Waste

Over time, economic development and technological progress have resulted in the production and accumulation of very large quantities of waste. From consumer goods to food waste, construction and demolition waste, mine waste and industrial waste and scrap, the amount of waste generated is closely tied to consumption and production models. An increasing quantity of such waste is recycled or composted, but treatment and disposal processes are not always readily feasible. Often they are very complex and run the risk that, due to mismanagement, they may become sediment that pollutes the environment and harms human health.

In fact, the generation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste from industrial processes may result in pollution of the soil, water or air and may have adverse consequences in terms of altering the ecosystem, such as soil or water contamination due to possible leaching or accidental leaks, or because of entrusting waste to third parties without the required authorisation. To reduce and mitigate such impacts, as part of its Environment and Energy Management System Brembo has prepared a Waste Management procedure in which it defined operating requirements inspired by available best practices to ensure responsible, consistent management of these aspects at all Group plants. For example, specific solutions are adopted for temporary waste storage areas at plants, which must be designed using systems that prevent the effects of atmospheric agents on the waste.

The procedure focuses on circular economy criteria, with all plants urged to identify every possible opportunity to apply them. This is an aspect to which Brembo has devoted a great deal of energy. The linear “take-make-dispose” economic model based on having access to only seemingly unlimited resources is increasingly ill-adapted to Brembo’s environment, especially given the need to access high quality raw materials with sustainable costs, whilst being mindful of the environment.

The very nature of some of the production processes, such as cast iron foundries, means that they are suitable as a model for applying the "take-make-reuse" concept on which the circular economy is based. The raw materials procured by a foundry are for the most part of secondary origin, resulting from machining process waste rather than from the product of the ferrous scrap salvage chain. The progressive extension of circularity to all production processes is an opportunity that Brembo intends to seize in order to ensure a steady growth of its business that’s in balance with the environment.

In 2022, Brembo generated a total of about 461,000 tonnes of waste, a 16% increase on 2021 due to higher production volumes and the inclusion of the Spanish and Chinese plants. The distribution of hazardous waste remained at 5% of total waste generated, in line with previous years, just as the percentage of waste sent for disposal in dumps, which remained at 15% of the total.

From primary to secondary aluminium

Producing a brake caliper using secondary aluminum to replace, in whole or partly, the primary one while ensuring equal performance, quality and aesthetic criteria is one of key goals in the field of sustainability.

The development of the calipers of tomorrow, fully made of recycled aluminium, will allow to reduce CO2e emissions by about 80% in the next decade compared to the current levels. The expected result will be achieve through a series of subsequent steps including:

• the gradual increase of aluminium produced with renewable energy;

• purchase of “hybrid” alloys made of a growing amount of renewable aluminium.

• the production of calipers made entirely from recycled aluminum.