Our pulp is produced from certified eucalyptus plantations, responsibly cultivated in areas that alternate with native vegetation designated for conservation. This mosaic approach promotes ecological balance and helps protect local biodiversity.

As part of our Bracell 2030 commitments, we strive to amplify our positive impact about biodiversity and natural landscapes. Our goal is to help conserve 230,000 hectares of native forests on public land by 2025, in collaboration with the state governments where we operate. At yearend 2024, we reached 186,000 hectares across conservation sites in the states of São Paulo, Bahia, and Mato Grosso do Sul— meeting the year’s target in full.

We also invest in research on biodiversity conservation. In 2024, we supported eight research projects on environmental preservation, meeting our annual target.

Another key commitment is to double the number of areas certified by environmental agencies for wildlife reintroduction into native forests under our management, aiming for six or more such areas by 2030. We ended 2024 with four certified release sites in the Northeast of Brazil, including in the Atlantic Forest and, most recently, in the Caatinga biome. These include:

• Atlantic Forest (2022 baseline):
  • Fazenda Cachoeira (Entre Rios, Bahia)
  • Fazenda Sergipe (Jandaíra, Bahia)
  • RPPN Lontra (Entre Rios, Bahia)
• Caatinga (certified in 2024):
  • Fazenda Raiz (Água Fria, Bahia)

Fazenda Raiz, in Água Fria (BA), is the first certified release site in the Caatinga biome. In 2024 alone, a total of 476 wild animals were released in the four certified sites managed by Bracell, as part of our commitment to protecting native species and restoring ecosystems in the regions where we operate.

2030 Biodiversity Monitoring Plan

We also implemented the first year of our action plan to protect endemic and endangered species, with initiatives carried out in our priority conservation areas. In 2024:

1. In 2024, we hosted a workshop with experts to establish project assumptions, metrics and methodology
2. We identified Bracell’s priority conservation areas in the municipalities of Oriente (SP), Santa Rita do Pardo (MS) and Esplanada (BA)
3. We established benchmark areas for comparing habitat conditions and species composition, located in Gália (SP), Três Lagoas (MS), and Itanagra (BA).

Key biodiversity conservation practices

Biodiversity and ecosystems are material topics for Bracell and strategic from the perspective of our stakeholders. Our environmental conservation commitment is translated into a structured management approach based on operational policies, programs, and operational practices to protect and restore natural resources in the regions where we operate.

Bracell’s approach to managing material topics includes actions focused on:

• Preserving and restoring forests
• Protecting animal and plant species
• Preventing forest fires
• Zero deforestation

These management practices are embedded in Bracell’s Sustainability Policy and in the internal procedures of our Integrated Management System. Internal procedures provide guidelines to ensure our biodiversity efforts are effective, through sustainable forest management aligned with international forest certification standards, ensuring ecosystem conservation and regulatory compliance.

To ensure our biodiversity efforts are effective, we implement sustainable forest management practices aligned with international forestry certification standards, supporting ecosystem conservation and compliance with the highest environmental standards.

In our operations, we implement biome-specific strategies for the protection of native vegetation and biodiversity in the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes—ecosystems that host a wealth of biological diversity.

These practices are formalized in our Sustainability Policy, which guides our decisions and reinforces Bracell’s commitment to nature protection as an essential part of our business model.

Key practices to protect biodiversity and ecosystems:

