Circular and efficient operations
The circular economy seeks to maximize the value of resources while minimizing waste and environmental impacts. In this model, products are designed to be durable, repairable and recyclable, encouraging the reuse and recycling of materials. Instead of following the traditional linear model of production and consumption, in which products are manufactured, used and discarded, the circular economy promotes the idea of a continuous cycle, where materials are kept in use for as long as possible.
This approach not only contributes to the conservation of natural resources but also stimulates innovation, job creation and sustainable economic growth, making it essential to address today's global challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity.
Consolidating WEG's commitment, we have ISO 14,001 certifications demonstrating environmental management in the company's operations.
Programs & Practices
Residues and energy
Solid residues
WEG operations have a selective waste collection system. In this way, residues are separated and sent to recyclers of each material, enabling their appreciation and the reintroduction of such materials in different production cycles. It is important to emphasize that part of the waste generated in the operations is recycled by WEG itself, returning to the process and forming part of its products. All waste is sent to environmentally responsible companies, selected and developed by WEG's environmental management team.
Energy
WEG has had an Energy Efficiency Policy since 2012, showing its commitment to the management of this input. This policy is deployed into actions to monitor and reduce energy consumption, which contributes to improving the environment. WEG intends to increasingly make its energy sources cleaner, renewable and sustainable.
Water, effluents and water resources
WEG monitors the water consumption of its operations and has several operational controls that ensure efficient management of this resource, thus avoiding waste and promoting conscious consumption. All effluents generated in operations are properly treated and periodically monitored in order to ensure compliance with legislation and minimize impacts on different stakeholders.
Part of the effluents treated in the operations are reused in the internal processes, where some effluent treatment plants enable the reuse of up to 100% of the treated effluent. We have adopted initiatives focused on reducing water consumption and effluent generation by controlling leaks, monitoring consumption and counting on the support of programs that engage all employees in this objective, such as KaizenWEG and WEG Manufacturing System.
Investments and expenses in the environment
Environmental investments fall into three categories:
- Environmental control: related to treatment and disposal of residues, treatment of atmospheric and liquid emissions, environmental liability insurances, depreciation of devices and expenses with materials and maintenance.
- Equipment: related to the purchase of equipment for environmental control.
- Management: related to the remuneration of training staff who act in environmental management, research and development, and certification of environmental management systems.
Sustainable packaging and biodiversity preservation
We have a packaging factory, RF Reflorestadora, in Brazil. This unit produces all the wooden packaging used in our various product lines. To that end, we have our own reforestation areas that guarantee the continuous supply of wood and the preservation of this natural resource and areas of natural forests, legal reserves and permanent preservation areas that help in the preservation of the local biodiversity.
The areas comply with all legislation and legal requirements, including an area of conservation of native forests much larger than the minimum established for the legal reserve.
Furthermore, WEG promotes and supports conscious reforestation and nature conservation initiatives and invests in the afforestation of its industrial parks.
KaizenWEG
KaizenWEG was created in 2016 and is the heart of WEG's continuous improvement management system, the WMS, where all employees are encouraged to promote improvements in their work environment or in any other areas of the company, identifying waste, analyzing causes, and participating in multidisciplinary teams for problem solving.
As one of the pillars of the Company's Participative Management, since its creation more than 300,000 improvements have been implemented, bringing more safety, quality, and productivity, as well as making the work environment increasingly efficient and sustainable.
The collective pursuit of operational excellence and sustainability in a scenario of process verticalization makes participative management a key element in boosting WEG’s results.
Watch the video of the launch of the new KaizenWEG platform:
WMS (WEG Management System)
WEG's continuous improvement management system is WMS, whose main objective is to identify and eliminate losses and waste.
Results are maximized through safety, quality, cost and GHG (greenhouse gas) emission prioritization matrices, which guide the development of projects to optimize or eliminate such waste, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable world.
In addition to the optimization work fronts, multidisciplinary teams act as central points for continuous improvement, bringing innovations and disruptions to our processes.
One of these central points is the Environment and Energy pillar, which aims at and systematizes the reduction of environmental impacts, working to reduce or eliminate the generation of waste and emissions, the consumption of energy resources, chemical cleaning and inputs in general.
