US environment authority confirms Denka’s 85% emissions cut 

LaPlace, Louisiana – Denka Performance Elastomer (DPE) has achieved an 85% cut in chloroprene emissions at its St. John Baptist rubber manufacturing facility in LaPlace, the company has announced. 

In an 8 June release, DPE said the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) had acknowledged the achievement which was realised through a voluntary emissions reduction programme at the Neoprene production site.

Denka, which acquired the operations in LaPlace from DuPont in November 2015, said it mapped out an “ambitious [emissions] reduction plan” in early 2016 and agreed on an 85% cut with LDEQ in January 2017. 

As part of the programme, DPE said it installed several new equipment and made improvements to units around the facility throughout 2017 and 2108. 

Furthermore, the company said it implemented additional reduction projects beyond its agreement with LEDQ in 2019. 

“After reviewing emissions reports for 2019, the first full calendar year that DPE’s new equipment operated at full efficiency, LDEQ says that goal has been accomplished,” Denka’s statement added.

In addition, Denka said that ambient air monitoring conducted by the company and the US Environmental Protection Agency had shown “a dramatic reduction” in concentrations of chemicals measured at sites around the facility.

“Our company is focused on being a good neighbour in St. John the Baptist Parish,” DPE plant manager Jorge Lavastida said.