• We do not convert areas of native forest into eucalyptus plantations. Our forestry operations are established exclusively in previously disturbed land—typically degraded or low-yield pastures, or land formerly used for other agricultural activities. Bracell has no operations in protected areas or Legal Reserves or on peatlands.
• We cultivate eucalyptus in forest mosaics, interspersing plantation areas with native vegetation designated for conservation (including Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga formations). This approach creates wildlife corridors that benefit biodiversity, ecosystem services, and natural landscapes.
• Our soil management practices designed to preserve physical, chemical, and biological soil properties through minimum tillage techniques.
• We retain post-harvest residue, such as bark, branches, and leaves. This reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, protects the soil from leaching, and increases organic matter content.
• We maintain natural pest control through Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM). This leverages genetic resistance and natural predators to maintain ecological balance. Pesticides are used on a need-only basis
• Conserving protected areas and biodiversity. Bracell has no operations in protected areas or legal reserves or on peatlands.
• We use official data from the Rural Environmental Register (CAR) to georeference all the farms we manage. In our geographic information system, we intersect this data with other data sets, such as those compiled in our protected areas and buffer zones. This process informs our operational procedures on each property, depending on the constraints and conditions set in management plans.
• Over 30% of land owned by our forestry operations is used for preservation and conservation of native vegetation. Land use planning on our farms follows criteria established by Brazil’s Forest Code (Law No. 12.651/2012).
• We have a Degraded Land Restoration Program that uses planting techniques, soil quality improvements, and erosion control to restore degraded land.

We manage four Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) in the state of Bahia, totaling over 3,000 hectares of fully protected areas. One of them, the Lontra RPPN, is the largest private conservation site on the northern coast of Bahia. With 1,400 hectares, it is recognized by UNESCO as an outer barrier of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve.

Targets and commitments

In managing the material topic Biodiversity and Ecosystems, our Bracell 2030 roadmap establishes a set of targets within the Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity pillar. These include:

– Preserve 230,000 hectares native vegetation in public protected areas in the states of São Paulo, Bahia and Mato Grosso do Sul

– Protect natural habitats and endemic threatened species monitored in priority areas for biodiversity conservation

– Support the reintroduction of animals into the wild, with a goal of having at least six certified release sites

– Support at least ten research projects on biodiversity conservation per year

Details on each of these targets and our 2024 performance are available under Bracell 2030.

Impacts and risks

We have conducted a comprehensive assessments of potential and actual, positive and negative impacts related to the material topic Biodiversity and ecosystems, to inform strategies to mitigate them.

One-to-One Commitment

An industry first in Brazil, our One-to-One Commitment establishes that for every 1 hectare of eucalyptus planted, Bracell will support the conservation of 1 hectare of protected area. This commitment includes the conservation of both areas managed by Bracell and public areas through collaborations with state governments in the areas where we operate.

In 2024, we reached 97% of our target, preserving 0.97 hectares of protected areas for every hectare of eucalyptus planted. This data was independently verified by a qualified third-party organization.

As this is a permanent commitment, once the 100% goal is reached, the total area designated for environmental conservation will continue to grow in tandem with the expansion of our eucalyptus plantations, ensuring a consistent balance between production and environmental protection beyond 2025.

This initiative also directly supports our broader goal of conserving 230,000 hectares of native forests on public land by 2025 under the Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity pillar of Bracell 2030. In 2024, we committed to the protection and conservation of 186,000 hectares of public lands across the states of São Paulo, Bahia, and Mato Grosso do Sul.

0.97 ha of native forests for every 1 ha of planted eucalyptus forest in 2024.

186,000 hectares of public land designated for conservation as part of Bracell 2030’s Biodiversity and Landscapes targets.

2024 Highlights

As part of our One-to-One Commitment, we established new partnerships in 2024, expanding the reach of the initiative and strengthening structural conservation initiatives in different regions of the country.

A key milestone was a ten-year agreement signed with the Government of Mato Grosso do Sul, covering preservation and conservation activities in four major state conservation sites: Nascentes do Rio Taquari, Pantanal do Rio Negro, Prosa, and Matas dos Segredos State Parks—totaling 115,825 hectares of protected areas.

We also made progress in negotiations with the Government of Bahia to help preserve forest areas in the Pituaçu Park, in the Salvador Metropolitan Region.

In the state of São Paulo, our One-for-One Commitment already covers more than 69,000 hectares, including 11 conservation sites, such as state parks, ecological stations, and wildlife refuges. These agreements are implemented in partnership with the São Paulo Forest Foundation under a long-term conservation plan.

