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Located in the south of Minas Gerais, the Poços de Caldas unit distinguishes itself because of its sustainable development. Examples of investments in this area are many: they range from the installation of sophisticated environmental control equipment in the unit, the reuse of materials to economize fossil fuels, the reuse of water from the plant (Zero Discharge Project) to the rehabilitation of mined areas – this pioneering work in Brazil is recognized worldwide and even served as a model for the Rehabilitation of Mined Areas Manual, produced by IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources).
Another example of environmental responsibility is the Alcoa–Poços Environmental Park, inaugurated in May, 1993. The Park covers 216 hectares and has huge biodiversity. By December, 2007 the place had received visits from 82,212 students. In 1999, it became a Natural Heritage Private Reserve (RPPN).
The Poços de Caldas unit was also a pioneer in Minas Gerais in the implementation of nature trails in rehabilitated bauxite mine areas. Forming part of the visit program to the Alcoa-Poços Environmental Park the trail is 300 meters long and ends in a outlook point from where it is possible to see extensive restored areas, which allows the community to know at first hand the work being developed by the unit in recovering mined regions.
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