Sustainability

Klaipėda Free Economic Zone is home to modern companies that focus on the best and most up-to-date manufacturing methods and practices available in the market.

In 2020, the sustainability initiatives by Klaipeda FEZ management company and FEZ companies were awarded in the Free Zones of the Year rankings by fDi Intelligence, and in 2019, Klaipeda FEZ became the first free zone in Lithuania to be certified under World FZO’s Safe Zone scheme. This model defines and assesses the compliance with international standards in terms of transparency, financial accounting, integrity, and sustainability. In 2020, the Klaipeda FEZ management company was awarded by the local Vakaru Ekspresas daily as the most socially responsible large business of the year, and our steps and solutions in the areas of sustainability, innovation, community inclusion and partnership facilitation were among the main reasons behind jury’s choice.

We kindly invite you to explore the sustainability policies, solutions, plans and initiatives by the Klaipeda FEZ management company and investors that operate here.

KLAIPĖDA FEZ MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Sustainability principles of Klaipėda FEZ management company:

  • Klaipėda FEZ regularly educates its investors and partners on subjects of sustainability, environmental protection, and sustainable development. For this purpose, internal workshops and trainings are organised as well as clean-up, waste sorting/recycling and other initiatives.
  • Klaipėda FEZ gives priority to sustainable companies (investments), which develop circular economy and/or maximise the efficiency of operations and reduce the environmental footprint. Over the last decade, Klaipėda FEZ has been increasingly repositioning itself from a traditional manufacturing zone into a place for scientific research, design and high added-value business, while further orientation to these directions is one of the topmost priorities of Klaipėda FEZ.
  • Klaipėda FEZ recommends all of its customers (investors) the best and most recent practices of building energy efficiency, water and waste management, etc. as well as always suggests the possibility to procure energy from renewable sources.
  • Klaipėda FEZ is committed to openness, discussions and joint decisions together with resident communities of Klaipėda, R&D organisations and public sector institutions of the city. We strive for cohesive, agreement-based development that involves and builds upon the ideological, creative and scientific potential of the city.

Projects implemented by Klaipėda FEZ in the field of sustainability:

Public transport routes. Klaipėda FEZ management company has coordinated more frequent and diverse routes of the city bus network leading to the FEZ territory thus reducing the environmental footprint of travelling. At the initiative of the management company, there is a car sharing service zone operating in the FEZ territory.

Bicycle infrastructure. Over the last few years, Klaipėda FEZ management company has fully developed the internal infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians that is planned to be further integrated to the city, thus promoting sustainable mobility and alternative sustainable options of moving between the city and FEZ.

Air and odour monitoring system. Klaipėda FEZ introduced an air and odour monitoring and modeling platform that was integrated with klaipedoskvapas.lt, a citizen information portal, in early 2021. This tool, created together with Australia’s leading environmental technology company Envirosuite and Klaipeda University scientists, allows determining potential odour sources. The platform combines the airflow modeling software was supplied by Envirosuite, a station for recording meteorological data such as the wind direction and speed, air temperature, humidity, solar radiation and other information, as well as the information from the citizen portal. While this solution currently does not directly record potential deviations from air quality norms, the information it provides enables the Klaipėda FEZ team to find solutions together with the companies involved and share this data with relevant institutions. Klaipeda FEZ expects to broaden the range of features this platform offers (including sensors and real-time warnings) and believes it could help Klaipeda municipality to extend the geographical coverage of such solution into more areas of the city.

Sorting of waste. Klaipėda FEZ management company is implementing a systemic waste sorting project and educating the investor community on the subject.

Information systems. Klaipėda FEZ management company strives to carry out internal and external communication by maximising the use of digital channels. The FEZ management company prefers digital documents, and a large portion of standard documents as well as those required by the laws and intended for investor reports have been digitalised.

Territory greening program. Klaipeda FEZ management company constantly implements the territory greening measures such as local tree planting, flower, plant and shrub planting. The greening program will remain among Klaipeda FEZ strategic plans in the future.

