Operacionalização de um Sistema de Gestão Ambiental (SGA) por meio da aplicação do Programa de Qualidade Ambiental (PQA): estudo de caso em uma empresa produtora de fertilizantes

Abstract

As environmental problems grow and population become aware, companies have more and more the need to work with environmentally friendly attitudes to ensure the preservation of the environment and to develop in a sustainable way. Despite being already aware of the need to manage their environmental aspects, many companies still feature difficulties on applying environmental management practices, such as Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Currently, there are several models with the aim of guiding organizations for implementing the EMS, and guiding them as to its operationalization is fundamental to facilitate and disseminate its adoption. Therefore, this work aimed to operationalize the implementation of the Programa de Qualidade Ambiental (PQA) – i. e., Environmental Quality Program –, which is a model of EMS. In order to do this, literature research was conducted, consisting of a literature review about environmental management at organizations and EMS models developed for this purpose. In addition, for guiding and directing the implementation of the PQA, the requirements that feature an EMS were brought up, reviewed and organized into a protocol, in order to be implemented by means of field research (case study). The case study was conducted on a fertilizer producer, located in a town of Northern Paraná, being classified as small businesses. The activities were carried out during the period from November 2012 to December 2013, with the support of the consulting company CMB Consultoria Ltda. PQA operationalization was presented, with the environmental policy definition, environmental aspects and impacts survey and establishment of action plans for those of greatest significance, applicable legal requirements compliance, preparation of documents and forms of control. For the five environmental aspects identified as significant (atmospheric emissions, incorrect solid waste management, lack of containment basin in storage of liquid raw materials, lack of permanent preservation area and certificate from fire department expired), action plans were defined and implemented, including the installation of a gas treatment system, training and awareness of staff, construction of containment basins, elaboration of a reforesting project and adequacy of fire prevention facilities. Once concluded the actions, it was possible to observe that the adoption of the PQA contributed to the minimization of environmental impacts on the organization.