Brazil Steel Institute

Committed to the future generations through historically sustainable activity, Usiminas is promoting the integration of environmental management of all its companies, allowing the development of mid- and long-term corporate strategies and the expansion of initiatives in this field.

Usiminas’ commitment to the environment has been recognized since 1996, when the company became the first Brazilian steel mill to obtain ISO 14001 certification. Its environmental management model made it the only steel mill certified twice in a row with the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the sector’s most important indicator, which influences investors worldwide.

Besides promoting the adjustment of its equipment and production processes to the best environmental practice, Usiminas develops nature preservation projects and invests systematically in environmental education. One example is Project Xerimbabo, a pioneering program launched in 1984 and one of the longest-lasting social-environmental projects.

In the social field, Usiminas’ actions are guided by its Investment Policy for Community Integration, which sets forth principles and procedures necessary for providing resources to the community, in the form of sponsorship, donation or tax benefit. Under the orientation of internal committees, Usiminas aims to establish a social partnership, especially in cities with low Human Development Indexes (HDI). Thus, it applies its own resources and those arising from incentives to meet demands of the locations and people under its area of influence.

In the cultural field, Usiminas acts through the Usiminas Cultural Institute which, since its creation, has sponsored 1.2 thousand cultural projects in 50 cities, amounting to R$ 154 million. In the sports field, the company has been investing since 2007 under the benefits within the Sports Act. A total R$ 7.85 million has been invested in projects in several modalities.