Plan de Intercambio WEG (Disponible solo en Brasil)
El reciclaje es un tema serio para WEG, extendiéndose incluso a su negocio. Mediante el programa de reutilización de motores eléctricos, el "Plan de Intercambio", la empresa otorga un descuento en la compra de un nuevo motor con un rendimiento superior a los requisitos legales a cambio de uno usado. Además del beneficio financiero para los clientes, la iniciativa garantiza que el motor de baja eficiencia ya no se utilice. Una vez recogidos por la empresa, los motores se desmantelan y se separan en piezas para ser distribuidos a recicladores acreditados y rastreados.
Beneficios
Reducción del consumo de energía eléctrica
Confiabilidad de la planta
Reducción de costos operativos
Garantía de fábrica
Productos normalizados: ofrecen total intercambiabilidad con motores ya instalados
Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
Productos vendidos que pueden ser reutilizados o reciclados* (%) - Base en peso | 68 | 73 | 65 | 70 |
Productos que fueron realmente reaprovechados o reciclados por la empresa* (%) - Base en peso | 12 | 16 | 14 | 4 |
*Porcentaje basado en el peso de los productos vendidos en el año.
Inversiones en Medio Ambiente
Las inversiones ambientales se clasifican en dos categorías:
Inversiones de capital: Se refieren a la adquisición de equipos de control ambiental.
Gastos operativos (R$): Se refieren al tratamiento y disposición de residuos, el tratamiento de emisiones atmosféricas y líquidas, el seguro de responsabilidad ambiental y la depreciación de equipos, así como a los gastos de materiales y mantenimiento, y a los gastos de remuneración del personal que trabaja en gestión ambiental, investigación y desarrollo, y certificación de sistemas de gestión ambiental.
A continuación, se detalla el monto invertido en cada categoría:
Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
Inversión de capital (R$) | 1.329.000 | 1.788.000 | 1.819.000 | 11.141.393 |
Gastos operativos (R$) | 14.684.000 | 17.753.000 | 23.509.000 | 33.605.910 |
| % de cobertura (%) | 70 | 70 | 70 | 89 |
Certificación Ambiental
En 2024, considerando el alcance de los empleados, el 70,8% del grupo WEG estaba cubierto por la certificación ISO 14001.
Haga clic aquí para acceder a los certificados
Auditorías ambientales
WEG cuenta con un proceso de auditoría ambiental que abarca todas sus operaciones industriales.
En el proceso de auditoría ambiental anual, WEG garantiza el cumplimiento de la legislación ambiental en todas sus operaciones industriales.
Indicadores de Rendimiento
En 2023, se amplió el alcance de las unidades monitorizadas, incluyendo las direcciones comerciales de la empresa. Así, ahora el 100 % de las direcciones globales de WEG están incluidas en los indicadores.
Energía
WEG tiene una política de eficiencia energética desde 2012, en la que muestra su compromiso con la gestión de este recurso. Esta política desarrolla acciones para monitorear y reducir el consumo de energía, lo que contribuye a mejorar el medio ambiente. WEG tiene la intención de hacer cada vez más limpias, renovables y sostenibles sus fuentes de energía.
Consumo Total de Energía | Unidad | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Consumo total de energía no renovable | MWh | 466,737 | 462,976 | 499,355 | 478,872 | 430,848 |
Consumo total de energía renovable | MWh | 0 | 0 | 56,000 | 86,918 | 127,709 |
Consumo total de energía (no renovable + renovable) | MWh | 466,737 | 462,976 | 555,355 | 565,790 | 558,557 |
Cobertura de datos (% del denominador) | porcentaje de empleados | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Adquisición de energía renovable
En 2023, WEG garantizó que el 22,9% del consumo de energía procediera de fuentes renovables con garantía de origen mediante autoproducción, compra de certificados de energía renovable (I-REC) y contratos bilaterales.
En 2024, WEG tendrá aproximadamente el 90% del consumo de electricidad de Brasil proveniente de fuentes renovables, lo que equivale a un promedio de 45 MW.
Emisiones atmosféricas
WEG monitorea las emisiones atmosféricas relacionadas con compuestos orgánicos volátiles. A continuación se muestra el resultado de las emisiones relacionadas con equipos monitoreados en los últimos años.
Item | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
Emisiones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COV) (toneladas/año) | 93,5 | 135,2 | 114,5 | 139,3 | 191,3 | 241,3 |
Tasa de cobertura (%) | 56 | 56 | 56 | 61 | 72 | 61 |
Infracciones ambientales
Una de las principales prioridades de WEG es cumplir con la legislación ambiental aplicable a sus operaciones. En los últimos 4 años, no hubo evidencia de multas ambientales significativas aplicadas a las actividades de WEG.
