Practices of energy use management and sustainable performance in Brazilian mineral industries. Issue 4 (21st August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perlin, Ana Paula; Gomes, Clandia Maffini; Kneipp, Jordana Marques; Motke, Francies Diego
• Is Part Of: Environmental quality management. Volume 27:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 143
• Page End: 153
• Publication Date: 2018-08-21
• Subjects: energy use management -- mineral industry -- sustainable performance; Industries -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; 658.408
• DOI: 10.1002/tqem.21566
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1088-1913

Abstract

Abstract: Energy is an essential asset for the existence of industrial activities, however, the absence of energy use management may lead to numerous environmental, economic, and social impacts. Thus, industries, which are major consumers of energy, play an essential role in seeking to preserve the energy system. This study aimed at analyzing the practices of energy use management and their relation to sustainable performance in the industries within the Brazilian mineral sector. The practices of energy use management were measured using the model proposed by Liu et al. (2012, Journal of Cleaner Production, 26, 79–89). After that, evidence of sustainable performance was identified based on performance indicators developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (2006, 2010, 2014). The study is characterized as quantitative, and it was conducted through a survey of industries linked to the Brazilian Mining Association. Through our results, we verified that the practices related to energy use management existent in the companies that we studied are subjected to periodic verification of the impacts caused by company activities on the environment, and that attention to energy use provides an incentive to daily practices of energy saving. On the other hand, the practices of energy use management are still little disseminated among these companies, as is certification to the International Organisation for Standardization's (ISO) Energy Management Systems framework, ISO 50001. In general, through the analyses that we performed, we can verify the existence of positive associations between the factors related to the practices of energy use management and to corporate sustainable performance.