Relations with resident communities. Klaipeda FEZ actively participates in a dialogue with local resident communities, including ones from the nearest residential neighbourhoods. In 2019, Dutch company RDH Urban was commissioned by Klaipėda FEZ to prepare a vision for renewing the city’s southern districts, with the FEZ being in constant contact with the municipality and other stakeholders. In 2020, an airflow modelling solution was integrated with the citizen information platform klaipedoskvapas.lt (Smell of Klaipėda), and it was prepared and implemented in 2021. In 2021, The Klaipėda FEZ management company has allocated 5,000 euros each to environmental improvement and social projects initiated by the port city residential communities of Berželis (Birch), Paupiai (Riverside) and Žvejybos Uostas (Fishing Port). As a result, they will soon implement a green environment, landscaping, care home support, small architecture and other social projects.

Immediate plans of Klaipėda FEZ management company in the field of sustainability:

Street lighting modernisation. Klaipeda FEZ management company plans to upgrade the existing street lighting system with new poles and energy-efficient LED lamps. This project will allow achieving around 40% economy in street and pedestrian crossing energy needs on top of improved quality.

Traffic flow monitoring system. Klaipėda FEZ has drawn up a project of the traffic and transport (including pedestrians, bicycles etc.) monitoring system that will allow for recording and detailed analysis of the statistics pertaining to the traveling of the visitors. This tool will enable the FEZ management company to do an informed assessment of the actual effect of the existing and future solutions on sustainability, sustainable mobility and environment, for example, the extent to which new public transport routes, bicycle infrastructure, certain restrictions to light or heavy transport etc. can be justified. The project, for which financing has been received under the EU SmartPark measure, is planned to be completed in spring 2021.

Narrowband-IOT project. Klaipėda FEZ plans to implement a project covering the infrastructure for the internet of things in the entire territory that will be comprised of the network and communications infrastructure, optimised for introduction and application of smart sensors. This project would open opportunities for the new innovations and information solutions by both the FEZ management company of each company individually, including progressive new solutions in the field of sustainability and environmental protection etc. The project, for which financing has been received under the EU SmartPark measure, is planned to be completed in spring 2021.

Smart water meters. Klaipėda FEZ is implementing a pilot smart water meter project in one of the objects it owns – FlexStart building. The project is aimed at automating and increasing the effectiveness of the collection of meter readings as well as opening new possibilities in the field of water consumption optimisation. Subject to the project paying off, it could be rolled out across other objects and companies of Klaipėda FEZ.

Other projects under planning and consideration. Klaipėda FEZ management company is considering and elaborating such possibilities as integration of FEZ companies’ information systems into the port information system KIPIS (potentially more effective movement of goods between the FEZ and port companies), improved orientation and marking system (striving for more effective movement of transport), smart parking for heavy transport (seeking to limit/increase the effectiveness of heavy transport traffic in the FEZ territory) etc.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS OF COMPANIES OPERATING AT KLAIPĖDA FEZ

The entirety of sustainability and environmental protection solutions and initiatives at Klaipėda FEZ is comprised by the measures invoked and policies implemented by the management company as well as every other company operating in the territory.

The sustainability solutions and initiatives by both FEZ management company and FEZ investor mostly cover areas such as the development of products, processes and services that minimize environmental footprint, efficient use of resources, energy efficiency, the recyclability of products, the principles of circular economy, employee and society education, responsible sourcing and responsible partnerships.

Please read more about the sustainability solutions by each one of our companies (information is regularly updated).

