FCA Sustainability Projects Win in two categories of the 11th Environmental Brazil Award

Sustainability actions made of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) the winner in two of five categories of the 11th Environmental Brazil Award, held by the American Chamber of Commerce of Rio de Janeiro (AmCham Rio) and it’s Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility Committees. The ceremony where the winners were announced took place in this Tuesday evening in Rio de Janeiro, and counted on the presence of 150 people.

The automotive manufacturer was awarded in two categories, Water, with the project “Solutions that maximize the rational use of water in the Betim Plant”, and Solid Waste, with the case “5R’s Method: An Ally in the management of waste in Fiat”. In the first, FCA showed how it has been reducing the consumption of water and contributing to improve the supply and quality of that natural resource. In the Betim Plant (MG), the water reuse level currently reaches 99% and, up to the end of the year will reach 99.4%. In the project concerning solid waste, FCA presented the development of innovative actions in the management of solid waste in the Betim Plant, which resulted in the reduction of waste generated (from 51% in 1994 to 2014) and to the conquest of the label “Zero Landfill” in 2011.

In 2015, the Environmental Brazil Award received 49 applications in five categories: Water, Solid Waste, Innovation, Ecosystems and Social-Environmental Responsibility. Among the judges were experts from universities, from government entities and from the private sector. In ten years, over 60 initiatives of companies, research institutions and nonprofit organizations have been acknowledged, always in association with a corporate action. In 2012, FCA (Fiat Automóveis at that time) had already won in the category Solid Waste with the case “Zero Landfill: a new view in solid waste management”.

Cristiano Felix, Occupational Safety, Health and Environmental Manager of FCA for Latin America, says that winning a price of the importance and renown of Environmental Brazil, as especially in two categories, shows that FCA is restless in seeking the best environmental concept in the automotive industry. “We didn’t build any of the projects for winning. We did it because we are thinking on the path to sustainability. We think of tomorrow so we can keep being sustainable”, says Felix.  In his opinion, the acknowledgement by Amcham Rio and the valuation of projects such as FCA’s, make people engage more and transform themselves for seeking out new opportunities. “This is an initiative that promotes sharing of new ideas, because we had a chance to show our best practices, but also to hear some other very good initiatives in the market”, he said.

Cristiano Felix pointed out that best social-environmental practices are part of FCA’s everyday-routine. “Everyone at the plant participates and engages. Currently, we have over 17 ideas per employee in our organization, providing for improvement, whether environmental, in quality and other aspects. That is really part of our DNA. And the acknowledgement makes us look for new challenges and improve ourselves more and more”, Felix concluded.

The President of AmCham Rio, Rafael Motta, pointed out the importance of companies engaging in sustainable development. “The participation of the private sector in the country’s sustainability agenda is fundamental, especially for those with a long-term business view. Amcham Rio is paying attention and, since 2005, we have been acknowledging, incentivizing and awarding the efforts of companies across Brazil”, said Motta.

Among those present at the ceremony, held at the Itamaraty Palace, Downtown Rio de Janeiro, were also authorities such as Brazil’s Environmental Licensing Agency Director Thomaz Miazaki de Toledo, and the Consul General of the United States in Rio de Janeiro, James Story.

In his speech, Toledo made a reference to the recent statements regarding sustainable decision, such as published by Pope Francisco, and highlighted the importance of an agenda that contemplates innovation and the development of renewable energy sources. “The Environmental Brazil Award is a fair tribute to the productive sector of our country”, said Toledo.

In the ceremony, AmCham Rio launched the book Environmental Brazil Award – Ten years of incentive to best corporate practice, which talks about the projects acknowledged by the institution throughout the last decade, and which also awarded FCA (Fiat Automóveis at that time) in the category of solid waste management in 2012. The content is available for download, in full, on the website premiobrasilambiental.com.