The generation of economic, social and environmental values in the places where we operate is a solid purpose for us, thanks to the financial discipline, operational excellence and sustainability concepts employed at InterCement Brazil.
The company is also a benchmark in the use of the cement co-processing process, a technology that makes it possible to use industrial, biomass or urban waste as alternative fuels and raw material substitutes in the production of the material. In 2020, the average rate was 27% (waste and mill co-processing), maintaining the same levels as 2019.
Burning these residues in cement kilns prevents them from being disposed of in landfills, where they can cause environmental, social and public health problems. In addition, it reduces the consumption of fossil fuels and non-renewable mineral resources by the industry. In other words, the practice reduces the negative impacts of production, without altering the quality of the product or threatening the health of workers and the community, since the process does not produce ash. In some cases it contributes to the sustainable development of the local or regional economy, when the community participates in the separation and preparation of waste.
We have had an Operations Sustainability Division in Brazil, an area exclusively dedicated to unifying and empowering the topic within the business unit and which reinforces the importance attached to sustainability at InterCement Brazil.