The Rio de Janeiro State Government, in partnership with the Santa Cruz Industrial District Business Association (AEDIN), the Danish organizations Clean and Kalundborg Symbiosis and the Brazilian Greenova Hub, will enable the Santa Cruz Industrial District to pioneer the development of its own industrial symbiosis project, including Ternium Brazil, starting in 2024.
When implemented in the region, the initiative foresees outcomes such as an increased collaborative relationship between industries, a better understanding of production processes and a reduction in industrial waste disposal.
Directly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals - SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) and 12 (responsible consumption and production) and with the premises established in Rio de Janeiro's Strategic Plan for Economic and Social Development (PEDES), the project also contributes to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
On February 28, Ternium attended the presentation of the project at the headquarters of the Santa Cruz Business Association (AEDIN), along with representatives of other major industries in the region, as well as members of the Rio de Janeiro State Government; the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan); and the Danish Energy Agency (DEA).
“We believe it is a worthwhile effort because, by managing to identify what is left over from a process that can be the beginning of our neighbor's process, we promote circular economy; greater sustainability in operations; and, above all, greater competitiveness,” said Pedro Teixeira, Vice President of Legal and Institutional Relations of Ternium Brasil.
He also highlighted the importance of the project not only for the industries, but for the state and the country: “Our expectation is that this industrial district will be a model for the state of Rio de Janeiro and for Brazil, and we are working with this firm purpose of promoting circularity among companies,” he concluded.
“The partnership between the government, AEDIN and Kalundborg Symbiosis is another effective milestone in the efforts to reindustrialize the state and will be extremely important for Rio's industrial districts, including those that will be created soon,” said Marina Esteves, Undersecretary of Industry, Commerce and Services.
For Raiza Morete, environmental analyst at Ternium Brazil and vice-coordinator of the Simbiosis Industrial project, it is very positive that such a project is being implemented in Rio de Janeiro, as it attracts new companies and new investments to the district. “In Brazil we have some alternatives that have been developed in terms of circular economy, but nothing like this symbiosis model. That's why we hope this project will be a pioneer for other districts in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.”
Experts from the Danish Energy Agency (DEA), Mette Skovbjerg and Kasper Havermann, who participated remotely, presented the case of the Kalundborg Symbiosis, the world's first industrial symbiosis, which started in 1972 in the Danish city of Kalundborg. In operation for more than 50 years, the public-private partnership now brings together more than 17 companies in the region and is a real success story in industrial ecology. At the end of the presentation, participants were able to ask questions about the successful Danish project.