HERACLES GROUP

Nature does not produce waste. In natural ecosystems, what is considered as waste for one organism may be a useful raw material for another. We apply the same principle, called "industrial symbiosis", to our industrial processes for the reduction of natural resources consumption. Such an example is the joint initiative of Heracles Volos plant and EPSA, a local soft drinks factory, for water usage. This joint initiative aims at reducing natural resources consumption and decreasing the environmental footprint of both companies.

Stakeholders, local communities

2012 -

Industrial symbiosis is an established practice and proposes a new organization of the industrial system, aiming at minimizing the consumption of new (natural) resources in the production process, through the utilization of other processes waste. This approach requires interdependency and synergy between various industries, in order to recover byproducts from one industry in the production processes of another.

Cement manufacture is not a major water-using activity compared to other sectors but careful operation of our facilities can still help ensure water is best-managed at local and regional level. Volos plant consumes water for its direct use in the production process, sprinkling plant's roads and materials' piles for the fugitive dust reduction and for irrigation of trees and plants. In this context, the Volos plant has made a significant savings’ effort, having cooperated with the soft-drinks’ company EPSA. Heracles reuses treated water (cleaning of production lines and washing bottles) from the soft drinks factory, equally reducing the quantity of groundwater.

EPSA soft drinks company

With the participation of employees

Heracles Volos plant

The benefits of Heracles’ Volos plant and soft drinks’ company EPSA joint initiative for water usage are mainly environmental for both companies, as well as the local community. Firstly, the use of groundwater for an operation which does not require such water quality is avoided, thus preserving natural resources. Secondly, it avoids the rejection of waste water into the sea, protecting the environment. This is a sustainable practice for both companies, reducing their local footprint. The total volume of the water that is reused from Heracles’ Volos plant is about 30,000 m³, a volume equal to 10% of its total consumption.

The benefits of Heracles’ Volos plant and soft drinks’ company EPSA joint initiative for water usage are mainly environmental for both companies, as well as the local community. Firstly, is avoided the use of groundwater for an operation which does not require such water quality, thus preserving natural resources. Secondly, it avoids the rejection of waste water into the sea, protecting the environment. This is a sustainable practice for both companies, reducing their local footprint. The total volume of the water that is reused from Heracles’ Volos plant is about 30,000 m³, a volume equal to 10% of its total consumption.