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SUSTAINABILITY
In 2006, RIMA Industrial S/A, under the administration of Ricardo Antonio Vicintin, took an important step towards the preservation of the Januária Region Ecosystem, one of the poorest in the state of Minas Gerais.
Rima transformed approximately 39 thousand acres into a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) considered the largest RPPN in the State of Minas Gerais.
Sustainability is not against development, but it is rather a new way of thinking and seeking ways to promote economic growth without harming the environment.
In this process, new business opportunities are developed that can be seized by individuals and companies, valuing diversity, promoting respectful relationships among people and generating benefits for everyone.
CER Project
In order to provide continuous education to its employees, RIMA created the CER project – RIMA Educational Center.
The project provides access to primary and secondary education for Rima employees who have not completed their studies. Classrooms are installed in the factories themselves, and classes are held at flexible hours facilitating access to education. In all, 600 employees have already been certified.
Several employees continue to invest in their education with technical courses and some are taking higher education courses.
Social and Environmental Project
Associated with the 7th UN Development Goal for the Millennium (Quality of life and respect for the environment), RIMA’s Socio-environmental project aims to raise and develop awareness about environmental preservation and a healthy relationship with the environment.
The project provides practical experiences such as art workshops using recyclable materials, planting trees, selective garbage collection, and distributing books to the children assisted in schools and social projects in partnership with the Vicintin Foundation.
The project is also based on Agenda 21, which is a proposal to save the planet endorsed by 179 countries at a meeting is held at the United Nations.
Through RIMA and the Vicintin Foundation, the social and environmental project is giving many children the opportunity of thinking about environmental issues and developing practices that will improve the quality of life for all.
Learn more about the 8 Millennium Goals
In September 2000, Brazil and 191 member countries of the United Nations (UN) signed a treaty that establishes the commitment to promoting social actions for the sustainability of the planet.
The Millennium Declaration, as the pact was called, foresees eight goals aimed at social development that should be achieved by 2015. They are:
– Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
– Achieve universal basic education.
– Promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
– Reduce child mortality.
– Improve maternal health.
– Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases.
– Ensure environmental sustainability.
– Establish a global partnership for development.
As a way to disseminate and encourage reflection and commitment to improving society’s living conditions, the Rima Group develops social actions based on these goals.
Initiatives:
Guided by one of its goals of protecting the environment and continuously carrying out sustainable practices, the RIMA Group has two CDM projects, which rank Rima as one of the 10 largest Brazilian companies carrying out actions to preserve the environment. This is according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), of the UN.
In 2006, Rima eplaced fuel oil (a non-renewable source of energy) with charcoal mill in the dolomite calcination furnace at the Bocaiúva plant, in the North of Minas Gerais. This project was registered with the UNFCCC in 2007 and RIMA was the first Brazilian metallurgical industry company to obtain approval for a CDM project. In this project, around 28 thousand tons of CO2e are no longer emitted annually.
In 2009, RIMA developed and implemented the second CDM project, which consists of replacing SF6 gas (sulfur hexafluoride), considered the most harmful greenhouse gas to global warming, by SO2 (sulfur dioxide), which does not cause greenhouse effect. The initiative was also carried out at the Bocaiúva plant. In this project, more than 250 thousand tons of CO2e are no longer emitted into the atmosphere.
Together, the two projects have already contributed to the reduction of more than 3 million tons of CO2e since their approval, confirmed by external audits endorsed by the UN.
– Significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
– Improved air quality for the regions’ population
– Implementation of new technologies as a result of CDM projects.
– Greater productivity and quality on final products.
– Greater operational efficiency of the kiln where the charcoal mill is used.
– Reuse and cost reduction, as the charcoal mill is generated by Rima itself during the charcoal screening process.
As a result of the investments in two CDM Projects, the RIMA Group currently has carbon credits that can be traded on the international market.
Rima donated some credits to two events. For the Rio + 20, the 2012 UN Conference on climate change, which also commemorated the 20th anniversary of the first climate conference held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which became known as ECO 92.
For the 2014 World Cup with the aim of offsetting the greenhouse gases resulting from the sporting event. More than generating carbon credits, the Rima Group considers these projects as a way to directly contribute to the environment and social well-being. On that occasion, Rima was awarded the Sustainability Seal, granted by the Brazilian government through the Ministry of the Environment.
Project 0889 : RIMA Fuel Switch in Bocaiúva
https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/SGS-UKL1169640574.53/view
Project: 2486 Conversion of SF6 to the alternative cover gas SO2 at RIMA magnesium production – Crediting Period Renewal Request
https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/TUEV-SUED1239262577.48/view
Do you want to buy carbon credits from the RIMA Group? Contact us by clicking here.
Public Abstract Rima Industrial S.A.
PUBLIC ABSTRACT OF THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN – BURITIZEIRO – MG
RIMA certifications
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