Bracell implements community engagement initiatives, impact assessments, and development programs across all operations. Our Integrated Management System includes environmental and social impact, risk, and opportunity matrices for both forestry and mill operations.

The results of our environmental and social impact assessments are shared with our stakeholders, as part of our commitment to transparency and corporate responsibility.

Local development plans are built around the needs and priorities expressed by local communities, ensuring that initiatives reflect their interests.

Likewise, external stakeholder engagement plans are based on stakeholder mapping to ensure effective communication and alignment with stakeholder expectations.

To encourage active community participation in managing the impacts of our forestry operations, we have established committees and broad consultation processes involving members of local communities, including vulnerable groups. For communities located in the areas of influence of our forestry and mill operations, our Community Relations department engages regularly with local residents, keeping them informed about impacts and the mitigation measures in place.

We have formal procedures in place for documenting and addressing community concerns and complaints. Through ongoing engagement, the Community Relations team broadly disseminates information about our Contact Us hotline (0800 709 1490 in São Paulo, 0800 284 4747 in Bahia and Sergipe) to residents living near our forestry operations. Additional initiatives include awareness campaigns on forest fire prevention and the display of our contact channel on company vehicles operating in the field to receive feedback and complaints specifically related to our fleet operations.

Community relationship building and engagement practices

Committees	Community associations are commonplace in the region where we operate in Bahia. Bracell has established committees and other permanent channels to help cultivate good relationships with associations and engage closely with community leaders in each region. We also support public institutions such as the Civil and Military Police, Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Judiciary, and other governmental agencies. For our operations in São Paulo, community engagement takes place through one-on-one conversations with local residents and through meetings with community groups when local leaders are present.
Community surveys	We conduct on-site visits to survey the communities neighboring our operations. These surveys identify resident families, community leaders, and the key needs and aspirations of each community. We also assess existing infrastructure, potential impacts from our operations, as well as the presence of traditional communities, indigenous peoples, or Areas of High Social and/or Cultural Heritage Value.
Impact Zoning Map	We map our planting, preservation, and enrichment areas to identify Bracell’s activities across the areas where we operate. Communities situated within these zones are categorized according to their level of influence on our operations and projects. We also identify any traditional communities, including quilombola and indigenous settlements. This mapping exercise, conducted by the Planning team, provides a visual overview of the areas covered and the distribution of communities, including quilombola communities in Bahia and indigenous communities in São Paulo.
Stakeholder Mapping and Matrix	Community database information is managed through a stakeholder matrix, which collates stakeholder data including host municipality, representative organization, type of institution, contact information, level of influence, stakeholder profile, and key interests. In 2024, Bracell’s stakeholder database in Bahia expanded compared to 2023, reaching a total of 2,010 relevant stakeholders. Of this total, 96% were either favorable (1,004) or neutral (927) regarding our operations.
Community meetings	We convene gatherings to keep stakeholders abreast of Bracell’s forestry management operations, including planting, harvesting, haulage, and other operations near communities. During these sessions, we address inquiries, document grievances, and identify communities’ primary needs. We also provide informational materials about the company and available communication channels. These discussions also extend to indigenous communities (learn more under GRI 411-1 Incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous peoples).
Operational Dialogue in São Paulo and Bahia	Bracell directly engages with and monitors impacts on neighbors and communities near eucalyptus farms, including indigenous peoples (in São Paulo, learn more in GRI 411-1 Incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous peoples) and quilombola communities (in Bahia, where they are located). In Bahia, Bracell holds meetings to share information about planting, harvesting, transportation, and other activities. During these meetings, we answer questions, document complaints, identify community needs, and map out areas of concern. In São Paulo, impact monitoring and risk management is done in three stages: pre-operation, during operation, and post-operation. The focus is on prevention and, when necessary, implementing mitigation measures to minimize impacts.
Production and distribution of informational materials	We advertise our “Contact Us” channel in our “operational dialogue” kit, which includes informational brochures about the forestry cycle, videos with information about eucalyptus cultivation, forest fire campaign materials, and copies of the company’s Public Forestry Management Brief.

In 2024, we carried out engagement and relationship-building activities with communities in 115 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, 14 in Minas Gerais, 2 in Goiás, and 2 in Paraná. In the Northeast, our initiatives reached 42 municipalities—39 in Bahia and three in Sergipe—including towns such as Acajutiba, Alagoinhas, Camaçari, Feira de Santana, Pojuca, and Rio Real in Bahia, and Cristinápolis, Santa Luzia do Itanhy, and Indiaroba in Sergipe.

In the Midwest, Southeast, and South, operational impacts identified included noise pollution around our industrial sites and, in forestry operations, excessive dust, road damage or blockages, speeding, chemical drift, and property damage—all of which were mitigated. In the Northeast, the main issues involved damage to neighboring properties in areas where we operate in Bahia.

Our preventive efforts helped reduce the number of incidents of operational impacts, which dropped from 71 in 2023 to 60 in 2024.

However, the number of complaints filed in São Paulo increased from 117 in 2023 to 363 in 2024. This increase was due to the expansion of forestry operations, which led to more complaints related to third-party property damage, dust from truck traffic, road maintenance issues, service road damage, and speeding. Complaints related to fence maintenance decreased. The rise in reported cases was also influenced by our efforts to advertise reporting channels and by the stronger relationships we have built with local communities.

Industrial and forestry operations (São Paulo)

Complaints	2022	2023	2024
Damage to third-party property	33	41	88
Airborne dust caused by trucks and machinery	51	37	101
Road maintenance	0	63	113
Road damage	0	0	28
Maintenance of roads, bridges and culverts	36	0	0
Speeding	19	0	26
Fence maintenance	0	27	6
Total	139	168	362
Total mill and forestry	141	171	363

 

Mill and forestry operations (Bahia)

Complaints	2022	2023	2024
Property damage	8	12	14
Roads	8	14	6
Dust (forestry operations only)	12	8	2
Contractors (complaints from contractors directed to their contracting companies)	11	14	18
Dangerous driving	12	11	9
Noise	1	2	0
Other	6	16	11
Total – forestry and mill operations	58	77	60