Commitment to a Company Policy where the Environment comes First: Simply on the basis of the raw materials used in manufacture, sand, sodium chloride (or "soda"), and lime, glass is an extrem- ely environmentally-friendly construction material. Glass cullets which are derived during manufacture are recycled within the plant, and cullets from outside sources are also used, purch- ased from glass recycling concerns, and that enables Glas- fabrik Lamberts to make a major contribution within the national economy to the reuse of glass which has already been manu- factured but can no longer be used. As early as 1985, the company invested about one million DM in a glass screening and sorting system for cullets from outside sources, to put into practice the general policy of en- vironmental protection. This cullet processing system has been steadily improved even further since it was first taken into operation, and always represents the very latest state of the art. In 1990 an electrical waste gas filtering system was constructed, for 3.5 million DM, and commissioned in 1991. This reduces the proportions of dust in the waste gases from the glass melting process to below the values required by the environmental control authorities, and makes a major contribution to maintaining the purity of the air. In the manufacture of cast glass, heavy fuel oil and preheated air are usually used for heating the glass melting tank. Glasfabrik Lamberts has consistently pursued a policy of ma- king glass in the most environmentally compatible manner po- ssible, and in 1996 took into operation the world's most modern and environmentally-friendly cast glass melting tank. The new heating system for the tank, oxygen and fuel oil (Oxy-Fuel) reduces by a factor of five the emissions of nitrous oxides (NO2) emitted with conventional heating systems. By means of this primary measure for reducing nitrous oxides, the consumption of fuel oil has also been slashed by 25 %, while still maintaining the same melting capacity. The trail-bla- zing decision to adopt this type of heating for the melting tank has proved its value in every respect, a fact which is confi- rmed in particular by the strict monitoring conducted by the Provincial Office for Environmental Protection, which carries out cyclic measurements of the emissions from the melting tank. Glasfabrik Lamberts has shown, in this sector which is so vital for glass production, that what at first appear to be unattainable environmental protection targets can in fact often be implemen- ted in practice with commitment and innovation. The packing materials used, too, are monitored very carefully with regard to their recycling capacity. In addition to this, new transport systems are under development in conjunction with forwarding agents appointed by Glasfabrik Lamberts, which should allow for even more packing material to be saved. An in-house waste separation and avoidance system makes yet another contribution to operations being as environmentally friendly as they can possibly be. To sum it all up, Glasfabrik Lamberts welcomes the challenge of operating production facilities which are truly compatible with the environment, and has introduced innovative measures which have already provided answers to a large number of ecological questions. And in order for new developments and considerations to be put into practice in the future, too, Glasfabrik Lamberts has adopted the principles of environmen- tal awareness and environmental compatibility as deep-rooted aspects of its company concept and corporate philosophy, and will continue to ensure that all company decisions and actions will in future be prirmarily influenced by those considerations. As the only middle-sized flat glass producer in Europe still in private hands and not bound to a larger company group, Glasfabrik Lamberts is committed to meeting its social re- sponsibilities as it looks forward to the future.