Environmental costs
During 2010 the Group’s environmental and working environment costs amounted to SEK 142.1 (154.6) m, or 1 (1.3)% of the Group’s net sales.

Costs for handling waste amounted to SEK 54 (51.5) m. The increase from 2009 was due to costs during the major maintenance stop at Pont-de-Claix. During the year the Group paid SEK 27.2 (31) m for process water and SEK 55.5 (60.6) m for administration of environmental measures.

Administrative costs include costs for environmental personnel, maintenance of environment management systems and external consulting services.

Environmental liabilities
Perstorp’s economic reporting is based on the “going concern” principle, which is reflected in how environmental liabilities are reported. The Group follows verdicts handed down by the authorities while acting proactively to prevent environmental impacts and reactively in the event of an environmental disturbance.

Investment in the environment, health & safety
Total investment in the environment, health and safety amounted to SEK 115.3 (85.9) m in 2010, or 14.3 (14.8)% of the Group’s total investment.

Investment is largely divided between measures focused on the working environment and process safety, improved fire safety and investment in the outer environment. A good example is the investment in reverse osmosis at the Zibo production site, which reduces emissions of waterborne contaminants, and the new process wastewater treatment plant at Stenungsund. The largest investment in environment, health and safety was made at Pont-de-Claix, France.