The aim of PennWhite Ltd is to provide total customer satisfaction and to ensure that all internal arrangements and practices are suitable for this purpose.
To achieve this result PennWhite Ltd has adopted a policy of operating a co-ordinated Quality Management System, which conforms to the requirements of ISO 9001:2000. Certification is by Moody International Certification
Management have the responsibility to ensure that all personnel engaged in tasks which can influence quality are aware of their obligations under the standard and are provide with adequate resources.
Polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) fluids are used in a wide variety of consumer and industrial applications such as personal care products, foods, medicine, release agents, antifoams and dielectric fluids. A large fraction of the total material produced is used in applications that do not result in down-the-drain disposal. Only about 14% of the total used are released to the environment in down-the-drain disposal. It is expected that most of this 14% will enter the terrestrial environment absorbed to sewage sludge where it is expected to undergo soil-catalysed hydrolysis. Although PDMS will either be sorbed to sludge or discharged with liquid effluent to a body of receiving water, wastewater treatment plant effluent levels are generally below detection limits. Laboratory and field studies have demonstrated the potential for PDMS to degrade in soils and sediments, ultimately to SiO2 CO2 and H2O. No adverse effects were observed in terrestrial or aquatic organisms exposed to PDMS at concentrations that were many times higher than those observed in the field. PDMS does not bio-accumulate because it does not cross biological membranes. The comparison of PDMS environmental levels to measured no effect levels for terrestrial and aquatic organisms showed that PDMS is not predicted to pose a risk to the environment.
The company recognises that it uses and manufactures a wide range of speciality chemicals, some of which have the potential to pollute the environment. The company has a commitment to the prevention of pollution throughout its operations.
The company's objective is to conduct its manufacturing operations in a way which ensures continuing compliance with legal obligations on emissions to air, disposal of liquid trade effluent to water and the removal of chemical and other wastes. To help employees achieve this objective and to keep up to date with future legislation, close working relationships will be maintained with relevant regulatory bodies and training provided.
All reasonable steps will be taken to reduce the environmental impact of the company's products and manufacturing sites.
The company will strive to improve its operations continuously so that pollution is reduced and fewer non-sustainable resources are consumed, to achieve this, improvement objectives will be set at local levels.
Processes and products are designed and formulated to minimise the effect on the environment. Process design will take into account the need to reduce the use of energy and water, to reduce production of greenhouse gases and to reduce the demand placed on finite water resources.
Operations will be examined regularly in order to minimise the production of waste, especially non-destructible hazardous waste; the introduction of additional means of recycling or recovering materials will be given a high priority.
All operating sites will be regularly audited and the results reported to the
board of Directors. The policy will be made available to the public on request.