Initiatives as part of our One-for-One Commitment are implemented in collaboration with local partners, based on a structured impact strategy focused on five main areas:

• Territorial protection and forest fire prevention
  
• Biodiversity restoration, monitoring, and management
  
• Environmental education and training
  
• Stewardship programs, including investment in park infrastructure
  
• Technological innovation applied to conservation.
  

Ten-year agreements with the governments of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul to implement structural initiatives as part of our One-to-One Commitment.

One-to-One Commitment Initiatives in 2024

Protected Areas under our One-to-One Commitment

Expressão de Ecologia Award

Bracell was honored with the Green Wave Trophy after winning the Natural Resources Conservation category at the Expressão de Ecologia Awards, in recognition of our One-to-One Commitment. This award, organized by Editora Expressão, is the longest-standing environmental accolade in Brazil and is officially recognized by the Ministry of the Environment.

In 2024, for the first time, the award included initiatives from outside the Southern Region of Brazil. A total of 100 projects were submitted.

In 2024, Bracell participated in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s Conference of the Parties (COP-16) in Cali, Colombia, where we showcased our One-to-One Commitment.

Track record of initiatives

Beyond the initiatives carried out in 2024, the One-to-One Commitment has already achieved several key milestones in reaching its goal. Since its launch in 2022:

• In 2023, Bracell signed a ten-year commitment with the São Paulo Forest Foundation to sponsor environmental protection initiatives in significant Atlantic Forest and Cerrado formations.
• In 2022, we signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the Bahia State Environmental Department (SEMA) and the ata including host municipality, representative organization, to support conservation and protected area management and to safeguard natural heritage by conserving fauna and flora species, protecting water resources, and enhancing carbon sequestration in forest formations.
• In 2024, we signed another long-term, ten-year agreement with IMASUL, which included the Pantanal do Rio Negro State Park, spanning 76,852 hectares.

Integrated landscape management

In 2023 we rolled out a project developed jointly with nongovernmental organization Conservation International Brazil (CI-Brazil), called “Integrated Landscape Management: geo-information for decision support in Bracell’s area of influence.”

This initiative directly supports our Bracell 2030 commitment to develop an integrated territorial intelligence system to manage natural capital and maintain sustainable landscapes throughout our area of influence. We use an innovative methodology that intersects 19 indicators in an integrated and holistic approach spanning three dimensions: conservation, restoration of native vegetation, and land use.

Wildlife corridor in Bauru (SP)

In 2024, Bracell partnered with the Bauru Botanical Garden (SP) to create a wildlife corridor connecting fragments of native vegetation. This initiative was rolled out after constructive discussion with key stakeholders from the Rio Batalha Protected Area (specifically in the municipality of Bauru), to discuss results from the “Integrated Landscape Management” project.

Established by planting 8,000 native trees, the wildlife corridor connects two fragments of native forest on a Bracell-managed farm, as part of our commitment to regenerative practices and biodiversity conservation. The goal is to enable species to move between previously islanded areas.

Biodiversity initiatives and commitments

Bracell actively participates in voluntary initiatives that reflect our commitment to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable landscape management across the areas where we operate. Key commitments include:

• Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD): Since 2022, we have adopted the TNFD recommendations through the “Action for Nature” Platform led by the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS). This initiative promotes greater transparency, accountability, and improved governance of natural resources in corporate operations.
• Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS): As members of CEBDS, we have committed to integrating biodiversity as a strategic pillar supporting corporate sustainability. See our CEBDS-aligned targets here .
• Bahia State Environmental and Water Resources Institute (INEMA): partnership to develop biodiversity protection initiatives in the Atlantic Forest, aligned with the state’s conservation efforts.
• São Paulo Forest Foundation: we have signed a ten-year technical cooperation agreement with Fundação Florestal, a foundation linked to the São Paulo State Environmental Department, to support conservation and environmental protection initiatives in areas containing significant Atlantic Forest and Cerrado formations.
• Mato Grosso do Sul State Environmental Authority (IMASUL): we signed a ten-year technical cooperation agreement with IMASUL for the conservation of native vegetation and the strengthening of environmental initiatives in the state.
• Empresa Amiga da Mata Atlântica: We joined an initiative led by the National Council of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve (RBMA) and were recognized as a contributor to the conservation and sustainable use of the biome.
• Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact: a voluntary initiative aimed at restoring 15 million hectares by 2050. We are a member of its Steering Board and actively participate through reforestation projects.
• SOS Mata Atlântica: In collaboration with this NGO, we carried out restoration initiatives on 30 hectares of protected areas and legal reserves, supporting the development of wildlife corridors, biodiversity protection, and improved water quality.

iForest+

Launched in April 2024, the iForest+ program comprises a series of initiatives to address challenges in the forest sector, from resource conservation and biodiversity protection to the responsible economic use of planted areas. The program’s flagship initiative was an update of our Forest Management System (SGF) to unify forest processes across our three operations.

The program includes:

– Forest planning: setting land use and forest resource goals, taking account of environmental, social, and economic factors

– Monitoring and control: tracking forest activities to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including land use and environmental regulations

– Certification: securing forest certification from independent entities such as PEFC, ensuring our forest products are traceable

– Sustainable management: implementing best practices in planting, harvesting, and transportation to preserve natural resources. 

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These initiatives aim to enhance the positive impacts of our operations while mitigating or minimizing any potential negative effects. Bracell maintains an up-to-date matrix of social and environmental aspects and impacts, actively identifies risks before operations begin, monitors impacts regularly to track progress and determine the need for strategic actions, and evaluates products in terms of safety, health, and the environment.

Our efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss include ecological restoration programs, such as planting native species in protected areas that are crucial for protecting water resources and natural habitats. We also establish and manage wildlife corridors, connecting islanded ecosystems and helping preserve both fauna and flora.

Biodiversity monitoring is conducted periodically to identify the species present in the areas where we operate. The data gathered informs assessments to improve processes and management practices in order to reduce Bracell’s environmental impacts and support biodiversity conservation.

Bracell ensure strict compliance with environmental regulations, implements preventive measures against wildfires, and carries out ongoing assessments of social and environmental aspects and impacts across all operational areas. We also identify and assess potential impacts before starting activities, continuously monitor impacts from operations, and evaluate the environmental and social risks of our products.

Practices as part of our approach to managing risks and preventing potential impacts on biodiversity

Our policies apply not only to internal operations but also to our business relationships, including direct suppliers. They are also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Key practices include:

• Regular monitoring of fauna (annually in Bahia and every three years in São Paulo) and flora (every two years in Bahia and every five years in São Paulo), to detect any changes caused by forest management
• Establishing eucalyptus plantations only in areas previously used for agriculture or pasture, without converting native forests, in line with company policy (see GRI 3-3 Management of material topics: Biodiversity and ecosystems)
• Monitoring for potential impacts in adjacent areas such as protected areas and legal reserves, using satellite imagery, drones, and field inspections
• Not introducing invasive species, pests, and pathogens, and not introducing changes in ecological processes outside the natural range of variation
• Analyzing water quality in representative management units to monitor for any changes in physical and chemical properties and to determine whether these occurred as a result of forestry operations, aiming to prevent, minimize, and mitigate negative impacts on water bodies (see GRI 3-3 Management of material topics: Biodiversity and ecosystems)
• Handling and labeling chemicals in accordance with applicable regulations, regulatory standards, and certification standards
• Identifying activities deemed to have the greatest potential impact on biodiversity, such as forest establishment, harvesting, and transportation, as identified in our Matrix of Environmental Aspects and Impacts (AIA)
• Eradicating exotic plant species to reduce negative impacts on the natural ecological succession of native vegetation on company properties
• Implementing our Degraded Area Recovery Program, using techniques such as nucleation and organic matter deposition to restore native vegetation

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Bracell is committed to sustainability in all our operations and we continuously invest in research and development and deploying advanced technology without harming the environment.

