Environment & energy

The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC Directive) is the EU-wide basis for permitting and controlling industrial installations with special environmental relevance. The objective of the directive is to ensure a high level of protection of the environment as a whole. It is achieved by minimising industrial emissions to air, water and land and by minimising or reducing the generation of waste pursuant to Annex I of the IPPC Directive. Operators of industrial installations are required to apply Best Available Techniques (BAT) as defined in the BAT reference documents  (BREF), which were elaborated in the "Seville Process".

The European Commission adopted on 21 December 2007 a revised package to improve the EU policy on industrial emissions. In conjunction with the IPPC Directive, six further European legal acts will be compiled into a new directive on industrial emissions.

The German glass industry welcomes the draft directive, in principle, since it will contribute to the reduction of unfair competition in the EU. According to the European Commission, Germany, Austria and Sweden already satisfy the requirements of the existing IPPC Directive as regards Best Available Techniques. 

On the other hand, scope for improvement to the draft directive has been identified. One criticism pertained to the fact that limit ranges specified in the BAT reference documents are to be binding. These limits are not at all appropriate. At European level, there are plans to conclude the legislative process over the course of 2009. 

On 21 January 2008, BV Glas published a Statement on the Amendment of the IPPC directive. It includes three issues of particular relevance for the glass industry. Otherwise, BV Glas supports the BDI's statement on the amendment of the IPPC Directive of 26 May 2008.