A wood production company being assessed by Scotland’s environmental regulator for rises in toxic pollution has been carrying out a lobbying campaign to influence politicians.
The global manufacturing giant, EGGER, has used the services of public relations company, Invicta Public Affairs, to lobby four MSPs on five different occasions since October last year.
Austrian firm, EGGER, was under investigation last October by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) over toxic emissions from its chipboard plant in Auchinleck, East Ayrshire. Sepa told The Ferret it is “currently undertaking further assessment work on the reported emissions.”
The Scottish Greens said Sepa must be allowed to proceed with its inquiries without interference.
EGGER told The Ferret it adheres to the rules on lobbying and meets all of its environmental obligations “as a responsible manufacturer”.
The serious concerns that are being looked at by SEPA must be allowed to proceed without interference and I would hope that investigators are being allowed to do just that.
Mark Ruskell MSP, of the Scottish Greens
The Ferret found the firm’s lobbying included meetings with three members for South Scotland: Tory MSP Sharon Dowey on 7 October, the Scottish Conservatives’ Brian Whittle on 11 November and 10 January, and Scottish Labour’s Colin Smyth on 24 February.
The consultants also arranged a face-to-face talk as part of a site visit with Elena Whitham, the Scottish National Party MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, on 12 October.
According to the Scottish Parliament’s lobbying register, the sessions were organised to introduce members to the firm’s Auchinleck-based EGGER Barony plant and discuss its contributions towards the local community.
In October, The Ferret reported that Sepa was investigating the Auchinleck site for rises in toxic emissions including arsenic, formaldehyde, cadmium, antimony, lead, mercury and dioxins.
Sepa’s 2021 report of pollutants from regulated facilities, the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory, showed the plant emitted 787 kilograms of lead pollution and 34 kilograms of antimony — the highest recorded in Scotland during 2021.
Arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium and dioxins have been amongst the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ten chemicals of major public health concern.
The WHO has said there is no level of lead exposure without harmful effects and estimated the toxic metal was responsible for just under one million chemical-related deaths in 2019.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US described antimony as harmful to the eyes and skin and linked it to problems with the heart, lungs and stomach.
Since 2011, the National Toxicology Program has classified formaldehyde as a known cancer-causing substance.
Scottish Greens environment spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP, said that the “serious concerns” being looked at by Sepa must be allowed to proceed without interference.
He added: “There are times when lobbyists may meet with politicians, which is why we have a register to track such movements. It ensures proper scrutiny and The Ferret should be commended for its continued due diligence. Meanwhile I look forward to the outcome of SEPA’s inquiries.”
Heiko Lichtblau, plant director at EGGER Barony, said his firm’s “engagement with elected members is to provide updates on the operations and investment across the business” and is reported in line with the Scottish Government regulations.
He added: “EGGER has a long-standing relationship with Invicta Public Affairs having worked together for several years on local engagement with key stakeholders and neighbours to provide updates on operations and investments across the business.
“We are regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under integrated pollution prevention control, and do not exceed the permitted limits.
“Aside from formaldehyde, the emissions listed come from the re-processing of recycled wood used to produce our chipboard panels.
“Formaldehyde is naturally emitted from wood during the drying process which is a vital part of the chipboard manufacturing process.
Lichtblau highlighted that EGGER “constantly invests in technology to improve its environmental performance”, and has planning permission to install a second precipitator and a combined heat and power plant to further reduce its emissions.
Precipitators filter out pollutant particles from gas streams using electricity to help to reduce pollution levels. Combined heat and power plants capture heat which is produced as a by-product of electricity generation. They make heat generation more energy efficient by removing the need for conventional boilers.
A spokesperson for Sepa said: “Quality control checks of our Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) data last year identified an increase in reported emissions of heavy metals and other chemicals to air between 2020 and 2021 at Norbord Europe Ltd in Cowie and EGGER in Cumnock.
“Sepa has since reviewed compliance against current permit conditions at these sites in relation to controls on incoming waste wood and found no non-compliances. We are currently undertaking further assessment work on the reported emissions.”
Brian Whittle confirmed he met with EGGER several times as a South Scotland MSP, most recently to discuss the possibility of further investment in its Auchinleck site.
He added: “The company, who are one of the area’s largest employers, have already invested substantial sums into developing their Barony site and I would be pleased to see it grow further and create more local jobs.
“No concerns have ever been raised with me about the company’s environmental practices and have no reason to believe that they are anything other than fully compliant with all the relevant environmental regulations.”
All MSPs named above were asked to comment.
Featured photo credit: iStock and Frank Wagner
This article was updated at 15.20 on 13 April 2023 to add this paragraph to EGGER’s comment: “EGGER has a long-standing relationship with Invicta Public Affairs having worked together for several years on local engagement with key stakeholders and neighbours to provide updates on operations and investments across the business. Part of Mark Ruskell’s statement was deleted after EGGER sent us the above comment post-publication.
