Eco-efficient operations

Water

The Holding and the businesses are in line with the relevant legislation regarding the use of water. They monitor consumption and discharge and adopt measures to minimize impacts. In 2021, the Ultra Group consumed 5.8 million m³ of water, a reduction of 3% compared to the previous year. All the water withdrawn is fresh water. Of the total volume of water withdrawn by the Group in 2021, more than 90% was consumed in Oxiteno due to the nature of its operations. In addition to being a raw material for some products, water is used in the company’s production processes, mainly in heating and cooling systems and steam generation. The company has set a target for 2030 to reduce its global water consumption by 10% and increase the volume of reuse water. Today, for example, at the Mauá unit (SP), 96% of its water withdrawal is reuse water. The units treat effluents and discharge them into water bodies in accordance with the standards required by law.

The water consumption of the Holding, is low and decreased by 17% during the year compared to 2020. It’s consumption is predominantly for domestic use but it also reuses water in its cooling tower. Of the total water represented by the Holding during the year, 14.4% was reuse water. In Ultragaz, the activities of washing bottles and painting cabins represented the majority of its water consumption. To minimize the withdrawal of fresh water, the company adopted a closed-circuit system to recirculate water. The company estimated that 90% of the water used in this process is recirculated. The bottling bases have effluent treatment plants. The water that cannot be reused is removed by certified companies for final discharge. Ultragaz reduced its water consumption by 14% compared to 2020 through a combination of awareness campaigns, improvements to the leakage prevention systems and the pro-active search for improvements by a work-group established to study the theme.

Ultracargo uses reuse water at its terminals in Santos (SP), Itaquí (MA) and Vila do Conde (PA). Furthermore, it reuses water in hydrostatic testing which, in 2021 alone, generated a reduction in water consumption of 36 thousand m³ in the Phase III expansion of the Itaquí terminal and 97 thousand m³ in the construction of the Vila do Conde terminal.

In Extrafarma, the water consumption, which is primarily for domestic use, was 30% lower compared to the previous year. In Ipiranga, where water is used mainly in the administrative areas and in the operating units’ fire-fighting systems, the consumption was similar to 2020.

Water Withdrawal¹ (m³)

Water discharge (m³)

 

Waste

Of the total waste generated by the Holding and the businesses, 2.6% was recycled or recovered. Considering only hazardous waste, 1.1% was sent for recycling or recovery.

Ultragaz has a policy of not sending hazardous waste (class I) to landfill, even if it authorized to do so by the official waste control body. The only exception to this policy is asbestos waste, which is sent to landfill, in line with the relevant legislation. All suppliers that carry out waste management for the company are evaluated under a specific approval process.

Ultracargo also has a specific approval process for suppliers who manage the waste generated in their operations. As part of the constant search for the continuous improvement of its environmental management, in 2021, the company improved the accounting of non-hazardous waste and increased the amount of such waste destined for recycling at its Santos (SP) terminal.

Oxiteno has set targets to reduce the generation of waste per ton produced by 10% by 2030 and achieve zero landfill for industrial waste. The waste management process applies to all units, with monthly monitoring of the waste generation and destination indicators. The company actively promotes the recycling and co-processing (for energy recovery) of waste. When this is not possible, waste is incinerated or, as a last resort, sent to certified industrial landfills. Currently, the company only sends waste to industrial landfills in Uruguay, where the options for disposal are restricted, and in Pasadena, United States.

In Ipiranga, the impacts from waste generation occur in the company’s own activities and in its service stations, due to the storage and distribution of fuels. To manage these impacts, the company has a set of internal procedures and it carries out regular inspections and maintenance at the service stations in its network. The waste management procedures include actions to prevent leaks. They are designed to ensure the integrity of the leak barrier and protection systems. The company also monitors atypical situations and process accidents. The company’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) has a center for sorting waste and it sends recyclable materials to waste-picker cooperatives that have now been partners for six years.

Waste Management¹

Eco-efficiency Initiatives

The Holding and the businesses have carried out a number of projects aimed at increasing eco-efficiency. Some examples are as follows.

 

Zero Waste to Landfill

Ultragaz has already made progress towards achieving zero waste to landfill. The Mauá (SP) unit was the first unit to commit to the goal and, in July 2021, it was awarded the Zero Landfill Seal, by the company Multilixo.

The initiative avoided approximately 79 tons of waste from being sent to landfills and reduced the costs of waste treatment at the unit by 20%.

Rain Water Catchment

Ultracargo’s terminal in Santos (SP) has a rainwater catchment system. After being treated, the water is used for the hydrostatic testing of tanks and in the cleaning of common areas, among other uses. In 2021, around 30 thousand m³ of rainwater were reused.

The technology has also been applied in the new terminal in Vila do Conde (PA) and in the recently expanded area of the terminal in Itaqui (MA).

Oxiteno has also adopted this practice. In 2021, 35 thousand m³ of rainwater were collected at the Oleoquímica unit, in Camaçari (BA), and 659 m³ in Coatzacoalcos (Mexico)

In Ultragaz, the design of the new base in Miramar (PA) included a rainwater catchment system.

  

Renewable Energy

Ultragaz, Ultracargo and Ipiranga acquired renewable energy certificates (I-RECs) to offset the GHG emissions from their consumption of purchased electricity in 2021, positively impacting the Group’s performance in Scope 2 emissions.

The Holding, acquired I-RECs in 2022 and they will be used to offset GHG emissions linked to the purchase of energy in 2021.

Solar Energy Plant

In 2021, Ipiranga expanded its Solar Energy Plant project – more than 14 plants are now under construction. They are expected to generate a total of more than 40 MW h/year and will supply more than 530 service stations and franchises in the network, generating a reduction of 11 thousand tons of CO₂e and annual cost savings of R$ 5 million.

The first plants had been scheduled to go into operation in 2021, but the completion of the project was postponed to 2022.

Extrafarma already owns five solar energy plants in Marabá (PA) and Cedro (CE). The energy produced is used by its network of local distributors, generating credits for the company in its future energy bills. The installed capacity is sufficient to supply 116 stores in the State of Pará and 89 stores in the State of Ceará.