Análise do índice de desempenho ambiental da indústria siderúrgica

Abstract

The steel industry is one of the most environmentally impactful sectors, responsible for approximately 7% of global CO₂ emissions and significant consumption of natural resources, such as water and energy. In this context, the adoption of sustainable practices and the measurement of environmental performance become essential to align the sector with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the context of decarbonization, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote the transition to a low-carbon economy. In this scenario, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) emerges as a crucial tool for assessing and monitoring sustainability in industrial operations. This research aims to analyze the EPI applied to the Brazilian steel industry, comparing it with the indices used in the railway and waterway sectors, and propose improvements for its structure and application, with an emphasis on decarbonization strategies. The methodology included a systematic literature review, analyzing 108 articles published between 2019 and 2024, of which 13 were selected for in-depth discussion. Additionally, sustainability reports from four major Brazilian steel companies were analyzed, along with documents from the Instituto Aço Brasil (IABR) and the World Steel Association (WSA). The comparative analysis of the Railway, Waterway, and Steel EPIs revealed that while the transportation sectors have detailed indicators and standardized methodologies, the Steel EPI lacks transparency and comprehensiveness, especially regarding decarbonization. For instance, the Railway EPI evaluates 8 environmental dimensions, including governance, energy efficiency, and waste management, while the Steel EPI primarily focuses on CO₂ emissions and energy consumption, without addressing aspects such as biodiversity, prevention of environmental accidents, or long-term decarbonization strategies. The results showed that the analyzed steel companies exhibit heterogeneous environmental performances. Based on these findings, improvements for the Steel EPI were proposed, with a focus on decarbonization. The incorporation of indicators such as energy efficiency targets, percentage of renewable energy, hazardous waste management, impact on local ecosystems, and decarbonization strategies—including the adoption of technologies like green hydrogen, biomethane, and carbon capture—is suggested. Furthermore, the adoption of standardized methodologies, similar to those used in the Railway EPI, is recommended to enable the classification of companies according to their environmental performance and their commitment to decarbonization. The implementation of these measures could transform the Steel EPI into a more robust and strategic tool, aligning the Brazilian steel industry with global best practices in sustainability and international commitments to reduce GHG emissions.