Bracell operates mills in the Camaçari Industrial Park (BA) and in the Lençóis Paulista Industrial Park (SP) and in Feira de Santana (BA), as well as integrated forestry operations—from planting to harvesting—across the states of Bahia, São Paulo, and Sergipe. We monitor freshwater withdrawal volumes, risks, and potential impacts on water resources in full compliance with our environmental licenses, applicable laws, and certification standards within Bracell’s Integrated Management System.

At the São Gonçalo dos Campos (BA) and Pombos (PE) sites, there are no water withdrawals as these facilities use dry processing.

We use a structured management approach covering all stages—withdrawal, consumption, and discharge—to ensure both environmental compliance and water efficiency.

Water withdrawal sources:

• Licensed surface and groundwater sources
• Treated wastewater
• Utility

Water uses:

• Drinking water
• Toilet flushing
• Industrial cooling
• Laboratories and research
• Cleaning and maintenance of facilities and equipment
• Fire suppression systems
• Cafeterias and kitchens
• Product processing water (as an ingredient or as part of the production of a product)
• Grounds irrigation and watering
• Seedling irrigation and forest planting

Water disposal methods:

• Discharge into lakes and rivers (authorized and treated)
• Reuse
• Wastewater treatment plants
• Other methods:
  • Forestry area in Bahia: bases in Alagoinhas, Inhambupe, and Entre Rios use septic tanks; the Alagoinhas base also includes an oil-water separator and conducts lab testing of effluents. Waste is collected and treated by licensed providers.
  • Bahia mill: post-process water is collected and treated internally, then sent to the local utility for secondary treatment prior to discharge via ocean outfall.

Environmental impact identification:

Potential water-related impacts include:

• Excessive water consumption
• Water pollution
• Soil erosion and sedimentation
• Greenhouse gas emissions

Approaches to identifying impacts:

• Environmental impact assessments
• Compliance assessments
• Water risk assessments

Scope of impact assessments:

Water consumption in operations

Effluent discharge

Water quality

Compliance

Efficiency and innovation to reduce consumption

Timing of impact assessments:

• Medium-term sustainability programs
• Continuous monitoring
• Baseline assessments to identify risks and impacts

Assessment tools and methodologies:

• Industry benchmarking.
• Environmental performance indicators
• Systems: Softexpert and SOGI
• Identification and assessment of environmental aspects and impacts
• LAIA spreadsheet for documentation and control

Impact management:

We implement measures to mitigate impacts and manage water as a shared resource:

• Water intensity reduction: maintenance and consumption monitoring
• Erosion and siltation: road construction and maintenance according to each business unit’s procedures
• Water availability: forestry planning to minimize water consumption in Bahia; water consumption reduction targets in nurseries.

Water-related goals and targets

• Aligned with public policy frameworks and UN SDG 6
• Reflect public policies and the local context
• Supported by stakeholder engagement, including civil society, trade associations etc.
• Based on sustainable limits and basin-level planning
• Established annually and validated by Bracell’s internal environmental assurance committee.

Suppliers assessed on social and environmental aspects are those operating directly on Bracell’s premises. We do not assess the management of sustainability topics across our broader supplier chain. No water-related impacts caused by suppliers have been reported or identified in Bracell’s operations.

(Read more about our water and effluent management practices under GRI 3-3 Management of the material topic: Water and effluents)