E2 Pollution

Impacts, risks and opportunities related to pollution

(E2 ESRS 2 IRO-1)

As part of our double materiality assessment, we analysed potential impacts, risks and opportunities related to the pollution topics listed in ESRS 1, Application Requirement 16 (AR 16), and we identified pollution of air as a material sustainability matter. This process involved internal experts from the Engineering and Production department together with the Sustainability Manager and external stakeholders, as described under Double materiality assessment.

Combustion of natural gas in furnaces and melting of cullet and raw materials such as quartz sand, soda, dolomite, and feldspar generate air emissions including nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and fine particulate matter (PM). Dust emissions can occur when cullet is crushed in the cullet treatment plants. These emissions may adversely affect air quality and can harm ecosystems and human health. Non-compliance with emission limits can lead to sanctions. Stricter environmental standards may require process adjustments or investments in new technologies. Conversely, investing in Best Available Techniques (BAT) to reduce air emissions can offer an opportunity. Our site managers maintain dialogue with local authorities regarding environmental regulations.

Policies related to pollution

(E2-1), (ESRS 2 MDR-P)

Vetropack’s Health, Safety and Environmental Policy sets out our objectives for managing responsibilities regarding health, safety and environmental protection. With respect to air pollution, the overarching aim of the policy is to minimise negative environmental impacts while maintaining and improving environmental standards. We prioritise environmental protection throughout the entire lifecycle of our products, including the reduction of emissions to air.

Vetropack’s Code of Conduct reinforces our commitment to environmental responsibility and to reducing our ecological footprint. Vetropack takes the necessary measures to address related issues and ensure compliance with applicable environmental regulations; this also includes applying the Best Available Techniques in production. Local rules and regulations specified by authorities define air pollution limits.

Our Health, Safety and Environmental Policy applies to all employees and entities. With regard to air pollution, the policy focuses on our own operations but requires environmental awareness throughout the entire product lifecycle. The policy does not currently specify substances and pollutants, but refers to air emissions in general.

Accountability for implementing the Health, Safety and Environmental Policy begins with the Management Board. The policy is signed off electronically by the CEO. The Integrated Management System (IMS) department, which covers Quality, Health and Safety, Environment, and Sustainability, coordinates and monitors activities related to environmental protection (including air emissions); it also develops and enacts guidelines to ensure implementation. The Sustainability Steering Committee oversees related actions. The Engineering and Production department is responsible for implementing appropriate technology to comply with environmental rules and regulations. The local IMS and technical teams implement the policy on air pollution, and ensure that local air-related requirements are met.

Our Health, Safety and Environmental Policy does not refer to any third-party standard but is aligned with environmental legislation. When defining the policy, we considered the interests of relevant stakeholders such as employees, customers, and authorities. Employees can access the Health, Safety and Environmental Policy via the Integrated Management System, although the policy is not publicly available. It is translated into local languages to ensure employees understand it and can act accordingly.

Actions related to pollution

(E2-2), (ESRS 2 MDR-A)

Vetropack not only ensures compliance with environmental law, but also aims to reduce air pollution. For new investments, the company’s focus is on consistently applying Best Available Techniques (BAT) as the engineering standard for new projects. This means that every new investment in relevant technologies (such as filter systems) will lead to a significant reduction in air pollution.

Technical measures include the use of low-NOx burners and electrification, as well as prioritisation of furnace designs with the highest energy efficiency levels to limit the amount of exhaust gas produced during the melting process. Vetropack also installs efficient gas cleaning equipment in its plants to ensure that air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂), remain below the thresholds defined by local and international regulations such as the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) (2010/75/EU).

Most of our sites are equipped with electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) to remove dust. Other sites, such as Boffalora (Italy), use DeNOx technology, which is a technology that abates NOx in the fumes leaving the furnaces.

Compliance with emission regulations is monitored locally in accordance with applicable requirements. The frequency and scope of measurements vary by site, depending on local regulations. Some plants operate automatic continuous measurement systems. These are connected to state authorities so the plants can report emissions directly to them as required by law. At other plants, measurements are taken once per year. In certain Business Units, compliance levels are integrated into management’s balanced scorecards, as is the case at our Italian site in Boffalora.

As part of our decarbonisation roadmap (E1 Climate change), Vetropack is working to electrify its furnaces. This reduces natural gas consumption and consequently lowers NOx emissions due to reduced air intake. New furnace investments are expected to decrease energy consumption and achieve further reductions in air emissions.

Targets related to pollution

(E2-3), (ESRS 2 MDR-T)

Given that pollution of air has been newly identified as a material sustainability matter, Vetropack has not set any quantitative targets for reducing its emissions into air. However, we are confident that we will be able to reduce air pollution by implementing furnace rebuilds and transitioning to furnaces with a higher electrical share, within the scope of our decarbonisation roadmap and transition plan. Since our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets will also contribute to reducing air pollution, Vetropack does not currently plan to set separate targets for air pollution.

Vetropack defines its standards for preventing air pollution in alignment with applicable rules and regulations in all countries where it operates. These targets are primarily determined by national legislation and industry standards.

Metrics related to pollution

(E2-4), (ESRS 2 MDR-M)

Reporting principles: Based on Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register E-PRTR Regulation), we identified nitrogen oxide emissions and sulphur oxide emissions as pollutants for which the applicable threshold values specified in Annex II of the Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 are exceeded.

Vetropack’s Austrian manufacturing sites in Kremsmünster and Pöchlarn have continuous measurement systems in place for nitrogen oxide (NOx/NO₂) and sulphur oxide (SOx/SO₂) emissions. The sites in Kyjov (Czech Republic), Gostomel (Ukraine), Nemšová (Slovakia), Boffalora (Italy) and Hum na Sutli (Croatia) measure NOx/NO₂ emissions at least once per year. These measurements typically last several hours in order to calculate an average emission rate (kg per hour), which is then multiplied by the number operating hours per year (plants operate throughout the entire year) to determine annual emissions. The production site in Chișinău (Moldova) does not carry out direct air-emission measurements. Air emissions at this site are therefore calculated using legally prescribed emission factors.

NOx emissions at all production sites exceeded the threshold values set by the E‑PRTR Regulation in both 2024 and 2025. SOx emissions at Vetropack’s sites in Croatia, Moldova and Italy exceeded the threshold values in 2024. In 2025, the same sites, as well as the Ukrainian site, exceeded the threshold values.

There was a slight increase in nitrogen oxide emissions due to the restart of a furnace at Vetropack Gostomel (Ukraine) and an increase in production at our Italian site. Sulphur oxide emissions also increased between 2024 and 2025 as a result of higher production levels in Boffalora, as well as the Ukrainian site exceeding the threshold and increasing its production.