Environmental Impact

The manufacture, use, and sheer volume of petroleum products and renewable fuels used in modern Europe may have led to a substantive environmental impact. Concawe studies that environmental impact to better understand and contribute to reducing it by addressing key topics, such as the reduction of emissions to air, water, soil and sediment, the (bio)remediation and biodegradation of the chemicals in those emissions, and the impact of those emissions on air quality, surface and groundwater, and the living organisms in the environment.

An evaluation of the (eco)toxicology of fuels and related chemical products is also covered by Concawe in its role as a SIEF for REACH registration.

Air quality is an important focus of attention in Europe, resulting in legislative initiatives now integrated into the EU Green Deal.

Energy transition and Air Quality are strictly connected. Concawe, by carrying out rigorous air quality analysis and modelling, participates in the development of scientific understanding leading to new legislative initiatives.

Since its creation in 1963, Concawe has undertaken several scientific studies that address key topics related to air quality assessment and management (e.g., Studies on Source Apportionment, Emissions measurement tests), studies on the impact of key sectors such as maritime & aviation on air quality, and complex pollutants (e.g., Ozone). These studies aim to enhance the scientific understanding and contribute as input to the revision of legislation linked to Air Quality (AAQD, IED-IEP, NECD). Concawe has also devoted substantial efforts to develop its own air quality modelling tools which are used to carry out these studies. Moreover, Concawe has submitted several contributions, as a recognised expert participating in Stakeholders’ Expert Groups.

Concawe also engages in research to identify best-emerging air quality monitoring techniques, develops best practice documents for the industry, including methodologies for estimating sites’ source air emissions, and contributes to the development of European standards through participation in the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) working groups.

Concawe has published numerous technical reports and peer-reviewed articles on these topics.

Water is a unique resource and its management raises issues on an international level across many areas of society. It is also a vital resource for fuel manufacturing operations, with the volume of water used being comparable to the volume of feedstock processed.

Since Concawe’s establishment, great progress has been made towards improving water quality in Europe. Refineries and fuel manufacturing sites have contributed to this improvement, with substantial reductions in discharges and improvements in effluent quality leading to large reductions in the quantities of pollutants discharged to surface waters. The work of the refining industry during this period of technological and legislative change has been supported by Concawe’s water-related research activities, which address the efficient use of water resources and minimization of discharges to the environment.

Current areas of focus for Concawe include improved sustainability and risk management of sector water, soil and waste activities, including responding to the requirements of the European Green Deal and its Zero Pollution Ambition. It involves being a part of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the associated Directives on Groundwater Protection and Environmental Quality Standards (EQS). In addition, Concawe provides input to BREF (Best Available Technique REFerence document) revisions, where these are relevant to the industry’s activities under the IED. It also follows developments in contaminated land legislation and the EU Soil Strategy.

In recent years, the European Commission has been adopting ‘Circular Economy packages’ aimed at developing a more circular economy. These initiatives concern many aspects of fuel manufacturing operations, from the efficient use of water resources to increased reuse, and the recovery and recycling of wastes. Concawe is working to provide the information needed for effective decision-making in this area.