Promigas: energy with Zero Waste impact

Promigas is a leading energy company with more than 50 years behind it, connecting markets with energy sources and creating value through responsible environmental management. Through an ecosystem of 21 companies, the organisation provides solutions in natural gas transport and distribution, LNG regasification, electricity and integrated services for industry, establishing itself as a key player in Latin America's energy development. Its operation has been decisive in bringing natural gas to the mass market in countries such as Colombia and Peru, where more than 7 million users now have access to these services, a genuine social transformation, especially among lower-income communities. That impact rests on a robust infrastructure of more than 3,293 kilometres of gas pipelines, through which it transports 56% of the country's natural gas, and on strategic initiatives such as operating Colombia's only regasification terminal and developing renewable energy projects aimed at cutting emissions.

Against that backdrop, sustainability has stopped being a complementary component and become a structural pillar of its business strategy. Promigas has been progressively embedding environmental criteria into its operation, with a clear focus on resource efficiency, impact reduction and the incorporation of circular economy principles into its processes. That path takes concrete form in obtaining Zero Waste Management System (SGZW) Certification, awarded by ICONTEC, the conformity assessment body, for its operation in Barranquilla, Colombia, with the backing of Global Zero Waste, the international NGO leading the expansion of the Zero Waste model. This recognition validates compliance with the requirements set out in the International Standard for Zero Waste Management Systems version 5, applied to the maintenance of natural gas transport and distribution systems, and reflects the organisation's ability to structure, implement and sustain a management system aligned with international standards.

Recognition that validates structured management

The certificate obtained recognises outstanding performance by the system implemented, with a score of 81.49, which earned it the Gold Category, one of the highest distinctions within the model. This result shows not only the soundness of the system but also the organisation's maturity in the integral management of its waste, bringing in practices that go beyond regulatory compliance and are geared towards creating value. Implementing the SGZW has meant a structured process of internal transformation, in which clear guidelines have been defined, operational capabilities strengthened and an organisational culture based on continuous improvement fostered.

Results that show a transition towards the circular economy

The progress made by Promigas is reflected in concrete results that show a real transition towards the circular economy. Among them, the complete elimination of single-use plastic cups stands out, avoiding the consumption of more than 600,000 units a year, along with a 54% reduction in waste sent to final disposal, which demonstrates a significant change in the efficiency of the system. In addition, the organisation has reached recycling levels above 60%, strengthening its recovery chains and bringing in valorisation practices that maximise the use of materials.

These results respond to a strategic vision that sees waste management as an opportunity to optimise processes, cut costs and generate positive impacts on the surrounding environment. In that vein, Promigas has made headway in embedding sustainability criteria into its relationship with suppliers, in identifying reverse logistics opportunities and in developing material reuse initiatives, widening the scope of its management beyond its direct operation. This approach also ties in with its social commitment, promoting projects that drive waste recovery in communities and create sustainable economic opportunities.

The achievement is, to a large extent, the result of the commitment of its teams, who have built sustainability into their daily work, strengthening ownership of the 3R strategies and consolidating an organisational culture geared towards environmental performance. Along this road, the organisation continues to advance in its process of continuous improvement, with the aim of strengthening the measurement of its indicators, optimising waste traceability and exploring new opportunities for innovation that allow it to keep positioning itself as a benchmark in sustainability within the energy sector.

At Global Zero Waste, we congratulate Promigas on its effort and its commitment to sustainability in the efficient management of materials and waste!