meet or surpass the Guangdong province primary wastewater standards (water pollutant discharge limits DB44/26-2001). Indeed all of the treated wastewater is clean enough to support fish. <br/> <br/>In order to utilize water resources effectively and to control the total amounts of pollutants discharged, the company established a technology reforming team, led by an Assistant General Manager and including heads of the related offices, bureaus and manufacturers. The team focuses on the comprehensive analysis of the wastewater recycling scheme for factories producing washing liquids and synthetic cleansers, so as to increase the recycling rate of wastewater. <br/> <br/>Gas and power control <br/> <br/>Liby has invested in the most advanced exhaust gas and powder treatment equipment in the industry which captures all of the SO2 and nicotinic acid produced. The whole factory district is now powder-free. The bag filter used to collect dust can effectively recycle all kinds of solid dust and suspended washing powder particles. <br/> <br/>According to tests conducted by environmental protection departments, after using the bag house dust collector, dust concentration in the factory was only 1.3 mg/ m3, far below 120 mg/ m3, the Guangdong Province secondary standard for “Atmospheric Pollutants Emission Limits” (DB44/27-2001). The SO2 concentration emitted from the boiler exhaust is 24.4 mg/Nm3. Heavy oil boiler emissions are treated by means of “electrostatic precipitation + caustic washing desulfurization”. After treatment the atmosphere pollutants SO2, NO2 and smoke in the flue gas all met the Guangdong and National atmospheric emission standards. <br/> <br/>Noise control <br/> <br/>Liby has also invested in significant amounts of soundproofing equipment such as glass and door soundproofing to reduce noise emitted within the factory walls and externally. Restricting noise pollution was also considered at the design stage and so specialist machinery and equipment to minimise friction, vibration, impact and noisy air flow was purchased. Trees planted around the factory district also act as a noise barrier and effectively reduce noise in the surrounding area. Monitoring by the environmental protection department revealed that the noise emitted by the factory has met the secondary standards in “Industrial Enterprise Factory Sector Noise Standards” (GB12348-90). <br/> <br/>The disposal of solid waste <br/> <br/>Solid waste resulting from production mainly includes hot slag from the forging hearth, sewage sludge and domestic garbage. The company’s hot slag from the forging hearth is sold to local building material suppliers as construction material. Sewage sludge is a type of general organic sludge and, after dehydration and dry evacuation treatment, is disposed by landfill. Domestic garbage is placed at the disposal of the sanitation sector. Laboratory waste liquids and waste reagents are treated professionally by handlers of dangerous waste and a “set system of the solid waste transference” is also strictly followed. Waste rubber barrels are recycled by suppliers, while litter containers and disused plastic bags are sold. <br/> <br/>Recycling and reusing; sustainable development <br/> <br/>Liby not only aims to minimise its water discharge, but also emphasises the advancement of treatment to promote further recycling. In order for treated sewage to reach the standards needed for reclaimed water, the company frequently renews factory water disposal facilities. Treated wastewater is now clean enough to be used to water plants in and around the factory, flush toilets and wash factory floors, and the current treated water recycling rate has surpassed 85%. Furthermore, Liby Group has also invested in building a sewage pipe several kilometers long so that the rest of the sewage can be emptied into the Pearl River. <br/> <br/>Since basing manufacture and production in Panyu city, Liby has consistently explored all kinds of effective recycling methods. For example, in the process of washing powder production, a by-product called “black acid” is formed. Each month, Liby not only dutifully pays to dispose of the black acid waste residue, but also takes steps to prevent partially filtered black acid from finding its way back into the production process, which adversely affects the quality of finished products. <br/> <br/>Liby has started to use membrane technology with pneumatic drive to dispose of the black acid. This change not only significantly saves costs, but also eliminates potential quality problems, which has lowered the company’s annual cost by hundreds of thousands RMB. <br/> <br/>A garden-like