Outlook
REACH
By June 2013, we will have submitted 66 registration dossiers for substances produced in annual quantities of between 100 and 1,000 metric tons to the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency). We are currently preparing a further 190 substance dossiers for the third stage of REACH, which runs until 2018. We will continue to implement REACH legislation even beyond that date. For example, new substances will have to be registered. In addition, we will have to update existing dossiers if the annual production of a particular substance exceeds the current threshold, if our customers use substances for new purposes, if new findings come to light about a substance, or if the European Commission amends the detailed provisions of REACH. As the 2013 to 2018 REACH stages approach, our Procurement department will be asking our suppliers whether the substances and mixtures supplied to us will meet the deadlines for ECHA registration.
Polysilicon Production
WACKER is substantially expanding its production capacity for hyperpure polysilicon to meet increasing demand from the photovoltaics industry and to support the switch to renewable energy sources. We are expanding capacity at Burghausen from today’s 32,000 metric tons per year to around 37,000. Our Nünchritz site’s Poly 9 expansion stage, which comes on stream in 2011, will see annual capacity there rise to 15,000 metric tons. The initial output from these expansion measures is expected to be available by 2012. What’s more, we are building a new polysilicon production facility in Cleveland (Tennessee, USA), with an annual capacity of 15,000 metric tons. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2013. This means that WACKER’s total capacity for hyperpure polysilicon will increase to 67,000 metric tons per year by 2014.
Eco-Efficiency Analysis
WACKER will continue refining its eco-efficiency analysis as a standard tool groupwide. We will use it to assess how sustainable our key product lines are.
New Goal
Submit 66 registration dossiers to the ECHA for substances between 100 and 1,000 metric tons a year
Corporate entity: Groupwide
Deadline: 2013
Goals 2007/2008
Evaluate substance safety and register substances >1,000 metric tons a year as part of REACH efforts
Corporate entity: Groupwide
Deadline: 2010
Implementation status: Goal achieved. We have submitted 85 registration dossiers to the ECHA. Chemical Safety Assessments (CSAs) have been conducted and Chemical Safety Reports (CSRs) prepared and submitted to the ECHA together with the dossiers.
Implement the European regulation on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
Corporate entity: Groupwide
Deadline: 2010
Implementation status: Goal achieved. In the first instance, GHS reclassification relates to individual substances; the deadline for the classification of mixtures is June 1, 2015.