Votorantim Metais Environmental Management
We have a sustainable governance structure and an environmental management system consolidated in every production unit. From our 12 operative units, 11 are ISO 14001 certified and 01 is foreseeing its certification in 2011. In 2010, we invested R$ 136.2 million in environmental improvements and for 2011, R$ 207 million are planned.
We work on 5 critical concerns in our business, with strategic scopes for each: climate change, water, waste, energy and biodiversity. The main initiatives developed for each concern are:
Climate change – We document our greenhouse effect gas emissions through GHG Protocol and we set objectives to reduce the emissions. We have three Clean Development Mechanism projects to acquire carbon financing, one of which has already been passed by the UN body in the city of Três Marias (MG). It is a comprehensive furnace heat and gas recovery project. Another initiative which is worth highlighting is the adoption of the Best technology available for the treatment of gases in the production of aluminum, which makes Votarantim Metais a reference within the industries in this sector.
Biodiversity – We created the Atlantic Forest natural private reservoir patrimony in Morro Grande (MG): we recorded the fauna and flora and developed, together with the community, Biodiversity ABC educational program. We formed a wildlife corridor in Fortaleza de Minas (MG) to facilitate the biodiversity development. We also worked on environmental education together with the community, to protect the sources of Traíra river in Niquelândia (GO) and of Córrego das Tábuas in Vazante. We keep seedling greenhouses in Itamarati, Miraí, Poços de Caldas and Três Marias (MG) units, supplying seedling for schools and for the inhabitants of the city. Poços de Caldas unit developed a methodology to recover the mining areas.
Resource consumption and waste generation reduction – We seek to reduce the consumption of materials and the generation of waste by thoroughly monitoring our activities. In mining, the aim is zero waste: we try to make use of everything withdrawn from the ground. An example of how this is achieved is the process fitting to withdraw the waste contaminant generated in the Zinc Business, in Morro Agudo Unit. This fitting allowed for the processing of waste into products (lead concentrate and calcareous powder) to be traded. In the Aluminum unit, we acquired a scrap metal recycling plant which also uses remaining metals from internal processes as part of the raw material. In the Nickel area, we reduced the consumption of hydrogen peroxide and activated coal. We have a barrier management system which is a reference in our market.
Waters and effluents – We manage hydric resources (consumption and disposal) and have progressively reduced new water consumption with investments to re-use the water in the process. The water obtained is used in the Aluminum factory; even the rain water is collected, treated and re-used. In the city of São Miguel Paulista, we re-circulate the water used in the production of sodium sulphate, anhydride, saving 120 m³ of industrial water per day and reducing the generation of effluents. The Três Marias unit reduced approximately 30% of new water consumption in relation to 2009. In Vazante and Paracatú zinc mines, we have processes for the re-circulation of 100% of water in the industrial process.
Energy – We look for energetic self-sufficiency; we invest in Technologies to use alternative sources and generate more than 80% of the electric energy we consume.
We also develop programs to consolidate environmental awareness, through various initiatives addressed to internal and external audiences. In 2010 we recycled 100% of the unit personnel working in environmental issues and created a sample program of an internal MBA to train the environmental team (about 60 people). We trained the school faculty in the regions where we have plants, to incorporate the environmental issue into the school curriculum. We created the Votorantim Environmental Award, which encourages the community people to minimize their environmental impact. We train young people, employees’ children, to develop environmental activities in their communities.