Artificial intelligence serving the individual
José Manuel Fernandes
Fighting climate change and protecting humanity
José Manuel Fernandes
Sustainability and the circular economy in the metal industry
Rafaela Meireles
Creative Director at Limalha
In an era in which the metallurgical sector has taken on a marked importance within the Portuguese economy, with exponential growth in exports, investment in sustainable production in order to reduce environmental impacts is crucial.
We cannot sacrifice our planet’s natural and environmental resources for growth, which is why environmental responsibility is one of the distinguishing factors in companies today, through new designs and the presentation of products in which durability is a recognised factor for a clean environment. With economic, social and environmental impacts, the aim is for metals to be successively returned to the production cycle so that they can give life to new structures, small or large, which can range from a collection of fittings to metal furniture for a restaurant. This reflection allows us to confirm that, in many cases, metal is replacing plastics and other products that have a negative impact on the world. Companies have long been developing and implementing a production planning and solid waste management system that allows them to control the use of raw materials. Thus, the recycling and reuse of waste can be seen as the real raw materials that they are. This is a technique to be incorporated into production methods, such as metal casting, where solid waste from the production of metal structures can be melted down and reintroduced into the production cycle to create new parts. The stimulation of the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy model is a reflection of the awareness of the finiteness of natural resources and that we are approaching tolerance thresholds for severe environmental degradation. Reiterating the importance of adopting a circular economy model, this is achieved with a balance between economic growth and environmental protection.
We cannot sacrifice our planet’s natural and environmental resources for growth, which is why environmental responsibility is one of the distinguishing factors in companies today, through new designs and the presentation of products in which durability is a recognised factor for a clean environment. With economic, social and environmental impacts, the aim is for metals to be successively returned to the production cycle so that they can give life to new structures, small or large, which can range from a collection of fittings to metal furniture for a restaurant. This reflection allows us to confirm that, in many cases, metal is replacing plastics and other products that have a negative impact on the world. Companies have long been developing and implementing a production planning and solid waste management system that allows them to control the use of raw materials. Thus, the recycling and reuse of waste can be seen as the real raw materials that they are. This is a technique to be incorporated into production methods, such as metal casting, where solid waste from the production of metal structures can be melted down and reintroduced into the production cycle to create new parts. The stimulation of the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy model is a reflection of the awareness of the finiteness of natural resources and that we are approaching tolerance thresholds for severe environmental degradation. Reiterating the importance of adopting a circular economy model, this is achieved with a balance between economic growth and environmental protection.
