We act responsibly
We are committed to responsible business activity and sustainable development that combines economic success with responsibility for society and the environment.
The protection of the environment and the careful use of natural resources are, therefore, corporate objectives of the highest priority for us.
OCS
OCS (Operation Clean Sweep) is an international program to reduce the loss of plastic pellets to the environment from industrial installations in the sector, which aims to help industry manage its responsibility for marine litter. The implementation of the OCS program in a company guarantees that in all operations in which plastic in the form of grains or granules (“pellets”) is handled, good cleaning and control practices are applied in order to achieve the greater objective “loss of zero pellets”.
By joining the OCS program, CIRES assumed a voluntary commitment to implement actions using best practices and cleaning, containment and control systems that prevent the loss of PVC handled during its activities.
In June 2021, CIRES, Lda. obtained the Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) certification by AENOR, being the first company in Portugal and the first PVC manufacturer in Europe to obtain this certificate.
CIRES invites all its partners belonging to the plastics value chain (transporters, transformers and recyclers) to join and pursue the commitments of the OCS program.
ISCC PLUS
CIRES obtained the ISCC PLUS certification in early 2022 (link to certificate) and has more sustainable products available, with the trade name LiteVin VICIR.
This is an active contribution by the company in the sector's transition to an increasingly circular business model, minimizing the consumption of finite resources dependent on fossil fuels.
VinylPlus
CIRES, as a signatory of the VinylPlus® 2030 Program, participates in the achievement of the objectives set out in this program, which represents the voluntary commitment of the European PVC industry to sustainable development in the present decade.
The VinylPlus Commitment aims to contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a particular focus on sustainable consumption and production, climate change and partnerships.
It also seeks to align with the most relevant EU policies, such as the Circular Economy Action Plan and CSS within the framework of the European Green Deal. In line with VinylPlus' active participation in the European Commission's Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA), this commitment also encompasses the CPA's targets on the use of recycled plastics in new products.
More specifically, VinylPlus 2030 identifies three axes: increasing the circularity of the PVC value chain; move towards carbon neutrality, minimizing the environmental footprint of the material; and build global alliances and partnerships for the SDGs. The three pathways cover twelve key action areas and 39 targets that outline concrete steps to be taken by the European PVC industry to further improve the sustainability performance of PVC.
Responsible Care®
It is CIRES policy to assume responsibility for the reduction, prevention and minimization of the negative impacts resulting from the work. Thus, the company undertakes to act beyond the legislative and regulatory compliance of its activities and establishes more demanding objectives and internal specifications.
In this spirit, CIRES joined the Responsible Care® program, a global and voluntary initiative of the chemical industry that commits companies, national sector associations and their partners to the continuous improvement of their environmental, health and safety practices, openly informing interested parties on the characteristics of the respective products and production processes, and promoting the safe management of chemicals throughout their value chain.
In Portugal, APQuímica, as a member of CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council), is responsible for developing, executing and supervising the national Responsible Care® program with its associated companies.
ECVM Charter
In 2019, a new ECVM Charter of Principles (ECVM Charter) for the production of VCM and PVC was launched, of which CIRES is one of the signatory members. This is a proactive and voluntary agreement between the members of the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM), which aims to reduce the environmental impacts of its processes and improve the eco-efficiency of its products, thus constituting a contribution from the wine industry. PVC for the Responsible Care® program.
The entire European industry in the sector has committed to achieving the full compliance of these new targets by the end of 2021. Compliance with the ECVM Charter is subject to independent external verification and the results are published in the VinylPlus progress report.
BCSD Portugal
In 2021, CIRES became a member of the BCSD (Business Council for Sustainable Development) and a signatory to the Charter of Principles of Companies for Sustainability, which is the document that brings together Portuguese companies around common commitments to sustainable development for Portugal.
The Charter is implemented through the 2030 Journey, which is made up of 20 objectives, 20 goals and 20 indicators, common to all companies. By subscribing to this Charter, companies commit themselves to the realization of Journey 2030.
Journey 2030 is the instrument that aligns and demonstrates the contribution of companies to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, with the strategy of the EU and Portugal.
PACOPAR
PACOPAR - Community Advisory Panel for the Responsible Care Program is made up of CIRES, other companies in the Estarreja Chemical Complex, and various entities in the areas of Education, Science, Health, Civil Protection, Safety and the Environment.
By participating in the PACOPAR community panel, CIRES maintains a strong connection with the local community in which it operates, based on a constant proactive attitude of transparency and collaboration.
We are actively involved!...
CIRES is an integral member and/or supports the following entities:
