2017 Environmental Information Disclosure Report

Environmental Engineer

Su Rigu Ge, Gu Hong Xue

2018

I. Message from the Manager

Environmental objectives: Strengthen pollution prevention and control, strive for low‑consumption, high‑efficiency operations, and develop a circular economy to achieve clean production; build a production base that is resource‑efficient, environmentally friendly, promotes employee health, and fosters harmony and stability.

Assurance measures: Establish and operate an ISO 14001 environmental management system, enhance environmental protection management, and ensure the efficient and stable operation of environmental protection facilities. Environmental monitoring equipment is effective, and technical management is rigorous and meticulous.

Environmental Commitment: Comply with environmental laws and regulations, continuously improve environmental performance; enhance employees’ environmental awareness, and engage all staff in building a green enterprise.

To continuously improve its operations and management, the company has established an EHS policy:

Comply with laws and regulations, and pursue continuous improvement;

Reduce risks and hazards, striving for zero accidents.

Implement safety standards and achieve standardized management.

Eliminate hazardous substances and foster green supply chains;

Steadily advance pollution prevention and control, and conserve resources to reduce consumption.

Enhance EHS awareness and promote closed-loop clean production.

Enhance social responsibility and highlight the Prin brand image.

Tianjin Pulinn Circuit Co., Ltd. upholds the mission of “environmental protection, safe production, occupational health, social responsibility, and benefiting humanity,” working together with the global community to build a safe and environmentally friendly home.

 

II. Basic Company Information

1. Company Overview

Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd. was formerly known as Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd., established in April 1988. In 2005, it was renamed Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd. and successfully listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2007. With more than 20 years of experience in printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing, the company is a modern enterprise located at No. 53 Hanghai Road, Tianjin Free Trade Zone (Airport Economic Zone), covering an area of 27,198.1 square meters. The legal representative is Qu Defu, and the registered capital stands at RMB 245.8497 million. In 2011, the company was honored with the second “Outstanding National Brand Enterprise” award in China’s printed circuit industry.

 

 

Our company’s main products include high‑precision rigid printed circuit boards, high‑density interconnect (HDI) printed circuit boards, rigid‑flex boards, and aluminum‑based substrates. The company currently employs approximately 1,000 staff members. Total assets stand at RMB 634.5 million, with sales revenue of RMB 431.55 million in 2017. In 2017, the industrial output value (at current prices) reached RMB 417.20 million, while production value was RMB 387.50 million in 2016 and RMB 331.96 million in 2017.

2. Organizational Structure of the Company’s Environmental Management System

Tianjin Pulinn Circuit Co., Ltd. has five full-time environmental management personnel, namely the Party Branch Secretary, the Head of the Administrative Environmental Protection Department, the Safety, Technology and Environmental Protection Supervisor, the Safety, Technology and Environmental Protection Engineer, and the Energy and Environmental Engineer. In addition, our company has established an environmental, occupational health, and safety management system, with the organizational chart as follows:

 

 

3. Company Qualifications and Certifications

Qualifications and Certifications: The company implemented the ISO 9000 quality management system in the early 1990s, ensuring the orderly execution of quality management activities. In June 1993, it obtained ISO 9002 certification for its quality management system.

To continuously enhance the company’s management standards, show care for its employees, and fulfill its social responsibilities, Pulin Company progressively established and obtained certification for the ISO/TS 16949 quality management system, the ISO 14001 environmental management system, the OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety management system, and the RoHS management system between 2000 and 2006.

The following is a detailed overview of Tianjin Pulinn Circuit Co., Ltd.’s qualifications and certifications:

•In 1988, Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd. was established;

•In September 1990, obtained UL certification, certificate number E133379;

•In June 1993, obtained ISO-9002 certification (DNV);

•In November 2000, obtained QS-9000 certification (DNV);

•In May 2002, obtained ISO 9001 certification (DNV);

•In October 2004, obtained ISO 14001 certification (DNV);

•In September 2005, obtained ISO/TS 16949 certification (DNV);

•In December 2005, the company underwent restructuring and was renamed Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd.;

•In February 2006, obtained OHSAS 18001 certification (DNV);

•In April 2006, Tianjin Pulinn’s Second Plant commenced trial operations;

•In October 2006, obtained RoHS certification (DNV);

•In March 2007, Tianjin Pulinn’s Second Factory obtained UL certification;

•In June 2007, obtained ISO 9001 certification (DNV) for two manufacturing facilities;

•In September 2007, obtained ISO/TS 16949 certification (DNV) for two manufacturing sites;

•In December 2009, the Second Factory successfully passed the on-site audits for ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 (conducted by SGS).

•In June 2010, passed the on-site audit for the ISO 9001:2008 certification renewal (DNV).

•In June 2011, passed the on-site audit for the ISO/TS 16949:2009 transition (BSI);

•In December 2012, obtained the Level-2 Certificate of Safety Production Standardization for machinery issued by the Tianjin Municipal Center for Research on Safety Production Technology.

•In January 2013, the company obtained AS9100C certification from the third-party certification body BV (Bureau Veritas).

 

III. Wastewater Discharge Information

1. Information on Discharge of Water Pollutants:

(1) Status of control over the concentration of water pollutant discharges:

The main water‑environmental pollutants discharged by the company are conventional pollutants, including COD, BOD, ammonia nitrogen, and phosphorus.

Characteristic pollutant factors: copper, nickel.

Table 1: Statistical Table of Water Pollutant Discharge Concentrations

Unit: milligrams per liter

(2) The status of total discharge control for water pollutants is shown in Table 2: The 2017 monitoring results all complied with the Class III discharge standards stipulated in the Tianjin Municipal Comprehensive Wastewater Discharge Standard DB12/356-2008, ensuring compliance with emission limits. All indicator values reported in the above monitoring data were derived from the testing results provided by Tianjin Lihua Anke Evaluation and Testing Technology Co., Ltd.

Table 2: Total Emissions of Water Pollutants

Unit: tonne

The above data indicate that, in 2017, the total emissions of water‑environment pollutants were all within the permitted limits, ensuring compliance with emission standards.

2. Status of Atmospheric Pollutant Emission Control

The atmospheric pollutants emitted by the company include conventional pollutants—sulfur dioxide and particulate matter—and characteristic pollutants—hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides, sulfuric acid mist, lead dust, and xylene.

Table 3: Statistical Table of Monitoring Concentrations of Atmospheric Pollutants

Table 4: Total Emissions of Air Pollutants

As shown in the table above, in 2017, the concentrations, emission rates, and total emissions of atmospheric pollutants all complied with the relevant emission standards, ensuring compliant discharge. All indicator values in the monitoring data were derived from the monitoring results provided by Tianjin Lihua Anke Evaluation and Testing Technology Co., Ltd.

3. Status of Noise Pollution Emission Control

Table 5: Noise Pollution Emissions and Disposal Status

 

IV. Construction and Operation of Pollution Prevention and Control Facilities

Our plant’s wastewater is divided into six major treatment systems, corresponding to: 1) the comprehensive wastewater treatment system; 2) the general organic wastewater treatment system; 3) the complexed wastewater treatment system; 4) the nickel‑containing wastewater treatment system; 5) the high‑organic‑content wastewater treatment system; 6) the cyanide‑containing wastewater treatment system; as well as a dedicated waste‑liquid treatment system.

Our plant primarily employs chemical precipitation to remove heavy metals and the Fenton process to treat COD. The resulting heavy-metal sludge and organic sludge are separately dewatered using different filter presses, after which they are entrusted to licensed facilities for compliant disposal as hazardous waste.

Our plant’s wastewater treatment system is currently operating normally, with pH probes and automated dosing equipment installed at key process control points. The wastewater monitoring room enables round-the-clock surveillance of the system’s performance, allowing for timely adjustments as needed.

The entire wastewater treatment system employs centralized chemical dosing. All chemical storage tanks are equipped with high- and low-level sensors that promptly indicate the dosing status and trigger alarms to alert on-duty personnel, ensuring timely preparation of chemicals and preventing underdosing.

Our company utilizes rapid copper‑content test tubes manufactured by the Japan Kyoritsu Chemical Research Institute to conduct sampling and testing of wastewater awaiting discharge, ensuring that all effluent meets regulatory standards. To verify and compare our plant’s wastewater discharge performance, we also collect laboratory samples twice daily for analysis, employing the spectrophotometric method specified in national standards to determine heavy metal concentrations, as well as total copper, total nickel, and pH levels in the wastewater.

For the exhaust gas stream, we employ alkaline neutralization spray scrubbing, activated carbon adsorption, and centralized dust collection. The majority of our plant’s exhaust gases are acidic; during treatment, we maintain the pH of the scrubbing liquid consistently in the alkaline range to ensure thorough neutralization of the acid gases. We replace the scrubbing liquid in the exhaust gas towers daily and clean the tower’s Pall ring packing and nozzles quarterly, ensuring that the spray system operates within the specified process parameters. The spent scrubbing solution generated during exhaust gas treatment is collected and routed to the wastewater treatment system for centralized processing and compliant discharge.