NEO GROUP

Sector: PET, plastics industry

Seeking to contribute to the climate change mitigation initiative, in 2015, NEO GROUP implemented the biofuel boiler house project. This allowed for significant reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the production process because of the shift from natural gas to biofuel. Investment: EUR 3,168,030

Other programmes influencing the saving of natural resources:

  • An electronic system for drawing up, transmission and storage of internal and external documents was introduced and is used refraining from paper documents. Investment: EUR 6,000
  • In the territory and production objects of NEO GROUP, luminescent, sodium lighting fixtures are being replaced by new LED lighting fixtures (saving energy). Investment: EUR 41,000

Programme for the reduction of emissions to the environment: in the APP production unit, a new and more effective condenser was set up. From now on, more pollutants will be condensed yet before going into the scrubber, thus ensuring a higher treatment efficiency. Investment: EUR 15,000

Every year, NEO GROUP performs an obligatory environmental monitoring (and in addition, the measurements of acetaldehyde concentration in ambient air, carried out in the NEO lab), costing EUR 20,000–30,000 annually.

In late 2020, NEO GROUP completed a 1 MW solar power plant project – the largest at Klaipeda FEZ. The amount of investments is around EUR 623,000. In 2022, the company launched a new, 500 kW solar plant project.

PET plastic produced by NEO GROUP can be and is fully recyclable. The company is proactively searching for ways to increase the recycling by using a higher portion of recycled plastic in its products as well as developing products that are lighter and easier to recycle. The European Commission strategy for plastics emphasises that plastic is an important and necessary material for our economy and everyday life.

NEO GROUP is actively involved in circular economy development activities as a participant of the Horizon 2020 projects supported by the European Commission: the purpose of programme DEMETO is the promotion of collection and recycling of plastic waste, whereas SYMBIOPTIMA is aimed at optimising the costs of natural resources and processes (energy, raw materials, water etc.). In 2020, it is planned to start the production of PET pellets containing up to 10% of mechanically recycled raw material. Furthermore, research is carried out in other field too: in the DEMETO project, NEO GROUP’s team in association with partners analyses the possibilities to chemically depolymerise the collected plastics and thus obtain a raw material that is almost identical to the primary raw material. This would be a globally unique innovation seeing that chemical recycling is an excellent solution for the used PET bottles that are easy to recycle and represent a relatively small portion of the plastic waste as well as for polyester contained in packaging and clothing. The latter ones often also contain cotton, which makes the recycling particularly complicated. Should the DEMETO project partners succeed at producing a high-quality raw material, NEO GROUP will transpose the new technology from the lab to the actual production.

In 2021, NEO GROUP started to produce and shipped its customers for testing the first batches of NEOPET CYCLE, PET resins with 25% of recycled PET. This chemical recycling and production innovation was developed inhouse and it fits the best principles of the circular economy as it allows used PET bottles be turned into products at par with ones made from virgin PET. This technology was granted a European patent by the European Patent Organisation, proving its uniqueness. Learn more about this innovation in a video.

The company’s environmental protection policy is available here.

MESTILLA

Sector: biofuel

Clean and sustainable environment is a cornerstone of MESTILLA’s business and its purpose. All products offered by MESTILLA contribute to the strategic objectives of Lithuania and EU to use more renewable energy sources and to reduce the pollution by transport and other sectors.

The plant of MESTILLA boasts the most advanced oil extraction and processing and biodiesel production equipment ensuring fully automated production process, effective use of energy and the lowest possible impact on the environment.

MESTILLA employs closed-type technological processes in its plant that generate no waste. Moreover, the company utilises the most advanced odour neutralisation technologies and protects the environment by its products as well as by effective production, local raw materials, and other processes.

MESTILLA has been certificated according to the ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) standards that corroborate the company’s compliance with the sustainability criteria provided for in the European Union Directive 2009/28/EC.

Following the ISCC standards, MESTILLA measures and evaluates the CO2 emissions and savings in the entire chain of operations: when growing, transporting and processing raw materials, transporting the products etc. Seeing that the company uses locally sourced renewable raw materials for the production of sustainable product that replaces fossil fuels and is used in the local market, MESTILLA’s activities are in line with the best principles of circular economy, whereas the enhancement of its operational efficiency and further reduction of all processes’ impact on the environment remain among its ongoing goals.

ISCC certificate issued to MESTILLA in 2020 is available here, whereas the audit conclusions can be accessed here.

