Leading paint manufacturer recycled 926,492 litres of waste water and 47,721 litres of waste solvents in 2007
Jotun Paints, one of the world's leading producers and suppliers of paints and coatings, has celebrated 'World Environment Day' by hosting three competitions that promoted water and energy conservation under the patronage of Dubai Municipality. As the only paint manufacturer that is a member of the Emirates Green Building Council, Jotun Paints has been advancing environmental causes through its adoption of massive waste recycling programs, which resulted in the reprocessing of 926,492 litres of waste water and 47,721 litres of waste solvents in 2007.
Representatives from Dubai Municipality and the Environment Department, including Eng. Naji Alradhi, Head of Waste Treatment Section, Dubai Municipality and Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Jassmi, Head of Industrial Waste Unit, Waste Treatment Section, graced the event. An awards ceremony was also held for the winners of the poster-making, slogan composition contests, and the 'Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Quiz'.
"Dubai Municipality is proud to work with Jotun in raising awareness and empowering people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development," said Eng. Naji Alradhi, Head of Waste Treatment Section, Dubai Municipality. "Jotun's 'World Environment Day' celebration has given a clearer picture of today's environmental issues while highlighting the importance of taking urgent and significant action. We applaud their efforts to initiate activities that engage the utmost participation of their people in learning more about the current status of our environment and what they can do to help protect and preserve our natural resources."
Participants in the creative competitions were comprised of Jotun Paints employees and their families, who highlighted the benefits of energy and water conservation and his/her role in pollution prevention and control in their artworks and slogans. All winning entries were put on display to be viewed by the guests at the event.
The celebration underscored Jotun Paint's commitment to environmental protection, which the company exemplifies through its extensive investments in research and development to enhance the environment-friendly features of its products. Further, the manufacturer's recycling programs are focused on reducing the impact of its by-products, such as waste water, waste solvents, pallets, plastic and metal drums, and powder collected from the dust collector at the water-based plant, which can cause further damage to the environment. As a testament to the effectiveness of its HSE standard, Jotun Paint has been awarded by the Dubai Municipality with the prestigious 'Safety Award' in 2006.
Guided by its slogan for the 'World Environment Day' global celebration - "Energy Conservation is Energy Generation", Jotun Paints is planning to undertake several projects, which will focus on controlling the usage of electricity and water within the manufacturing processes, in line with its objective to reduce its energy use by 15 to 20 per cent by 2009. In addition, the company is also set to organise a tree-planting project in the area surrounding the Jebel Ali Hazardous Waste Treatment Facility.
"Our success in implementing this interactive and enjoyable event demonstrates the significant difference an organisation can make in terms of educating the public and generating environmental awareness. Working closely with the Dubai Municipality has further strengthened our efforts, and we are looking forward to their support in all our future activities. Improving efficiency, innovation, customer satisfaction, safety and environment-friendly activities remain to be our focus in order to sustain our position as the leading and most environment-friendly paint manufacturer in the region," concluded Trine Finnevolden, General Manager, Jotun U.A.E.
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About Jotun Paints:
Founded in 1926 in Norway, JOTUN - one of the world's leading paint manufacturers established its presence in the Middle East in 1974, with JOTUN UAE Ltd. Ever since, JOTUN has expanded dramatically throughout the region and is the first paint manufacturer to be awarded the ISO 9001 certification. JOTUN has consistently invested in state of the art factories including a plant in Shanghai, China and the recently opened plant in the Al Quoz area of Dubai, UAE, which share the distinction as the biggest worldwide for JOTUN.
JOTUN has been at the forefront in terms of developing products specifically suited to local conditions. Three decades of experience in the Middle East region, has helped the company produce a variety of conventional and specialized coatings - each incorporating the latest technological developments while offering performance with economy - catering to the various product segments and demands of the different markets. Today, JOTUN's diverse product range includes decorative, protective, powder, marine, floor/concrete protection and intumescent coatings, bearing a solid testament to the company's reputation of being truly a single source solution for clients, consultants and contractors alike.
For more information, please contact:
CommuniGate Middle East
PO Box 66861, Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 3988134
Fax: +971 4 3988137
Email: info@communigateme.com
Website: www.communigateme.com
© Press Release 2008