Our plant conducts round-the-clock, two-shift patrols for both wastewater and exhaust gas, ensuring timely equipment maintenance, effective personnel management, and real-time monitoring of results. In addition to 24-hour monitoring by operating staff, we have established comprehensive operation and maintenance records, ensuring that both operational and maintenance processes are conducted in accordance with established procedures and supported by verifiable documentation.

In 2017, our plant made significant efforts to address the three types of waste by investing in facility maintenance and upgrades, ensuring that wastewater and exhaust gases are discharged in compliance with standards, and that solid waste is stored and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations. By maintaining stable operational processes and achieving compliant outcomes, we align with the central government’s environmental protection policies and demonstrate the corporate commitment to environmental stewardship expected of a responsible enterprise.

 

V. Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction Projects and Other Administrative Permits for Environmental Protection

•In March 2005, the Second Factory obtained the “Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Expansion Project of Tianjin Pulinn Circuit Co., Ltd. (Phase I)” issued by the Tianjin Institute of Occupational Health and Occupational Diseases.

•On May 18, 2005, our Company’s Second Factory received an official reply from the Tianjin Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, titled “Reply to the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Expansion Project of Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd. (Phase I).”

•In September 2006, our company obtained the “Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the High-Density Multilayer PCB Financing Expansion Project of Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd.” issued by the Tianjin Environmental Impact Assessment Center.

•On September 16, 2006, our company received an official reply from the Tianjin Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau titled “Reply on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the High-Density Multilayer Printed Circuit Board Financing and Expansion Project of Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd.”

•In May 2008, the Second Factory obtained the completion acceptance monitoring report for environmental protection facilities of the construction project, issued by the Environmental Monitoring Station of Hebei District, Tianjin.

•On February 11, 2009, our company received from the Tianjin Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau an official reply (Administrative Licensing Decision) titled “Opinions on the Environmental Protection Acceptance upon Completion of the Expansion Project (Phase I) of Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd.”

•In February 2009, our company obtained the “Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Tianjin Pulinn Circuit Co., Ltd. Project to Establish a Production Line for HDI Printed Circuit Boards with an Annual Capacity of 30,000 Square Meters” issued by the Tianjin Environmental Impact Assessment Center.

•On September 23, 2009, our company received an official reply from the Tianjin Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau titled “Reply to the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Project of Tianjin Pulin Circuit Co., Ltd. to Establish a Production Line with a Monthly Capacity of 30,000 Square Meters of HDI Printed Circuit Boards.”

•In February 2015, our company obtained the “Environmental Impact Report Form for the Construction Project of the Plin Circuit Waste Etching Solution Recycling System” issued by the State Environmental Protection Administration.

•On February 26, 2015, our company received approval documents from the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone Environmental Protection Bureau and the Tianjin Airport Economic Zone Environmental Protection Bureau, titled “Approval of the Environmental Impact Report Form for the Pulin Circuit Waste Etching Solution Recycling Project.”

 

VI. Emergency Response Plan and Drills for Sudden Environmental Incidents:

To address potential sudden environmental risk incidents within the company, establish and refine a robust emergency response mechanism for environmental pollution accidents, and ensure timely, efficient, and appropriate handling of such incidents, we have prepared corresponding emergency response plans in accordance with the requirements of the District Environmental Protection Bureau. Based on the environmental risks and pollution incidents that may occur within the company, we have developed specific contingency plans for chemical spills, gas leaks, dust releases, and other scenarios. Furthermore, these emergency response plans are reviewed annually, revised and updated as necessary, and communicated through training to all employees.

Each year, in accordance with emergency management procedures, our company conducts one emergency response drill for chemical spills, one for gas leaks, and one for dust‑related incidents. The focus of these drills varies annually, depending on the specific areas or types of emergencies being addressed. Following each exercise, we summarize and evaluate any issues identified, revise relevant emergency management documents to address these shortcomings, and enhance employee training, thereby continuously improving the operability and effectiveness of our contingency plans.