MESTILLA constantly seeks for and invests in the most advanced technologies for reduction and neutralisation of residual odours in the production process. Currently, the company’s odour elimination process comprises three systems:

  1. Odour neutralisation in the counterflow scrubber using a water and alkali solution;
  2. Odour neutralisation introducing ozone in the air flow;
  3. Odour neutralisation injecting the Airborne 10 substance in the air flow to absorb the residual odour.

These and other solutions enabled MESTILLA to achieve the results that already exceed the odour norms to come into force in 2024 by as many as 5 times. According to the odour measurements and dispersion modelling under unfavourable meteorological conditions carried out in 2018, the highest odour concentration at the border of the company’s territory was 5.2 OUE/m3, and by the dwelling houses 1 – 0.6 OUE/m3. The norm presently in force in the living environment is 8 OUE, while as of 2024 it will be reduced to 5 OUE.

VĖJO PROJEKTAI

Sector: development and manufacturing of electric transport

Vėjo Projektai is the developer and manufacturer of Dancer – Lithuanian electric busses. Both the final products of the company and its activities contribute to the fostering of environmental protection and sustainability.

Creating electric busses, the company aims at being a global leader according to the manufacturing and operation of its products in terms of suitability and environmental protection. This aim is ensured by:

  • Deployment of the circular economy principles in the bus manufacturing. The body of the bus is manufactured using the material of recycled PET bottles, and it is also prepared for recycling or secondary use. The circular economy principle shall be also applied in the secondary use of bus batteries, upon expiry of their service life. It is planned to use the batteries in the manufacturing of energy accumulators.
  • Zero remote emission for the generation of energy used by the busses. At the time when other electric vehicles are using electricity in the production of which polluting technologies could be used, Dancer busses are powered exclusively by the electric energy generated by wind power plants. This means zero emission on the streets as well as by the power plants supplying power for the Dancer busses.
  • Cooperating with the resident and research communities in the development of pollution-reducing initiatives, educating the society, and participating in various educational, environmental and social campaigns.

The immediate plans of Vėjo Projektai include the implementation of the ISO standard for the environmental protection, unique air pollution studies together with Klaipėda University in three cities of Lithuania, further product improvement seeking for even higher energy efficiency, use of composite materials instead of metals, and search for the [possibilities to apply the circular economy principles in the most diverse production processes.

ESPERSEN

Sector: food industry, fish products

The Espersen Group invests in new technologies and supports industrial initiatives that promote sustainable fishing and the development of seafood production. The Espersen Group is recognised by the high-quality products supplied to the market. All customers look for sustainable and safe food products; therefore, the products of Espersen are certified to the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) standard. The MSC label ensures that seafood used for the production of the final product has been sourced from a sustainable and renewable source.

The Espersen Group is constantly striving to reduce its environmental footprint, and the Espersen Group’s focus on sustainability provides it with a competitive advantage. In the field of logistics, the company has already implemented an internal policy according to which all heavy transport vehicles of the company must conform to the requirements of EURO 6 standard or above. What is more, the company continuously assesses which mode of transport (by land or by sea) is the most environmentally friendly and does it on a case-by-case basis. 100 per cent of the electrical energy used by the plant situated in Klaipėda is produced from the renewable energy sources. Espersen Lithuania has implemented many environmental and sustainability projects in the fields of electrical energy, heating, water and waste. In recent years, the plant has implemented new lighting and heating efficiency projects, the initiative to reduce the use of polystyrene packaging, also the project of using the water steam from the compressors for water heating.

Learn more about the Espersen Group’s sustainability policy here and read the sustainability reports here

Pack Klaipėda

Sector: packaging solutions

The company follows its sustainable development policy comprising four key directions:

  • sustainable growth in production and food and non-food packaging;
  • reduce, reuse, recycle – the aim to reduce the packaging weight, use recycled materials and organise production without waste;
  • effective use of resources – green energy, renewable energy sources, initiatives for saving water, energy, and gas;
  • social responsibility – responsibility to its employees, sustainable development, employee education for sustainable growth.

