Roberto Rodrigues Leite

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the economic and environmental gains that result from the implementation of cleaner production in a small enterprise (SE) from the metal and mechanics industry, allowing for overcoming barriers and contributing to sustainable development goals. The research work builds on a case study that involved several data sources, including semi structured interviewing and non-participant observation. Data analysis involved the calculation of mass balance, building solid and liquid waste that were minimized in the process. The results suggest that cleaner production led to economic gains, by allowing for reduction in losses and promoting a better use of raw materials. It also led to environmental improvements by means of the implementation of a wastewater treatment station that allowed for the reuse of water in the manufacturing process. It was concluded that the economic gain in the project played a determinant role for the SE to overcome the barriers for the implementation of CP and leading to the reduction of the environmental impact in the abiotic, biotic, water and air compartments, as estimated with the Mass Intensity Factor. The study offers a timely and relevant contribution for the literature in the field, while offering insights for o managerial practice, and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations Development Program.

Small enterprises negatively affect the environment due to the inadequate disposal of manufacturing and raw material wastes generated in production processes; in addition, small enterprises do not often adopt adequate environmental practices due to barriers that include the lack of investment capacity. However, the adoption of cleaner production results in economic and environmental gains. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how Brazilian small metal mechanical enterprises can identify and overcome barriers with the aim of implementing cleaner production. The research method used multiple cases with data collected by means of interviews and observations. The results allowed us to conclude that cultural and technical barriers negatively affect the adoption of cleaner production in the small enterprises studied. However, cultural and technical barriers can be overcome by means of economic and environmental gains as well as through investment in employee training and in the acquisition of more efficient machines and equipment.

Esse trabalho tem como objetivo demonstrar por meio da metodologia de estudo de caso, a avaliação econômica da aplicação da Produção Mais Limpa na Estação de Tratamento de Efluentes de uma pequena empresa brasileira do ramo metal mecânico, na qual o ganho econômico foi de R$ 4.994,67 por mês obtidos com um investimento de R$ 4.560,00, demonstrando que a Produção Mais Limpa proporciona, com pouco investimento inicial, resultados econômicos positivos em curto prazo por meio do uso consciente dos recursos hídricos e atendendo a legislação ambiental local que trata de efluentes industriais, evidenciando que a Produção Mais Limpa é um instrumento que possibilitando obter ganhos econômicos por meio de ações direcionadas à minimização dos impactos causados ao meio ambiente pelos processos produtivos industriais.