Environmental Management System in Accordance with the EC Eco-Audit Order

摘要

The Stephan Schmidt KG based in Dornburg-Langendernbach (Germany) is one of Europe's leading clay extraction companies for special clays with at present 21 pit operations and preparation plants in Germany. The main points of emphasis are the Westerwald and Taunus regions, the Giessen area and in Eastern Germany near Meissen and Kamenz. In addition the company owns two subsidiaries in Italy, one in Spain and one in the Czech Republic. The annual production of the Stephan Schmidt Group amounts to around 1.5 million t of refractory and ceramic raw materials and mineral products. The export share lies in the region of 60 percent, with deliveries to 32 countries including Japan, India and South Africa. The Stephan Schmidt Group provides jobs for approximately 210 employees, nine of whom are trainees.In August 2000 the Stephan Schmidt KG was the first European clay extraction business to successfully introduce an Environmental Management System in accordance with the EC Eco-Audit Order and to issue and publish an Environmental Statement. The Environmental Management System and the Environmental Statement were examined by environmental assessors of the TUV Rheinland (Technical Control Board) at the Westerwald and Taunus locations for their effectiveness and verity and were declared valid. Consequently the Stephan Schmidt KG, with the registered locations, takes part in the voluntary community system of the European Union for environmental management and environmental auditing.