Meeting dealt with environmental and social issues for a more sustainable future in the sector
On the last day of EXPOBOR and PNEUSHOW 2024, there was room for an important topic for the future of the rubber industry. Henrique de Oliveira Brito, partner-owner of Bristein Consultoria Técnica e Comercial, gave a panel presentation on how the rubber industry operates when it comes to ESG.
“Sustainability and ESG exist in the same logic, but sustainability has a broader, older and globally accepted concept. This concept is: to satisfy the current generation without compromising the capacity of future generations. Sustainability is more than environmental protection; it also involves economic development and social development. Young people no longer want to work for companies that are not engaged with ESG issues, and they are right to do so,” said Brito.
The speaker then stressed the importance of governance as the basis for good ESG practices. “If a company doesn’t have good governance, the other elements are compromised. Sustainability and social issues need to be incorporated into governance, thus generating good practices that will have long-term benefits.
This does not mean, however, that thinking about the environment is a secondary issue. Brito presented studies showing that in the next ten years, five out of ten global risks will be environmental risks.
Although data shows that various aspects of the rubber industry are polluters, their share of total pollutant emissions in Brazil is very small. Even so, Brito stresses that the rubber industry must be concerned with reducing its environmental impact. “We’re all in the same boat and we’re already impacted by climate change. ESG is about going beyond what is asked of us, about maximizing positive impacts and mitigating negative ones.”
Brito cited the tire retreading industry as a practical example of sustainability and the application of good ESG practices. Data from the ABR (Brazilian Tire Retreading Association) shows that in the last ten years, tire retreading has produced 80 million commercial tire retreads and 52 million car tire retreads. This has saved approximately five billion liters of oil over the period. “Tyre retreading is decarbonization and circular economy.”
To end his speech, the speaker called on companies that are not yet dedicated to ESG issues to start applying this philosophy, pointing out that it is important to align practices with the company’s strategies, citing six fundamental points in the journey of applying the concept: knowing in order to understand and decide; diagnosing in order to know the starting point; planning the implementation; implementing; measuring, monitoring and correcting; reporting and communicating.
“The important thing is to start. Correct if necessary. Remember: as soon as you do this externally, it will be a public commitment,” concluded Brito. The term ESG first appeared in 2004 in the publication Who Cares Wins, produced by the Global Compact and the World Bank. The acronym refers to the terms Environmental, Social and Governance. Since then, the three pillars have become increasingly important for building a more inclusive, sustainable and ethical society.
SERVICE
EXPOBOR AND PNEUSHOW 2024
Days and times: From June 26 to 28, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Venue: Expo Center Norte – Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333, São Paulo – SP
Official EXPOBOR and PNEUSHOW 2024 website – click here
Official registration page – click here
About EXPOBOR
EXPOBOR, the main and largest rubber technology event in Latin America, brings together products, machinery, solutions and innovations for the production of rubber artifacts in various industrial segments, such as the automotive industry, mobility, footwear, oil, pneumatics, steel, electronics, construction, hospitality, among others. The fair offers a complete experience, including exhibitions, networking, business opportunities, congresses, seminars, lectures and special projects in partnership with academic and sector entities, making it an international benchmark in industrial technology.
About PNEUSHOW
PNEUSHOW is the sector’s leading trade fair, presenting products, machines, solutions and innovations that cover all stages of a tire’s useful life. Manufacturers, dealers, retreaders and transporters come together every two years to drive the evolution of technology on wheels and contribute to a more sustainable society. PNEUSHOW offers a complete experience for participants, with exhibitions, networking opportunities, congresses, seminars, lectures and special projects developed in collaboration with academic partners and representative sector entities. The event is an international reference in tire production and retreading technologies, connecting the present with the future of innovation in mobility.
About Francal
Francal was founded in the city of Franca, in the interior of São Paulo, in 1969. For 55 years it has contributed to fostering economic and social development, operating in 15 multiple sectors, attracting connections between national and international companies. In more than five decades, we have become one of the largest and most solid event promoters in the country and today we have 16 fairs in our portfolio. In 2024, established as an ecosystem for events, Francal envisions an upwardly mobile future in offering connections and advancing business.