OREANDA-NEWS. AperamSouth America won another important award in 2013. It is in the list of themost sustainable companies of the year, according to Guia Exame de Sustentabilidade. Aperam also received a specialdistinction as the most sustainable company in the category BiodiversityManagement. The publication highlights the best practices of corporateresponsibility in Brazil.

Held onWednesday night (Nov. 6), in Sao Paulo, the award ceremony was attended by theCEO of Aperam South America, Clenio Guimaraes, the head of Health and Safety ofAperam Group and Human Resources Director, Ilder Camargo, the president ofAperam Acesita Foundation, Venilson Vitorino and the Commercial Director,Frederico Ayres, as well as managers from the commercial area.

This isthe fifth time Aperam South America is elected a model-company insustainability, according to the publication. The company had already been chosen in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2011. Thisyear, 184 companies applied, among which 61 were appointed as more sustainablein the country, in addition to the best 20 companies per sector and the winnersin seven categories.

Among thesustainability projects of Aperam South America, Guia Exame de Sustentabilidade highlighted the high rate of waterrecirculation in the productive process - 95% - in addition to the wastereduction in the process of steel making as a whole. The publication alsohighlighted the actions promoted in regions where the Company operates.

AperamSouth America has been promoting environmental awareness and education projectsfor 20 years at the Environmental Education Center - Oikos. The place, a large reserve of AtlanticForest, receives more than 20 thousand people per year. Through Aperam AcesitaFoundation, the Company has contributed for 19 years for the local developmentin an integrated and sustainable way. In2012 only, more than 98 thousand people were involved in programs and projectsfocusing on education, culture, environment and social promotion.