In the recent years, Pack Klaipėda introduced the following solutions in the field of sustainability:

  • zero-waste production – all waste is used in the production process;
  • a new and more environmentally friendly product family from PP (polypropylene) has been developed. This polymer is made from waste generated in oil refinement, whereas EU has a clear collection and processing chain;
  • special marking of packaging was started; consumers are informed about collection and recycling;
  • the company has set up its own combined heat and power plant. Thus, in the cold season, the company produces heat and power using its own resources and thus reduces the CO2 emissions;
  • initiatives for saving energy, water and heat, e.g. excess heat emitted by the equipment is used to heat the premises;
  • sorting and delivery of non-plastic waste for recycling;
  • old-type lighting fixtures replaced by LEDs;
  • in 2021, it is planned to set up a new and more effective production line to enhance the energy effectiveness of production and reduce the environmental footprint;
  • research is carried out and raw materials from natural sources as an alternative to plastic are tested.

Lavango Engineering LT

Sector: manufacturing of equipment for food industry

UAB Lavango Engineering LT regularly revises and assesses the environmental aspects and significance of its operations. The company aims for maximally rational and cost-efficient use of natural and energy resources. Lavango has introduced the ISO 14001 environmental management standard.

The sustainable operational processes implemented by Lavango include a particularly effective use of the laser for cutting sheet metal. All blank parts from different projects of the company are situated on a single sheet, thus minimising the scrap metal. If any remains, these are used to cut representative souvenirs of the company.

Lavango also implements an ecological design project. For this, a component of one of the equipment pieces made by the company was chosen, and Lavango strives to minimise the environmental impact of this component during its life cycle.

Other sustainability initiatives of the company include the printing of drawings and other documents of both sides of a paper sheet, installation of the reactive power compensation device etc.

Lavango makes all of its products from stainless steel; consequently, all equipment of the company is far more sustainable and durable than that made from ferrous steel. Furthermore, seeing that the Lavango’s customers are companies from the food industry, where its products often come into contact with food, in production Lavango strives not to use oil or other potentially contaminating components.

In future, Lavango plans to implement a renewable energy project, ecological design initiatives for all possible components, replacement of company car fleet by electric cars (or, where this is impossible, shift from diesel to petrol vehicles) and installation of an electric car charging station for employees.

GREN KLAIPĖDA

Sector: energy

In its operations, Gren Klaipėda follows its quality, environmental protection, and occupational safety and health policy.

The company operates a modern cogeneration power plant in Klaipėda that uses household and industrial waste and biofuel. The energy generation technology deployed allows for using waste as a local resource, reducing the environmental pollution by gas emitted by landfills, and helping solve the waste management problems in Klaipėda region.

Contributing to the intentions and aims of GREN group of companies in the fields of quality, ecology, occupational safety and health, and social responsibility, the management of UAB GREN KLAIPĖDA commits to:

  • use the most advanced technologies to ensure maximum fuel consumption efficiency and effective treatment of the exhaust gas;
  • use the natural resources sparingly and rationally; engage in pollution prevention;
  • constantly identify, assess and control occupational risks;
  • carry out the prevention of emergencies, accidents and occupational diseases;
  • ensure suitable and safe conditions of work and social guarantees;
  • systematically improve the qualification of employees on all levels and promote their awareness;
  • observe all national and international legal acts and voluntary commitments;
  • constantly improve the management processes and raise the effectiveness of environmental protection, safety and health.

As an additional environmental solution not required under the laws, Gren Klaipėda has introduced an additional level of injecting ammonia water into the boiler thus ensuring a more accurate dosing of the ammonia water (to the most appropriate temperature zone of the boiler to capture nitrogen oxides). This solution allows for ensuring lower emissions of ammonia (thanks to the fact that the ammonia water reacts to nitrogen oxides and does not “skip” due to injection in the temperature not conducive to reaction). The solution has required an investment of EUR 25,000.

