Waste generated and significant waste-related impacts
Waste-related impacts from Bionorica SE are mainly limited to chemical residues, which are thermally recycled in a hazardous waste incinerator near the company headquarters. These chemicals are required for cleaning all manufacturing facilities and their use complies with GMP (“Good Manufacturing Practice”) requirements. Energy is also recovered from residual waste and non-separable composite materials. These impacts result from the organisation’s own activities, in this case from the production of medicinal products in particular.
Management of significant waste-related impacts
Bionorica SE is committed to the circular economy, for example in our sustainable recycling concept for plant debris from production. After obtaining the active ingredients from the medicinal plants in the extraction process, they are collected on the company premises in Neumarkt and recycled in an eco-friendly manner on a nearby farm. They are used to create organic humus, which sustainably improves the quality of soil in the region.
The management of all activities and actions in the interest of waste avoidance is carried out by the Environmental Protection staff unit.
Measures “downstream”:
- Skilled worker positions for monitoring the sorting processes of the waste types.
- Actions to avoid waste: sustainable working methods
Measures “upstream”:
- Management requirement: create as little waste as possible; use resources sparingly; carry out recycling in accordance with the German Closed Substance Cycle Waste Management Act.
Accordingly, Bionorica separates everything that can be separated. With a high recycling/separate collection rate of nearly 95%, we comply with the German Commercial Waste Ordinance. Mixed municipal waste (residual waste) is sorted for Bionorica by third parties in a sorting plant in Neumarkt. This is done in accordance with the company’s contractual obligations towards Bionorica and with all legal requirements.
In addition, Bionorica has participated in the dual “Green Dot” system in Germany for several years. Through the associated recycling of sales packaging, Bionorica SE makes a valuable contribution to climate protection. Each year, we receive an environmental certificate for the recycling of our sales and outer packaging. The savings are divided into five impact categories: CO2 equivalents (221 t in 2021), crude oil equivalents (51 t), phosphate equivalents (199 t), primary energy (9 MJ) and sulphur dioxide equivalents (681 kg). The amount of CO2 avoided by Bionorica’s contribution corresponds to the quantity filtered out of the air by 21 ha of forest in one year.
Documentation of waste-related data
Waste-related data is documented digitally at Bionorica SE. The associated processes are carried out in accordance with legal requirements (German Commercial Waste Ordinance), as are the procedures for recording and monitoring waste-related data. The waste fractions are recorded with the help of site plans, photographs, documents from daily practice, such as delivery or weighing notes, and similar documents (e.g. annual balance sheets).
Total weight of waste generated in metric tonnes and a breakdown of this total by waste composition
| Type of waste | Quantity of waste in 2021 |
| Non-hazardous waste | approx. 1630.30 t |
| Hazardous waste | approx. 2701.87 t |
| Total | approx. 4332.17 t |
Contextual information required to understand the data and how the data was compiled
A total of 99% of this “hazardous waste” is attributed to redistillates, which are classified as hazardous by the authorities due to their high alcohol/ethanol content. However, they can be further processed in industry (e.g. for windscreen antifreeze). Non-hazardous waste includes our plant debris left after extraction. In 2021, a total of 890 tonnes were produced, 100% of which is recycled by an organic farmer in Deining near the company headquarters into ecological humus to improve soil quality. Paper, cardboard and cartons accounted for a total of 134 tonnes in 2021. Bionorica SE compiles a very detailed breakdown of all types of waste each year, which can be consulted if necessary, e.g. for an official review.
Photo credit:
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© Bionorica SE - Stefan Hanke