Sustainability and sustainable development are two terms that have been strongly introduced into our lives over the past year. They have also become consolidated in the business ecosystem. Sustainability, whether economic, environmental, or social, compels us to make decisions and take actions that do not constrain future generations, ensuring well-being in all of the aforementioned terms.
In this field, companies strive to improve their production and economic processes to become more efficient and optimize all the resources available to them.
GAM has committed to a sustainability project that encompasses everything from the creation of the subsidiary Inquieto, for the supply of zero-emissions equipment in Last Mile logistics, to the development of the Machinery Refurbishment Plan, which aims to reduce environmental impact by decreasing the production of new machinery and making use of available resources.
The Project
In recent years, we have become aware of the large amount of waste we generate, as well as the exponential increase in consumption. To combat pollution and the depletion of raw materials, GAM has developed a comprehensive machinery recycling project.
This project, being just one area of a much larger sustainability plan, will be launched this year, creating more than 100 jobs and significantly reducing the waste generated.
Each machine that reaches the end of its useful life will be analyzed for reuse and relaunching into the market. The idea, born from an interdepartmental working group, outlines three possible pathways for the refurbishment of the equipment:
Complete Machinery Refurbishment
Once analyzed, the machine will undergo a complete refurbishment process: replacement of parts and components, from tires to engines, control panels, and hydraulic controls. Additionally, the bodywork will be replaced if necessary, or improvements will be made to extend the machine's life so it can be relaunched on the market, sold at a lower price than newly manufactured machinery.
Component Reuse
All machines that cannot extend their useful life due to mechanical damage or safety concerns will be dismantled, and their spare parts and various components will be individually analyzed to reuse them in other machines, in order to also reduce the primary manufacturing of parts and spares.
Material Recycling
A third option considered within this plan includes all machines and components that cannot be reused for machinery manufacturing or refurbishment. Thus, in collaboration with other industries, materials will be repurposed for use in different applications and sectors. A clear example of this approach is the use of tires that can no longer provide safety for machinery. These will be used in rubber manufacturing industries that supply flooring for playgrounds.
Zero Waste, Zero Emissions
The goal of the Machinery Refurbishment Project is to transition from a linear economy to a circular and collaborative economy, where waste and emissions are reduced. With this project, not only do we decrease the consumption of raw materials and the emissions associated with manufacturing new machinery, but we also reduce the waste we generate, making use of all materials that would otherwise be discarded in a linear economy.
Plant Location
The final phase of the project, planned for the end of the year, will be concluded with the establishment of the refurbishment plant, which is currently being considered for installation in Asturias or León. The plant, initially consisting of a workforce of 40 people, is expected to accommodate more than 100 jobs within 5 years.
GAM has committed to sustainability, developing a project that encompasses various activities to achieve a sustainable future. Don’t miss the news about the launch of Inquieto, one of the projects within this plan, which aims to promote electric mobility in cities by supplying zero-emission vehicles and, through its range of hubs, seeks to optimize the logistical processes of companies.
You can read the news from Diario El Comercio about the Machinery Refurbishment Plan here.
