Libra Ligas do Brasil, located in the municipality of Banabuiú – CE, has been consolidating its commitment to socio-environmental responsibility through a series of actions aimed at preserving the environment, environmental education and strengthening the sustainable culture among its stakeholders.
In partnership with the Geocorr Ambiental consultancy and in partnership with public and private institutions, the company is developing ongoing projects that dialogue with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute directly to promoting sustainability in the Central Sertão of Ceará.
Environmental Education Projects
PLLEA (Libra Ligas Environmental Education Program) is an ongoing program created five years ago by Libra Ligas in partnership with Geocorr Ambiental, with the aim of bringing environmental education to the municipality’s public schools. Carrying out a total of 20 educational activities every 4 months, the project has already reached around 2,000 kindergarten, primary and secondary school students.
The program includes municipal institutions such as the Raul Urquidi School, the Sister Elodia Nursery School, the Celestino de Souza School and the Sister Ruth School, promoting playful activities, conversation circles and dynamics on the conscious use of water, water pollution, selective waste collection and the principles of the SDGs, as well as collaborating in practice with the afforestation of schools by planting seedlings.
Every four months, the company sends SEMACE detailed reports on the activities carried out, reinforcing its commitment to transparency and institutional responsibility. PLLEA has established itself as one of the company’s main social action fronts. Its interactive approach awakens critical thinking and environmental responsibility from an early age, generating a long-term educational and community impact.
Socio-economic Contribution and Internal Awareness
Libra Ligas stands out as one of the main companies operating in the municipality of Banabuiú, directly employing more than 160 people and indirectly benefiting hundreds of families. This industrial presence represents a fundamental pillar for the region’s economic development, generating income, encouraging local trade and expanding qualified employment opportunities in the Sertão Central, playing an important role in building a sustainable and socially just economy.
Within the company, awareness-raising activities also extend to employees. In June 2024, during the celebrations for World Environment Day, an activity was held focusing on the Ecological Footprint, with technical support from Geocorr Ambiental. There were two parts to the event: a reflective conversation outdoors and the application of the Ecological Footprint test, stimulating the perception of individual impacts on the environment and promoting employee engagement in more sustainable practices inside and outside the industrial environment.
Participation in Regional Environmental Events
Representing the region’s industrial sector, Libra was also present at the 1st Intermunicipal Environmental Conference, held in November 2024 on the campus of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology (IFCE) in Quixadá. The event brought together representatives from different municipalities to discuss environmental governance, public policies, innovation and sustainability.
Professionals from the company’s Quality and Laboratory areas took part in the meeting, reinforcing Libra’s alignment with the principles of sustainability and integration between operational quality and socio-environmental responsibility.
Sustainable Partnership with Fênix Cooperative – Agape
Selective Collection and Efficient Waste Management
The Fênix Cooperative for the Production, Recycling and Commercialization of Recyclable Materials – Ágape maintains a partnership with Libra Ligas do Brasil S/A, aimed at strengthening selective collection and the responsible management of recyclable waste, especially cardboard and plastic. Through this collaboration, the cooperative collects recyclable materials in specific bays at LIBRA, ensuring control and organization in the process. In addition, big bag packaging is made available for selective collection points in the city, as well as reused metal drums for storing other waste.
Community Origin and Environmental Commitment
Fênix – Ágape was born from the initiative of waste pickers and housewives who saw recycling as a source of income and a way of preserving the environment. Today, the cooperative is an example of community organization and environmentally responsible action. Together, Cooperativa Fênix – Ágape and Libra Ligas do Brasil S/A are developing new actions and projects aimed at expanding the positive impacts of this partnership, benefiting both the community and the environment.
Investments in Sustainable Projects
Libra Ligas do Brasil has been structuring, implementing and monitoring a series of environmental engineering projects aimed at modernizing industrial processes with a focus on sustainability, controlling atmospheric emissions and complying with current legislation. These projects not only demonstrate the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility, but also strengthen its role as a benchmark in sustainable innovation in the ferroalloys sector in the Northeast.
Design of the Furnace Exhaust and Gas Treatment System
The electro-intensive furnace is the heart of Libra Ligas’ industrial process. However, due to its high energy and thermal demand, it is also one of the main points of emission of solid particles in suspension (industrial dust) and waste gases. In order to significantly reduce these impacts, a robust engineering project was started to dedust the chimney and the area around the electro-intensive furnace.
This project is based on two main premises:
The application of the concept of cleaner production, which seeks to integrate preventive measures into industrial processes, minimizing the generation of pollutants at source;
The use of industrial gas filtration technology, with the installation of a high-efficiency system capable of capturing fine solid particles and gaseous compounds before they are released into the atmosphere.
The filtering system will be responsible for:
Reduce direct atmospheric emissions;
Keeping us in line with SEMACE’s legal requirements and the standards of CONAMA Resolution 382/2006;
Significantly improve air quality around the industrial plant.
This project is already in the preparatory phase of execution and is well on its way to being completed within the stipulated timeframe, involving an expected investment of approximately R$17 million, reflecting not only the scale of the operation, but also Libra’s commitment to robust technological solutions to environmental challenges.
Design of a dedusting system for the transportation and handling of charcoal
During the transportation and handling of charcoal, an essential input in the ferroalloy production process, it is common for light particles to be dispersed, which can be carried away by the wind, negatively impacting the environment and occupational health. To mitigate these effects, Libra Ligas is carrying out a highly complex project to dedust the charcoal transportation and handling system. The main innovation adopted is the implementation of the
Execution stages:
Stage 01 – Completed on 16/09/2024: Initial implementation at critical emission points, promoting a noticeable reduction in the concentration of dispersed particles in the work environment and around the industrial plant.
Stage 02 – In progress: Improving the installed system, extending coverage and optimizing the foggers’ cycles of operation, raising the level of efficiency.
Stage 03 – Planned: Full integration of the dedusting system with the logistics schedule for receiving and burning coal, promoting automation and dynamic response to the movement of materials.
The project is well on its way to being completed within the timeframe stipulated by the competent bodies, with a total investment estimated at R$2.5 million.
Investment Values and Future Projections
Libra Ligas is conducting its environmental investments strategically, planning not only to solve current challenges, but also to anticipate future needs of the industrial operation.
Over the next three years, the company’s industrial sustainability plan includes a significant volume of financial contributions. The investments made and planned for the dedusting projects already total approximately R$20 million. The expectation is that this number will grow substantially in the coming cycles, with new environmental projects and structural adjustments based on updates to Ceará and federal environmental legislation.
Environmental Certification and Licensing
In addition to its educational and operational activities, Libra operates with total environmental regularity. The company has a current Operating License issued by SEMACE (LO No. 407/2020), which authorizes the operation of the unit for quartz and hematite processing activities in the production of metal alloys, in accordance with the technical and environmental criteria required by the state agency.
The company also has ISO 9001:2015 certification from BSI (British Standards Institution), which attests to the conformity of its Quality Management System. This certification is recognition of Libra’s commitment to continuous improvement, process efficiency and responsible management of its resources.
Final considerations
The actions promoted by Libra Ligas do Brasil demonstrate that sustainability is not just a speech, but a value incorporated into its corporate culture. Through solid partnerships, educational programs and a commitment to environmental legislation, the company continues to make progress in building a more conscious approach, connected to the needs of the local community and the environmental challenges of our time.