• EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW •
value in stainless steel
“ No company will survive without sustainability, this is part of our strategy and part of our value chain.”
“ This is part of our strategy and part of our value chain.”
His perspective is rooted in a broader concern about resource use and environmental stewardship.“ Otherwise, we will destroy the world,” he says bluntly.“ We need a circular economy. We need sustainability. We need to work with renewable materials.”
For Villela, stainless steel is especially well positioned because of its durability and recyclability. Materials that last longer and can be reused reduce the need to consume additional natural resources.“ We don’ t need to replace them and produce new materials,” he explains.“ We can have a circular economy which benefits the world and future generations.”
“ Look beyond the initial cost,” he says.“ Look at the performance of the material and how sustainable the material is.”
It is a simple message, but one that captures Villela’ s broader vision for the stainless steel industry. Success will belong to companies and customers willing to think beyond short-term economics and focus instead on innovation, lifecycle value, and responsibility to future generations.“ If we move, even slowly, in the right direction, this is good,” Villela said.“ In the end, we are providing added value for the next generations.” For an industry built on durability, few insights could be more fitting.
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For Villela, this gap represents an enormous opportunity to grow the market.
“ If we double the consumption rate, we will still only be at half the rate of countries like the United States and those in Europe.” He sees growth potential across sectors where improved durability and corrosion resistance can significantly reduce lifecycle costs: agriculture, food processing, civil construction, transportation, and energy.
Sustainability as strategy, not slogan If one theme defines Villela’ s leadership philosophy, it is sustainability. He speaks about it with conviction, insisting that it is not a marketing ploy but a business imperative.“ No company will survive without sustainability,” he says.
Optimism for the next generation Despite economic volatility, import pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty, Villela remains optimistic.“ There is no other way,” he says.“ Sustainable materials with high performance are bringing added value to our daily lives.”
When asked what advice he would offer engineers and decision-makers, he returns to a principle that has been present throughout his career: material selection should be based on long-term value rather than upfront cost alone.
Rodrigo Villela, Aperam South America
Stainless Steel World Americas | June 2026 | ssw-americas. com 35