 

VII. Other Environmental Disclosure Information:

In 2017, our plant carried out the following initiatives centered on energy conservation and emissions reduction:

1. Reduce the volume of water to be treated

Previously, the filtrate from the filter press was routed to the front end of the wastewater treatment system for further treatment. Now, the pipeline has been redirected to the tail end of the wastewater treatment process, where the effluent is neutralized and discharged directly. This change reduces daily treatment volume by several hundred tons, lowers chemical dosing, and cuts costs. In addition, by increasing the frequency of filter cloth replacement, our company has further reduced the copper concentration in the filter press effluent—while keeping it within regulatory limits—ensuring that the effluent does not adversely affect the overall copper levels in the treated wastewater and that the final discharge complies with standards.

2. Fine-tuned reverse osmosis water production with recirculation of concentrate.

Reverse osmosis is a water‑treatment process that all domestic manufacturers involved in producing ultrapure water employ; the water produced by reverse osmosis is referred to as RO water.

During the production of RO water, this process generates a highly saline concentrate, which our plant previously discharged directly. To reduce the volume of concentrate discharged and enhance water resource utilization, we implemented the following improvements: the concentrate is now reused as circulating water in our flue‑gas scrubber and as makeup water for chemical dosing in the wastewater treatment unit. This approach saves nearly 100 tons of water per month, significantly cutting down on concentrate waste and conserving water resources.

 

VIII. Waste Disposal Status

Hazardous waste generated during the company’s production processes is safely disposed of in accordance with regulations by qualified hazardous waste disposal entities: copper‑containing wastewater and copper‑containing sludge are handled by Zhongneng (Tianjin) Environmental Protection and Renewable Resources Utilization Co., Ltd., while used packaging drums and spent ink cartridges are safely managed by Tianjin Hejia Veolia Environmental Services Co., Ltd.

Table 6: Statistics on the Generation and Disposal of Hazardous Solid Waste

Table 7: Emissions and Disposal of General Industrial Solid Waste

General solid waste generated during the company’s production process, such as waste cardboard boxes, is directly handed over to Zhongneng (Tianjin) Environmental Protection Renewable Resources Utilization Co., Ltd., which holds the necessary qualifications for material recycling, for recovery and disposal.

 

IX. Water Resources and Energy Consumption Status

1. Water Resource Consumption Status

In 2017, the company’s fresh water (tap water) consumption totaled 631,000 tons. The fresh water consumption per unit of output was 1.76 tons/m².

Table 8: Trends and Levels of Corporate Water Consumption

2. Energy Consumption Status

The company’s primary energy sources are diesel, steam, natural gas, and electricity.

Table 9: Enterprise Energy Consumption (in terms of standard coal)

Note: The following conversion factors shall be used uniformly for calculations:

1 ton of diesel = 1.4571 (tons of standard coal)

10,000 kWh of electricity = 1.229 tonnes of standard coal

1 million kilojoules of steam thermal energy = 0.03412 (tons of standard coal)

10,000 cubic meters of natural gas = 12.143 tonnes of standard coal

Table 10: Trends and Levels of Corporate Energy Consumption

 

IX. Outlook for Environmental Protection Work

Since 2010, when the first National Conference on Environmental Information Disclosure was held in Beijing, China has significantly intensified its efforts in environmental informationization in recent years. In line with the government’s policy direction, our plant undertook a series of initiatives in 2017 across three key areas—wastewater, exhaust gases, and solid waste—by substantially increasing investment. These included introducing advanced secondary‑pressing sludge filter presses, acquiring acid‑leaching equipment for copper recovery—which is currently undergoing environmental impact assessment and acceptance procedures—and adopting EDI water‑production technology, among many other environmentally friendly projects aimed at energy conservation and emission reduction.

In 2018, we will continue to align with the government’s policies, strengthen our environmental protection efforts, and prioritize work on exhaust gas treatment. We plan to upgrade our plant’s exhaust‑gas treatment facilities to eliminate uncontrolled emissions throughout the entire site, ensuring that 100% of exhaust gases are fully purified and meet regulatory emission standards.

Meanwhile, our plant will also undertake upgrades to its purified water treatment system, replacing the media in the existing multi-media and activated carbon filters and optimizing the pretreatment stage of the reverse osmosis process. This will ensure that the feedwater quality meets an SDI value of 5 or lower, reduce the volume of reject water, extend the service life of the reverse osmosis membranes, decrease the frequency of chemical cleaning, and thereby lower both water consumption and cleaning costs across the board.

In parallel with the aforementioned efforts, we will maintain continuous monitoring and control of the plant’s water usage, thereby reducing overall wastewater generation, lowering wastewater discharge, and decreasing water resource consumption.

In the coming year 2018, we will undoubtedly intensify and refine our efforts in environmental protection, ensuring full compliance with all relevant regulations and standards.