Amid technical drawings, metal components, and precision machinery, mechanical technician Fabiano Correia found a creative way to give a new purpose to materials that would otherwise be discarded. Using leftover stainless steel, metal tubing, and other surplus items from the workshop, he crafted the trophies for the “Gaia Cup,” a World Cup-inspired tournament designed to engage employees in Porto Sudeste’s Environment Week activities.

A resident of Itaguaí, married, and father of two daughters, Fabiano works in the subassemblies workshop, an area considered strategic to the terminal’s maintenance operations. It is there that weekly requests and work orders arrive for the manufacturing and refurbishment of parts used in operational equipment.

“In the workshop, we do a lot of work behind the scenes, but our role is essential to keeping operations running. Every part we manufacture or restore plays an important role in this system,” he says.

Accustomed to resource management, Fabiano has long incorporated a sustainability mindset into his daily work. So when the environmental team approached him looking for pieces that could represent sustainability, reuse, and environmental awareness, the answer was right there in his workplace. Materials destined for disposal were given a new purpose.

“When I received the request, I thought the most important thing was to create something that genuinely connected to the theme. It couldn’t just be a nice-looking trophy. It needed to embody the idea of reuse,” he explains.

Like many works of art, the process began on paper. Fabiano hand-drew the trophy designs.

“Everything started with a sketch. I kept refining the dimensions and thinking about how each piece could fit together. The biggest challenge was turning different materials into a harmonious piece. Each material had its own characteristics, so I had to make several adjustments throughout the process,” he recalls.

Fabiano transformed the concept of reuse into a tangible piece. The initiative gave a new destination to unused materials in the workshop and helped convey the sustainability message in a simple and visual way.

“Many things can still have value before they are discarded. Sometimes all it takes is a new perspective,” Fabiano emphasizes.

A mechanic on and off the job

Fabiano’s connection to mechanics extends beyond the workplace. Since childhood, he has nurtured a passion for classic cars, especially a white Volkswagen Beetle inspired by a vehicle owned by an uncle he admired when he was young. Today, the car is his pride and joy and occasionally accompanies him on his commute to work.

“The Beetle is my pride and joy. I like to take care of its maintenance myself because it’s also a way to relax and keep my passion for classic cars alive,” he says.

* This text has been translated using AI.