Furthermore, has company has initiated the sorting of gypsum cardboard from the waste supplied. Initiated by Fortnum, waste managers have started applying different pricing to waste with gypsum cardboard not sorted out (principle of “if you do not sort, you have to pay more”). As a result, the volumes of gypsum cardboard waste burnt at the power plant have decreased thus reducing the sulphur dioxide emissions.

In the future, the company plans to initiate the planting of green strips (various trees) in the FEZ territory (e.g. by the Kretainis stream, railroad etc.).

PROTON ENGINEERING (tenant)

Sector: components for automotive industry

The company has been certified in accordance with the ISO 14001 environmental protection standard and is committed to carrying out its primary activities in compliance with the customer, legal and other accepted requirements protecting the environment as well as to fulfilling the pollution prevention obligations, controlling the environmental protection aspects, using natural and energy resources rationally and sparingly, and minimising the likelihood of environmental accidents and emergencies.

To manage and control the environmental aspects, the company allocates on average EUR 1,000 annually. The company educates its employees of environmental subjects and encourages participation in programmes organised by the city (DAROM etc.), sorts production, household and packaging waste, and delivers it for recycling.

When leaving for breaks, production operators switch off the electricity on the production premises. Furthermore, the company pays much attention to the management of raw materials not suitable for production (rejects) in the supply chain and constantly educates its employees striving for 0% of rejected products.

AD MEN

Sector: production of advertising products

The company constantly strives for reducing the energy consumption and improving the ratio of recyclable and non-recyclable waste.

All waste generated in the production process is delivered as production waste for sorting, recycling or incineration. The company educates its employees on environmental and sustainability issues and promotes sorting.

Striving for effectiveness and sustainability, the company has procured a solvent regeneration device, and in the immediate future, it plans to install LED lighting as well as equipment capturing the dust emitted to the environment more efficiently.

BE-GE

Sector: industrial sewing

Every year, Be-Ge concern voluntarily encloses its annual statements with a sustainability report that is available on their website.

The approach of Be-Ge Baltic to environmental protection and its respective commitments are reflected in the quality and environmental protection policy pursued by the company (for full text, click here).

For the policy implementation, the company sets annual targets and compiles action plans-programmes identifying activities directly and indirectly contributing to the environmental protection and sustainability.

The company has volunteered to introduce ISO 14001:2015, the environmental protection management system standard, and contributes to sustainable use of timber resources: it has been certified according to the international standard for sustainable forest management, trade and production chain.

Be-Ge Baltic uses only the green power generated from renewable energy sources.

Production waste of paper and cardboard is sorted in the company and delivered for recycling.

Textile and similar waste, although more costly, is not disposed of in landfills, but instead delivered to Gren for incineration and energy generation.

ORION GLOBAL PET

Sector: PET

In 2020-21, UAB Orion Global PET, a member of Thailand’s Indorama Ventures group operating in Klaipėda FEZ, has installed and launched one of Lithuania’s first solar generator fences to generate 56 kW of power. The company already prepares for its extension.

The new Orion Global PET plant will produce around 55.82 MWh of green electricity a year, thus further reducing the company’s environmental footprint.

The solar fence is comprised of 156 solar panels, which do not require special maintenance and have been installed on some of the security fence surrounding the company’s territory. The new solution supplements the 300 kW solar power station installed on Orion Global Pet’s roof back in 2019. The company’s solar power plants in Klaipėda will generate around a combined 390 MWh of green electricity a year.

The company has fully tested the new power plant under real conditions. As a result, the solution is fully proven, so Orion Global PET has already launched an extension project for the solar fence, which will be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

SKUBA LIETUVA

Sector: transport, sales and services

The company has implemented the ISO 14001 environmental protection standard. All environmental measures and technologies of the company were designed yet back when erecting the company’s building. It has established its environmental protection targets and policy, and resource saving measures. The company places great importance on saving of energy resources (including power) and waste management.