SUSTAINABILITY IN THE METAL INDUSTRY: HOW SMALL CHANGES IN PROCESSES CAN GENERATE BIG IMPACTS

Abstract

This article analyzes sustainability in the metallurgical industry, with emphasis on how small changes in production processes can generate significant environmental and economic impacts. The study, of bibliographic and documentary character, was structured from dissertations, scientific articles, technical reports, and case studies related to sustainability in the metallurgical and metal-mechanical sector. The results indicate that simple adjustments, such as proper waste segregation, scrap reuse, replacement of polluting inputs, and preventive maintenance of equipment, can significantly reduce costs and mitigate socio-environmental impacts. It was also found that practices such as rational energy use, innovation in cutting fluids, and by-product utilization increase companies' competitiveness in increasingly demanding markets. The critical analysis shows that sustainability should be treated as an organizational strategy, capable of integrating technological innovation, production efficiency, and environmental responsibility, consolidating itself as an indispensable element for contemporary industry.