The Portucel Soporcel Group is the first company in the pulp and paper industry in Portugal to be awarded the Environmental Licence from the Environment Institute, approximately two and a half years ahead of the October 2007 deadline set by the European Directive on Integrated Prevention and Control of Pollution. Incorporating all environmental legislation currently in force within the one document, the Directive defines, as its objective, an integrated approach to pollution control. This is based mainly on prevention and the application of Best Available Techniques (BAT) within each industrial sector. BAT application covers gas emissions, liquid effluent, water consumption, solid waste and noise, and aims to achieve a high level of overall environmental protection. The Portucel Soporcel Group has already been awarded its Environmental Licence for both its pulp and paper production units at the Figueira da Foz and Setubal Industrial Complexes. 140 million euros invested in the environment between 2001 and 2004 These licences were obtained so quickly because the application forms were prepared well in advance, which helped speed up the process for the authorities at the initial stage and also because the Group has invested solidly in the environmental sustainability plan in recent years. From 2001 to 2004 this represented an investment of around E140 million, 36% of the total industrial investment. This ongoing investment meant that many of the measures now being imposed by the Directive had already been adopted by the Group within the Environmental Management Systems of the different industrial plants, the aim being to ensure the ongoing reduction of their impact on the environment.