Aligned with this commitment, we use biological control as part of our Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) program. Chemical pesticides are used only as a last resort and applied in minimal amounts, restricted to the specific area of need, by a specialized team. All products, dosages, and recommendations are listed in Bracell’s forestry technical manual.

Bracell also participates in cooperative projects in pest and disease control with leading institutions, such as the university Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) and major research institutes, such as Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) and Instituto de Pesquisas e Estudos Florestais (IPEF). These initiatives further reinforce our commitment to sustainable eucalyptus management practices (read more about our chemical product management practices in GRI 3-3 Management of the material topic: Water and effluents).

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Ecosystem restoration programs include planting native species, rehabilitating disturbed areas, and engaging local communities in seed collection, seedling production, and reforestation efforts. The goal is to restore native vegetation in the short term and support the long-term regeneration of wildlife and ecosystem processes.

Currently, Bracell has 393 hectares under restoration in São Paulo and we maintain a continuous restoration program in Bahia covering 8,500 hectares. We are also a member of the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact and have restored 30 hectares in collaboration with SOS Mata Atlântica.

Our conservation initiatives go beyond regulatory requirements. In Bahia, we maintain four Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) that are critical to biodiversity conservation in the state’s northern coastal region, and we manage four wildlife release areas certified by the state environmental regulator, INEMA, where animals rehabilitated by the national environmental regulator’s (IABAMA) Wildlife Screening Center (CETAS-BA) are reintroduced into the wild.

Environmental impacts are monitored as part of long-term protection and monitoring programs to ensure no significant impacts on biodiversity. Collected data is shared with universities to support scientific research and validation.

In 2024, we certified our fourth release area in Bahia—the first in the Caatinga biome.

Learn more about our initiatives to halt and reverse biodiversity loss under GRI 101-1 Policies to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

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We monitor species dynamics through environmental studies and use an environmental aspect and impact matrix to assess risks and opportunities. If an impact is detected, Bracell promptly addresses or remediates it in collaboration with stakeholders, as part of our commitment to environmental conservation and operational sustainability.

Biodiversity risk assessments are conducted in our forestry operations, identifying potential impacts and recommending mitigation or remediation actions.

All pulpwood sourcing undergoes due diligence to identify environmental and social risks and avoid purchasing pulpwood from controversial sources. Document and field inspections are conducted to verify sustainable practices such as oil spill containment, proper waste disposal, non-use of burning for clearing, and compliance with protected area and legal reserve requirements.

If noncompliance is detected, a corrective action plan is implemented, and if the issue persists, pulpwood sourcing is suspended until resolved. Suppliers also sign contracts committing to meet all environmental and legal requirements (see more under GRI 308-1 New suppliers that were screened using environmental criteria).

Pulpwood traceability throughout the pulp production chain is ensured by a Forest Management System (SGF) as part of our e-Forest project, which tracks all farms and forestry operations, including cultivation, harvesting and pulpwood haulage. Through the system, 100% of the pulpwood using our production process is traceable at the field level. All controlled pulpwood is also assessed on land-use conversion timing, following Brazil’s Forest Code (Law No. 12.651/2012), which sets July 2008 as the threshold date.

In 2024, 30% of the pulpwood used in São Paulo came from controlled sources and 70% from Bracell’s certified operations. In Bahia, 10% came from controlled sources and 90% from certified sources. A total of 73 commercial partners supplied controlled pulpwood to Bracell’s mills in São Paulo and Bahia, all audited by our team. Bracell maintains a strict policy of not sourcing pulpwood from controversial suppliers, as part of our commitment to sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

Learn more under GRI 2-6 About Bracell.

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