Alina Oprea • 10 August, 2023 at 2:30 PM
The Romcarbon company collected 94,802 tons of plastic waste from the market, in the 10 years of activity, of which 89% were from local sources and 11% from the European market. The company delivered 60,421 tons of recycled polymers to its customers and used a quantity of 12,969 tons in the manufacture of its own plastic products. In 2022, Romcarbon took over from the market and processed over 11,000 tons of waste, adding to the processing of its own destruction.
"We were pioneers in the recycling activity in Romania, establishing at the beginning of the 2000s the first companies that would later form Green-Group, the largest integrated recycling park in South-East Europe", the company's sustainability report shows.
Also, in 2022, the company adopted the Romcarbon Group's Sustainability Strategy for the period 2022-2030, which represents its commitment to contribute to a sustainable future.
The Romcarbon Group is one of the main players in the national and European markets in the field of plastics processing. With 70 years of experience in the processing of polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, and polystyrene, the Romcarbon Group is the most important producer of plastic packaging in Romania and one of the largest employers in Buzau County. Also, the Romcarbon Group is one of the most important recyclers of plastic waste, with an annual recycling capacity of around 15,000 tons, operating in this field since 2012.
"Sustainability from the perspective of the Romcarbon Group is a key element of the development directions that the group has established. We are keenly following the circularity potential of our businesses, setting a clear overall direction to accelerate the transition from a linear to a circular economic model. The success indicator of this transition is the decoupling of our economic development from the use of non-renewable natural resources. We participated in the debate on the National Strategy regarding the circular economy, which was adopted on September 21, 2022, and we continue to follow with interest the elaboration of the Action Plan, which will contain concrete measures to maximize the circularity potential in seven economic sectors: agriculture and forestry, the automotive industry, construction, consumer goods such as food and beverages, packaging, textiles, and electrical and electronic equipment, as well as in two horizontal sectors water and waste. Concrete actions from this plan, in the fields of automotive, packaging, electrical and electronic equipment, and waste, would have the capacity to enhance our post-consumer plastic packaging recycling activity and the production of compounds from recycled raw materials, activities that we prioritize at the level group", says Cristinel Dobrota, deputy general director of development.
According to the Sustainability Report, last year the company took important steps towards the objectives set in the sustainability strategy.
"Saving and efficient use of resources were and are basic criteria in decision-making at any level. We implemented energy efficiency measures, reduced electricity consumption in the processing sectors and general water consumption. Projects initiated for the installation of photovoltaic panels will reduce dependence on the energy market, unpredictable in recent years, contributing to the reduction of the carbon footprint. Less technological waste and the higher proportion of recycled materials in total raw materials marked the achievement of some targets related to the circular economy, which will be pursued further, in order to stabilize and improve the Romcarbon Group's activity. Our social involvement has been intensified, being aware of the increased role and responsibilities towards our employees and towards the community of which we are a part. The current sustainability report contains a detailed presentation of what the year 2022 meant for the Romcarbon Group and marks the level of achievement of the targets assumed in the strategy, highlighting both the achievements and the aspects and areas in which we need to improve our results", says Carmen Manaila, administrative assistant general manager.