Nuplex Committed To Environmental Responsibilities

Nuplex Committed To Exceeding Environmental Responsibilities

Statement made by John Hirst, Managing Director, Nuplex Industries Limited

Nuplex Industries reconfirms its commitment to undertake whatever actions and improvements are necessary to meet and exceed its environmental, health and safety responsibilities.

The Nuplex Board adopted a policy of zero acceptance of non compliance with environmental standards last year following a review of its past performance.

It rated its past performance as “not acceptable” and instituted measures designed to reverse the situation.

These include

a monthly review by the Board of reports prepared by operational management, detailing all health, safety and environmental issues for each of its manufacturing and distribution sites. These include 13 sites in New Zealand, 22 in Australia and 1 in Vietnam. committing $3.5 million in the past 12 months to addressing potential environmental upgrade work and building in more safeguards in New Zealand operations and a further A$4 million in Australia. restructuring management responsibilities to provide an independent internal safety, health and environmental audit function. use of external consultants to audit all major operating sites for health, safety and environmental issues and recommend desirable changes to process, plant and equipment.

These measures are resulting in a significant improvement on our ongoing performance.

This month the company pleaded guilty to two charges relating to air discharges, both relating to incidents at separate sites which occurred in mid 2002. Two additional historical charges are yet to come before the Courts. It was incidents of this nature that resulted in the board committing to reversing its environmental record.

Changes have been instituted and progress made. Once historical charges have progressed through the legal system, the company believes it will be seen to be exceeding the company’s environmental obligations

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