Gestamp, the multinational corporation specialized in the design, development and manufacture of highly engineered metal components for the automotive industry with more than 100 plants in 24 countries, has received the Zero Waste certification from AENOR. Gestamp becomes the first company in the automotive sector to achieve this, which is a recognition of the organization, as it highlights Gestamp's Circular Economy model, capable of reintroducing the waste that generates.
AENOR offers the largest catalog of environmental certificates, validations and verifications, which allow an organization like Gestamp, in those activities that provides or those products that it develops or markets, to prove its commitment to the environment, minimizing the impacts and favoring the best management of the
resources. The recognitions issued by AENOR help make the environmental commitment also a factor of competitive differentiation.
AENOR Zero Waste Certificate
The Zero Waste certificate focuses on the waste generation locations and contributes to the promotion of the circular economy, since reuse and recycling are prioritized, taking advantage of waste as raw material for new processes. Therefore, this certification, that also recognizes by a select group of Spanish corporations, reaffirms the respect that Gestamp has for the environment.
The verification has confirm that the waste management systems of 63% of the Group's plants meet the requirements of the existence of a complete traceability of waste from its generation to its delivery to a manager for its recovery, ensuring the non-existence of waste with final destination to landfill and verification of the legal requirements associated with the waste management process. Of the percentage of verified plants, 15% have obtained the Zero Waste certification (more than 90% of the waste) and the remaining 48% meet the requirements for Zero Waste (more than 60%).
Likewise, during the audit, the high collaboration and involvement of all the participating personnel has been very helpful with the process of implantation of the scheme, the order and cleanliness in the waste storage areas in all the audited plants, and also the integration of some specific requirements of the Zero Waste Management System in ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems.
To formalize the delivery of the Zero Waste certification from AENOR to Gestamp, a meeting took place at the Gestamp HQ in Madrid between the Director of Strategic Marketing and Product of AENOR, Javier Mejía and the Director of ESG and Environment of Gestamp, María Alonso.
During the meeting, Javier Mejía stated, “this certificate is aligned with the circular economy guidelines and helps to comply with regulatory developments. Likewise, the support of AENOR is a powerful tool to demonstrate with facts to all the relevant stakeholders for Gestamp, its genuine commitment to the best practices in terms of sustainability.”
For her part, María Alonso commented “Gestamp's long journey in ESG issues and how certification is one more step in Gestamp's strong commitment to the environment and the circular economy, aligned with SDG 12“ Responsible Production ”, the client, society and sustainable development. "
Gestamp ESG commitment
Environmental, social and good governance (ESG) criteria have been in Gestamp's DNA since its inception. The sustainability strategy and the fight against climate change is intrinsic to its strategy. The company has been dedicated from the beginning to the responsible manufacture of lighter metal components for vehicles and thereby contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions so that the environmental impact is reduced, always optimizing the use of natural resources and opting for the circular economy model.
The company applies environmental criteria in all stages of its production: from the selection of suppliers and optimization of raw materials and natural resources, to the management of consumption of energy and water resources necessary for the manufacture of components, waste management and the reduction of greenhouse effect gas in the product use phase.
Gestamp has a circular economy model according to which responsible waste management practices are promoted, aimed at the segregation, reuse, recycling and recovery of the vast majority of them and ensures that 98% of its waste is recycled, reused and revalued, avoiding that its final destination is the landfill. This long history in ESG matters has allowed Gestamp to position itself as a driving force in terms of sustainability among companies in the automotive components sector and industrial companies in general.