factory: Liby as a leader in environmental protection <br/> <br/>Liby’s manufacturing base in Fanyu city is quite an unexpected sight. In the clean and tidy factory district, there are trees shading the streets, the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers fills the fresh air amid. Goldfish bred by the staff are plentiful and swim happily and freely all year round in the sewage treatment tank. <br/> <br/>Furthermore, the manufacturing base also has a garden, full of beautiful flowers and tempting fruit, watered by the treated industrial wastewater. <br/> <br/>Tidy and clean, Liby’s factory district in Fanyu city has already become a tranquil, tree-shaded and garden-like factory: quiet, pollution-free and powder-free. It has been nominated for an “Exemplary Guangdong Environmental Protection Project” award. <br/> <br/>Publicising Liby’s environmental spirit more widely <br/> <br/>The production and business activities of Liby have blended in with the surrounding environment and neighboring villages: the sky is blue and the water is clear. Crops grow well and harvests are plentiful, so local villagers are not negatively affected by the factory. In recognition of contributing to such a nice environment, Liby Group won the “China Environmental Symbol Certified Excellent Enterprise”. <br/> <br/>Liby’s outstanding environmental construction has made it a model for the entire Chinese chemical industry. Each year, visitors from all sectors of society and business visit Liby Group to learn from its positive experience. <br/> <br/>Liby’s outstanding economic contribution and the expansion of its brand <br/> <br/>Liby Group was extremely quick to recognise the financial benefits of introducing water purifying technology into the production process as soon as it came on the market. Each year, it handles 96,000 tons of sewage, and water purification has resulted in economic benefits estimated at hundreds of thousands of RMB. <br/> <br/>In August 2003, Liby was awarded the National Environmental Protection Bureau “China Environmental Label Products Authentication Certificate” for Liby Super-Clean Fragrant Detergent Powder, Liby Super-Concentrated Detergent Powder (Phosphorus Free) and Liby Caiqi Fragrant Detergent Powder (Phosphorus Free). <br/> <br/>Liby Group has also been awarded more than 60 national honors by government and social communities, including “China Excellent Private Enterprise”, "highly credible" enterprise, “Quality Efficiency Pioneer of National Light Industry System” and “Guangdong Province Credible Taxpayer”. <br/> <br/>The creation of a flagship enterprise as a national model of chemical industry <br/> <br/>Liby’s efforts have already ensured that it is recognised and trusted by a wide-range of government departments and communities. It has now developed into a flagship enterprise which serves as a representative model for national chemical industry. In 2007, Liby stood out amongst numerous competitors, and was appointed the detergent supplier for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. In the daily chemical industry, it is the only enterprise sponsored by local business. According to market statistics, Liby dominates market share: Liby dishwashing detergents ranks top; Liby laundry soap ranks second, and Liby detergent-powder ranks third. <br/> <br/>Liby’s insistence on environmental protection <br/> <br/>While expanding the scale of its development, Liby Group has never stopped investing in the construction of environmental protection, and determined to build a garden-like chemical company. Liby has proudly set itself the standard of incorporating environmental protection and recycling facilities into new factory construction and actively recycling and reusing resources. It thus does its bit to protect the living environment on which people rely for existence. <br/> <br/> <br/>About the Author: <br/> <br/>Cui Zheng, Communication Manager of Development Center for Chinese CSR, China WTO Tribune. <br/> <br/> <br/>About the Company: <br/> <br/>Guangzhou Liby Enterprise Group Co., Ltd. was established in 1994 and has its headquarters in Guangzhou. Liby deals mainly in cleaning products with over 100 types in 8 categories including detergent powder, laundry care, dishwashing detergent, personal care, house cleaning, tissue paper, disinfectant and insecticides. It now owns eight manufacturing bases throughout China, and employs more than 7000 staff. It also owns two “Chinese Well-Known Brands”, "Liby" and "Blue Sky", two “Products Exempt of State Inspection”, and four “Chinese Top Brand Products”. <br/></td></tr> </table> The addressee Email :