The Bake-off section continues to be the main consumer of water in stores, thanks to the use of steam in the ovens that ensure the baking of bakery products. Also, regular cleaning of equipment requires significant volumes of water. Butchery and meat products departments are also relevant consumers of water. The cleaning processes associated with these sections require large amounts of water to maintain strict food safety standards. Thus, significant water is consumed for handling and packaging fresh meat and sausages, cleaning surfaces, personal hygiene of employees, as well as for quick defrosting and defrosting of products. In 2023, water resources management remained a key element in the activities carried out in our stores, where certain processes and equipment depend essentially on water consumption. According to the analysis carried out, the quality of the wastewater that we discharge into the sewerage system meets all the verified quality indicators. The water in almost all the spaces managed by PENNY comes from municipal water sources through the connection to the local distribution network, except for 7 locations where the supply is made through underground boreholes: 1 store in Bucharest 4 stores in Ilfov County, 3 located in Chiajna and one in Otopeni 1 store located in Tărtășești, Dâmbovița County Logistics center in Ștefăneștii de Jos, Ilfov County Local authorities are responsible for monitoring the quality of the water discharged to ensure that it complies with regulatory standards and does not pose a risk to the environment or public health. We carry out water tests for contaminants and pollutants and inform the authorities if irregularities are observed. Among the most effective measures we have taken to reduce water consumption are: z Installation of taps with sensors in toilets. z Selection of plants resistant to local climatic conditions for outdoor green spaces, which require watering only in the first years of growth. z Implementation of drip irrigation systems for newly landscaped green spaces. In addition, we aim to improve the process of collecting water consumption data to improve the quality of reports and develop more effective strategies to reduce consumption. We remain committed to continuing initiatives to reduce water consumption and increase efficiency across our operations as an integral part of our corporate responsibility and commitment to sustainability. SUSTAINABILITY REPORT PENNY ROMANIA 2023 162/256 MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTORS SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY AND GOVERNANCE ABOUT US AND OUR VALUE CHAIN ABOUT THE REPORT THE FUTURE IS MADE TODAY SUSTAINABILITY MILESTONES CONTENTS
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