Sustainability is in CSP’s DNA. Consequently, environmental preservation and respect for the local population are part of the company’s culture since it was established in the state of Ceará in 2008. In line with this culture, the company’s Environment department started in 2011 and 2012 several projects and studies to define CSP’s strategy for this area. First and foremost was the Environmental Impact Study and Environmental Impact Report (EIS-EIR), submitted to the local environmental agency responsible for the project’s licensing (Semace) in 2009.and visitors are also able to see this data on the electronic panel inside the mill.
Based on these updates and seeking to properly manage the impacts of its implementation, CSP updated and extended the programs established in the Environmental Control and Monitoring Plan, thus creating its portfolio of sustainability programs and projects. It is worth emphasizing that this portfolio is dynamic, meeting the impact prevention, mitigation, compensation and monitoring requirements of the business.
The steel mill’s installation stage, taking place between 2012 and 2015, was characterized by the environmental management of outsourced activities, with the definition of procedures, plans and training programs to reduce environmental impacts. The efficiency of this environmental management efficiency can be measured by the absence of major environmental accidents and absence of environmental fines or violations. Also during this period we carried out an extensive environmental monitoring plan for the surroundings areas, which will serve as the baseline for the environmental conditions of where CSP is located.
With the beginning of the equipment testing stage in 2016, the company entered a new phase: production. In line with its culture, CSP invested in state-of-the-art technology to ensure that its productive process would be based on the best international environmental management practices. The company invested a total of R$ 1 billion in the environmental area.
Guidelines
As company that promotes transformation, CSP’s strategic guidelines include commitments to preserve the environment and appreciate socio-cultural aspects, contributing directly to the sustainable development of the region. Since its inception as a company, CSP seeks to adopt the best environmental controls and techniques. For this reason, our integrated management policy adopts measures to:
| Identify, eliminate, control or mitigate business risks associated with the environment and our strategy, operations, products and services. |
| Promote actions to prevent impacts on the environment, maintaining proactive focus and behavior, in order to have a sustainable operation during the entire life cycle of the activities |
| Survey the environmental aspects and impacts of all CSP activities, establishing control measures |
Waste management
One of CSP’s greatest commitments is the proper management of the by-products and waste generated in its activities, monitoring the characteristics and minimizing the impacts; reusing to the maximum everything that can be reused or used as by-product internally or in other companies.
Accordingly, CSP adopts the following guidelines:
| Meet the applicable federal, state and local legal requirements and technical standards |
| Reduce the generation, reuse, recycle, sell or dispose of waste in an environment-friendly way |
In order to optimize the reuse of by-products and waste generated, CSP has state-of-the-art equipment and technology to process them, reducing waste and increasing the process efficiency. With this, most of the materials generated in the process are intended for reuse and recycling. By-products and waste that cannot be directly reused are processed to be added value, and recycled internally.
One such technology and equipment is the Baosteel Slag Short Flow (BSSF), which is being used for the first time in Brazil. In this process, the liquid slag – one of the steelmaking by-products – is poured into a rotating drum. In this drum, the material is cooled down with water jets, granulation and magnetic separation. This adds value to the slag, enabling its use in the cement industry, much like blast furnace slags.
Thanks to these investments, 97% of the waste generated by the steelmaking process is recycled, reused or sold, and only 3% is disposed of in landfills and other licensed end destinations.