Waste

Waste reduction

At Brembo, the linear economic “take-make-dispose” model based on access to large quantities of resources is now a thing of the past. These days, when accessing top-quality raw materials, which are sustainably priced and environmentally friendly, the Group undertakes to preserve the value of the natural resources for as long as possible, restricting use of new raw materials and energy from non-renewable sources in its production processes and minimising the production of waste and refuse.

The typical situation at certain production facilities — such as cast iron foundries — is a clear example of how this concept is put into practice at Brembo. A foundry primarily uses secondary raw materials, such as cuttings and discarded materials produced during mechanical processing, thereby contributing to circular waste management. The vertical integration of Brembo’s factories is a positive example of how having a foundry near the machining and assembly facility — typically housed within a single industrial complex — in most cases enables immediate reuse of scrap metal in melting furnaces. It is therefore possible to state that by their own nature the Brembo production processes are perfectly suitable for a “take-make-reuse” model which constitutes the basis for the circular economy development model. The progressive extension of circularity to all production processes is an opportunity that Brembo intends to seize in order to ensure a steady business growth that’s in balance with the environment.

During 2020, Brembo generated over 344,000 tonnes of waste, a 10% lower amount than that produced in 2019, mainly as a result of plant shutdowns due to the pandemic. The waste classed as hazardous stayed at approximately 5% of the total, whilst non-hazardous ones were 95%.

The iron casting process in the Mapello oven

Brembo is active in its approach to the circular economy with projects that involve both the product and the production process. As far as the production process is concerned, the areas for intervention aim to reduce the quantity of waste generated, as well as the possibility of re-using self-produced or third-party waste material.

Noteworthy is the start in 2020 of the pilot project in which the used alkaline batteries are utilised within the cast iron melting process in the Mapello oven. One of the main elements of the cast iron alloy is manganese, normally obtained by adding the iron-manganese alloy of primary origin to the compound; the same result is obtained using the manganese contained inside the used alkaline batteries.

This process results in an advantage for the environment, allowing safe and total disposal of waste that would otherwise be difficult to reuse, whilst at the same time reducing the environmental impact arising from the substitution of melting additives originally of primary origin.

Some of the main benefits obtained were:

• the disposal of used alkaline batteries;

• no change in the quality of the cast iron produced;

• no change in the plant’s environmental impact;

• a reduction in the product’s environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle.