Avaliação de aspectos e impactos ambientais: estudo de caso em uma empresa de isolação termoelétrica no estado de São Paulo

Abstract

Environmental sustainability has increasingly been treated as a strategic tool for organizations, driven by reduced operational costs, improved image, business opportunities, among others. In this context, this study aimed to assess the environmental aspects of a small-scale thermal insulation company and identify improvement opportunities towards implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS). The first stage of the research involved conducting technical visits and meetings with management to describe the organization's environmental processes and practices. A flowchart was also developed to identify inputs (materials, resources, energy) and outputs (waste, emissions, effluents) of these processes. The second stage applied Barbieri's methodology (2016) to evaluate environmental aspects and impacts, assigning ratings to determine their significance and categorizing them as high or low impact. The final stage proposed actions to contribute to the continuous improvement of the organization's environmental management, aligning these actions with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Results revealed that the company already implements some environmental management practices such as solar energy use, rainwater harvesting, and holds valid environmental permits. However, challenges remain regarding solid waste management, particularly in temporary storage and final disposal of class II waste. Significant environmental aspects identified included energy consumption, waste generation, and atmospheric emissions, impacting environmental performance and increasing operational costs. Based on these findings, actions were proposed such as developing a Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP), maintaining dust-generating equipment, and conducting employee awareness programs, linked to SDGs 7, 8, 11, 12, and 13.