Our pulp production facilities are certified to ISO 14001:2015, which ensures water consumption and discharge points are systematically managed and controlled within an internal environmental management system, including consumption limits and strategies for reuse and reduction. Effluents are monitored for compliance with the discharge standards issued by the Brazilian Environmental Council (Conama 430/2011), State Decree no. 8,468/1976 and other environmental regulators.

In our water and effluent management practices, Bracell actively monitors potential environmental risks, including the contamination of surface water bodies and surrounding ecosystems due to effluent discharge. We also track actual risks, such as water stress in already vulnerable regions, which could negatively impact aquatic ecosystems and water supply for local communities. These risks are classified as having a broad geographic scope and high intensity. Bracell has internal controls in place to prevent and mitigate such risks.

None of our operations are located in areas where water discharge is legally exempt from regulation.

Effluent management in the production of kraft and dissolving pulp

To ensure compliance with certification requirements, in our São Paulo operations we have classified recipient water bodies to ensure water discharges are within specifications under our discharge permits from the Department of Water and Electrical Energy (DAEE).

We are the first company in the pulp industry in São Paulo to implement three-stage effluent treatment:

1. Primary treatment: mechanical removal of fibers and inorganic compounds through solid-liquid separation

2. Secondary treatment: biological treatment of organic matter using activated sludge systems to significantly reduce organic load

3. Tertiary treatment: an advanced filtration or “polishing” stage to ensure effluent quality prior to discharge into the Tietê River

Tertiary effluent treatment supports high-performance removal of organic load—as measured by Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)—at approximately 98% efficiency, far exceeding federal regulatory requirements (Conama Resolution 430/2011). In addition, approximately 92% of water withdrawals are returned to the Tietê River as treated effluent.

Effluent discharge limits are set in accordance with Brazilian environmental laws and standards, including Article 18 of Decree No. 8.468/1976, Article 16 of CONAMA Resolution 430/2011, the state environmental regulator’s (CETESB) Technical Reference Document, Technical Opinion 072/18/IPSE, and international eco-label standards such as Nordic Swan and the EU Ecolabel (see GRI 2-6 About Bracell for further details).

At our mill in the Camaçari Industrial Park (Bahia), process water is collected post-use and pumped to Bracell’s on-site primary treatment system, which includes a sedimentation step. The organic effluent is then sent to the local utility, which performs secondary biological treatment (activated sludge), ensuring more than 95% removal of organic load. The treated effluent is then discharged into the ocean via a dedicated outfall pipeline, in compliance with Inema Ordinance No. 16.507/2018 and No 18.841/19, Conama Resolution No. 430/2011, and other regulations issued by the relevant environmental agencies.

Effluent Management in Tissue Production (Lençóis Paulista site)

At our tissue production facility in Lençóis Paulista (São Paulo), all wastewater from paper and pulp operations is treated through a single, centralized Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Effluent from the Bracell Papéis industrial process, along with discharges from the site’s two pulp production lines, is directed to this centralized treatment system.

Effluent management in soluble and specialty pulp production (Camaçari)

At our Camaçari facility in Bahia, we ensure our effluent management practices are compliant through routine monitoring of physical, chemical, and biological parameters including Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). This parameter is used both to measure organic load and as a financial performance indicator of operational efficiency. This indicator is used to evaluate the performance of our wastewater treatment system, which comprises an on-site treatment plant at our Camaçari mill (settling or primary treatment) and another treatment plant operated by Cetrel, a company c0-located in the Camaçari Industrial Park that is responsible for secondary treatment (activated sludge) of Bracell’s effluents.

Continuous COD monitoring ensures the primary treatment system is performing optimally. The secondary treatment stage effectively reduces organic load, though due to mixing with effluents from other industrial operators within the complex, it is not possible to measure Bracell’s isolated contribution to the final effluent discharged offshore.

Continuous monitoring of our industrial wastewater ensures our dissolving pulp production process is eco-efficient. We also use indirect methods to measure the quality of our chemical recovery system, loss of fibers from the mill process, and solid retention efficiency in the on-site primary treatment system.

Our wastewater treatment system processes two primary wastewater streams:

• Organic effluents: wastewater from the mill and stormwater system containing varying amounts of byproducts from the production process. This accounts for the bulk of the effluents generated at the mill. Organic effluents are pumped to the on-site primary treatment system and then to the Cetrel-operated secondary treatment system;

• Inorganic effluents (SI): also referred to as non-contaminated wastewater, this stream is generated by the site’s stormwater system and other non-contaminated sources, such as flush water from cooling towers and heat exchangers.

Both streams are monitored in accordance with Inema Ordinances 16.507/2018 and 18.841/19. The specifications for water discharges depend on the recipient water body as outlined in the relevant federal regulations (Conama Resolution 430/2011) and requirements issued by the state environmental authority, Inema.

Effluents are collected and pumped to a wastewater treatment system comprising a preliminary treatment stage (screening and pH adjustment) and primary treatment (conventional settling and sludge removal). This process mechanically removes settable solids—essentially cellulose fibers extracted in the form of primary sludge. Following on-site treatment, the organic effluent is pumped to the Cetrel plant. Following secondary treatment, the treated effluent is discharged into the ocean via a submarine outfall.

Effluents from seedling nurseries are monitored in order to avoid alterations in soil quality. Wastewater from the washing station at our workshop in Alagoinhas (BA) is monitored to avoid alterations in effluent quality.

Effluent Management in paper production (Pombos-PE, Feira de Santana-BA, and São Gonçalo dos Campos-BA)

The effluent management systems at our Feira de Santana (BA), São Gonçalo dos Campos (BA), and Pombos (PE) mills have been designed to ensure maximum environmental efficiency and full compliance with current legislation. Each site has a different operational profile, requiring slight-specific solutions for managing the wastewater produced.

At the Feira de Santana (BA) site, where jumbo rolls are produced, the industrial process was developed as a closed-loop system, with no discharge of industrial effluents into the environment. Effluent is treated in an on-site Wastewater Treatment Plant that removes impurities to enable water reuse, reduce environmental impact, and optimize water resource efficiency.

• Preliminary treatment: the water passes through an aerated pond, which stabilizes temperature, pH, and flow rate while ensuring adequate oxygenation before the effluent enters the main treatment system

• Primary treatment: in the primary clarifier, heavier solids settle out, and the resulting primary sludge is sent for thickening and centrifugation

• Secondary treatment: the effluent flows to the equalization stage, which maintains flow and oxygen levels. It then moves to aeration, where aerobic bacteria break down dissolved organic matter. Next, the secondary clarifier separates the activated sludge. A portion of the sludge is returned to the aeration stage, while excess sludge is removed as necessary. The extracted sludge undergoes thickening and centrifugation. The dewatered solid fraction is sent to a licensed sanitary landfill, and the separated water is returned to the process. The clarified water flows into a cistern, where it is directed to final filtration units that remove fine particulate matter. The filtered water is then stored in a reuse tank and pumped back to the paper machines. This closed-loop system ensures high-efficiency removal of contaminants while maximizing water reuse within the industrial process.

The São Gonçalo dos Campos (BA) and Pombos (PE) sites produce disposable diapers and convert jumbo rolls into end products. These sites use dry-process technology, which does not require water, and only sanitary effluents are generated. As a result, no industrial effluent is generated at these sites. Sanitary effluents are collected through dedicated systems and periodically removed by vacuum trucks that transport the material to licensed treatment stations: in São Gonçalo dos Campos (BA), the waste is sent to the Feira de Santana Wastewater Treatment Plant (BA), while in Pombos (PE), it is sent to the Recife Wastewater Treatment Plant (PE).