Care for the environment, a rational use of natural resources, and safety in the production and transportation of goods, both internally and externally, have always been contemplated in the Company’s management.

Elekeiroz carries out several programs designed to reduce our water consumption, energy consumption and waste generation and to systematically recycle materials at all of our industrial units.

ENERGY SELF-GENERATION

Elekeiroz is in a distinguished position for self-generation of energy, which supplies most needs of the production units at Várzea Paulista site.  Since the year 2000, with the Maleic Anhydride unit expansion, and in addition to what was already being produced from the utilization of steam generated in the Sulfuric Acid production, there was an increase in self generation from energy recovery obtained by the installation of a catalytic combustor for total reduction of atmospheric emissions of the unit (high technology in world standards). This own system of power generation, besides the strong component of environmental protection and cost savings, proved very efficient. This energy efficiency was highly relevant, especially during the energy rationing period in 2001 and 2002, when the Company achieved a reduction in consumption above the target set by the Government's emergency plan. It is noteworthy that in addition to meet the domestic demand, other 4,300MW of energy were available to the market in that period.

RECYCLING PROGRAM

The purposes of the Recycling Program are to reduce garbage generation, introduce selective collection, safeguard the environment, recycle materials and reduce areas dedicated to industrial and sanitary embankment and its maintenance costs.  This program intends to promote consciousness about sustainable consumption, inside the Company as much as out of it, through collaborators participation in lectures and events in the nearby community.

CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES

Elekeiroz worries continuously about the development of cleaner and modern technologies, of which the investments below are significant examples:

•Installation of catalytic incinerator in the chimney of the Formaldehyde unit, preventing the emission of organic compounds and CO₂ in the atmosphere (since 1997);

•Similar facility in the chimney of the Maleic Anhydride unit, avoiding not only the emission of organic compounds into the atmosphere, but also producing more steam to generate electricity (since 2000);

•Installation of a Benzene storage tank, with floating seal, to reduce evaporative emissions (since 2000);

•Installation of Post-Reactor, static mixer and the installation of compressed air ejectors in the Phthalic Anhydride unit, leading to reduction of reaction by-products, increased conversion of raw materials and elimination of evaporative emissions from process tanks (since 2006).

At Camaçari site, periodic evaluations are performed, under Cetrel's coordination, on the air quality through a modern network monitor, which works continuously with the measurement stations in the industrial area and at strategic locations in neighboring communities.

In 2009, emissions totaled 104,439 tons of CO₂ equivalent to a reduction of 12% compared to 118,793 tons emitted in 2008.

Contact the environmental area