Kirin Brazil acts on environmental management to avoid risk

Beverage maker Kirin Brazil comes constantly investing to make its production more sustainable. The strategy, in addition to strengthening the image of the company, has helped to reduce exposure to environmental hazards in recent years.
"By working with this scenario in anticipation of risk related to sustainability, we have reduced our exposure to issues such as water scarcity," says the Vice President of Corporate Affairs and sustainability of the company, Juliana Nunes.
She tells that all actions of the manufacturer take into account the environmental impact and seek always to be more sustainable alternatives.
The main example of this change appeared last year. Amid water crisis that affected the State of São Paulo, Brazil Kirin didn't need to interrupt its activities in the industrial park of Itu (SP) and still managed to make the surplus of water for the municipality.
The action was the result of investment in the nascent recovery in the region. The Executive mentions that in addition to recovery projects, the Kirin Brazil maintains initiatives to reduce water consumption.
In the Campos do Jordão (SP) the reduction in the use of water reached 30% and Horizon (EC) stood at about 23%. Juliana recalls that the percentages of water use in factories rely heavily on product mix that makes up each row. "But more broadly sustainable practices are replicated on all drives", explains.
In the factory of Manaus (AM), where they are produced soft drink concentrates, she highlights the actions to capture rainwater.
"This water is used in a discharge of lavatories and washing of the external areas of the plant, which generates a 10% saving on the volume consumed every month," she says.
The economy with the action depends on the amount of rainfall in the region. Juliana says that even in the Amazon, the company doesn't stop working with a possible water shortage scenario, concern is increasing in recent years.
"The trend is that our actions increase sustainability by necessity, as last year during the water crisis and the perception that this engagement is extremely relevant to the business", says the Executive.
Energy
Juliana cites the search for alternative sources of energy generation as another important point in the company's sustainability strategy.
"We have seen the result of these actions in the increase in the participation of renewable fuels production, which translates into a clean energy matrix," he says.
Between 2008 and 2014, Brazil Kirin was able to reduce the use of fuels in 20% and energy consumption by 8%. Part of this reduction is the result of replacing the use of natural gas in boilers for solar heating in the industrial park of Manaus.
"Solar modules were installed in this unit, generating savings of 50% in gas consumption for heating boilers."
By having two well-defined seasons, with prevalence of rain and Sun for the most part, the weather in Manaus favors the actions deployed by the company, recognizes the Executive.
She reports that even during the winter and on rainy days you can still save 15% of the gas consumed in the boilers in Manaus.
"The use of biomass has also contributed to the advance of renewable fuels consumption in our energy matrix", details Juliana. The biomass used by the company is generated in the treatment of effluents and burns in boilers in different factories.
According to her, because it is a by-product of the manufacturing process, biomass also represents savings of resources for the company.
Currently, Brazil Kirin makes use of biomass in the units of Alagoinhas (Bahia), Cachoeiras de Macacu (RJ), horizon (EC), Igrejinha (RS), Itu (SP), and Recife (PE).
For Juliana, despite the positive feedback of the actions, it is still possible to make progress in sustainable management. "We invested in that area a few years ago and no doubt we will be able to see more sustainability projects in brief", ensures the Executive.