We continuously conduct climate zoning studies using historical climate data such as precipitation, temperature, and latitude. This analysis helps us identify optimal areas for eucalyptus planting and make climate region-specific technical recommendations, including clone allocation and fertilization strategies. We do not source water from areas with water stress.

In our São Paulo pulp operations, surface freshwater withdrawals are measured directly at licensed intake points designated for forestry operations. Additionally, groundwater withdrawn from a well at the Lençóis Paulista mill is used for seedling production in the nursery. Withdrawal volumes are recorded in an internal database that is managed in accordance with applicable regulations, covering all operational fronts. Bracell holds permits for both surface water withdrawals from the Tietê River and groundwater withdrawals from licensed wells. Bracell Papéis São Paulo does not conduct direct environmental withdrawals and instead receives water from Bracell Celulose São Paulo (refer to GRI 3-3 Management of the material topic: Water and effluents for details).

In Bahia, groundwater withdrawal is measured using telemetry-enabled water meters. Surface water withdrawals are tracked through control logs, maintained in either printed or digital (survey-based) formats. In accordance with internal procedures, all surface and groundwater withdrawal data is submitted to the environmental team, which consolidates, analyzes, and reports this information to the relevant operations managers. Bracell’s Bahia operations follow Ordinance No. 25.954, which authorizes groundwater use in the Recôncavo Norte Watershed, and Inema Ordinance No. 22.181/2021, which establishes a framework for monitoring and control of water resource use in the state of Bahia.

Our Bahia forestry operations maintain a robust environmental water monitoring network, including 23 stations for monitoring surface (river) water quality, 8 stations for monitoring groundwater quality (artesian wells), 13 fixed stations for analyzing water potability (fitness for human consumption), 5 mobile stations for analyzing water potability (fitness for human consumption) at operations fronts, 37 flow metering stations at permitted surface water withdrawal points along rivers, 2 stations at locations where effluents are discharged from seedling nurseries, and 1 station where effluents are discharged from a water and oil separator.

Additionally, at four of our farm bases in Bahia, water is extracted from artesian wells for human consumption. Withdrawal volumes are recorded in an internal database that is managed in accordance with applicable regulations, covering all operational fronts.

In 2024, there were some restatements to water withdrawal data compared to the figures reported in 2023. Surface water withdrawal in our Bahia forestry operations dropped by 61%. In our São Paulo operations, forestry withdrawals increased by 50.2%, while mill withdrawals decreased by 3.9%.

Groundwater withdrawal decreased by 5.4% in Bahia’s forestry operations and 12.4% in São Paulo. Our São Paul mill recorded a 2.6% reduction.

The reduction in surface water withdrawals in our São Paulo forestry operations, compared to 2023 was due to the severe dry season in 2024, increasing the need for irrigation. Planted area in 2024 was also larger than in 2023, which affected the amount of irrigated area. In this operation, improvements were also made to water monitoring processes, supporting better management of water metrics. At our nurseries in São Paulo, water withdrawals decreased as a result of good management practices. No significant changes were observed to explain the variation in withdrawal volumes compared to 2023.

At our São Paulo mill, the reduction in water withdrawals is due to the plant’s close-loop system and increased recycling of water from the stormwater lagoon to the wastewater treatment plant for industrial use (in 2024, this volume was more than twice that of 2023). As a percentage, the total volume of water recycled compared to total withdrawals was 2.4% in 2023 and 5.1% in 2024. Another factor behind the reduction in water withdrawals was the startup of our Bracell Papéis facility. This facility is connected to the Lençóis Paulista pulp plant and features technologies designed to enhance water efficiency in Tissue production. Water management, now integrated across both plants, also supported process improvements at the mill.

Surface water withdrawals (m³)

Operation	2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total
Bahia Pulp	2,198	0	2,198	29,456	0	29,456	4,811	0	4,811	64,927	0	64,927	25,351	0	25,351
São Paulo Pulp	309,165	0	309,165	328,484	12,947,445	13,275,929	314,537	49,223,892	49,538,429	457,789	52,016,479	52,474,269	550,327	49,972,528	50,522,855
Southeast Paper Operations	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1,144,604	1,144,604
Northeast Paper Operations	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0
Bracell	311,363	0	311,363	357,940	12,947,445	13,305,385	319,348	49,223,892	49,543,240	522,716	52,016,479	52,539,196	575,678	51,117,132	51,692,810

Groundwater withdrawals (m³)

Operation	2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total
Bahia Pulp	889,754	14,720,841	15,610,595	872,245	14,559,672	15,431,917	851,887	15,145,471	15,997,358	874,462	15,738,831	16,613,293	827,071	15,681,068	16,508,139
São Paulo Pulp	282,428	6,831,882	7,114,310	395,258	7,071,663	7,466,921	405,286	6,520,494	6,925,780	556,641	4,342,162	4,898,803	486,285	4,231,181	4,717,466
Southeast Paper Operations	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	0
Northeast Paper Operations	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	214,184	214,184
Bracell	889,754	14,720,841	22,724,905	1,267,503	21,631,336	22,898,838	1,257,173	21,665,965	22,923,138	1,431,103	20,080,993	21,512,096	1,313,356	20,126,433	21,439,789

Total water withdrawal (m³)

Operation	2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total	Forestry	Mill	Total
Bahia Pulp	891,952	14,720,841	15,612,793	901,701	14,559,672	15,461,373	856,698	15,145,471	16,002,169	939,389	15,738,831	16,678,220	852,422	15,681,068	16,533,490
São Paulo Pulp	591,593	6,831,882	7,423,475	723,742	20,019,108	20,742,850	719,823	55,744,386	56,464,209	1,014,430	56,358,642	57,373,072	1,036,612	54,203,709	55,240,321
Southeast Paper Operations	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1,144,604	1,144,604
Northeast Paper Operations	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	214,184	214,184
Bracell	1,483,545	21,552,723	23,036,268	1,625,443	34,578,781	36,204,224	1,576,521	70,889,856	72,466,377	1,953,819	72,097,472	74,051,291	1,889,034	71,243,565	73,132,599

Note 1: Bracell Papéis was established in 2023 and is reporting its environmental performance for the first time, with data from 2024. Bracell Papéis Sudeste does not operate any direct water withdrawal points (surface or groundwater); instead, it uses water sourced through the Bracell pulp mill in Lençóis Paulista (SP).

Note 2: the reported water withdrawal volume for our São Paulo pulp and Southeast paper operations includes only the pulp mill’s primary sources: six licensed groundwater wells and one surface water intake on the Tietê River.

Note 3: the water withdrawal volume for our Northeast paper operation refers to the mill in Feira de Santana (BA). At the São Gonçalo dos Campos (BA) and Pombos (PE) sites, there are no water withdrawals as these facilities use dry processing.

Note 4: the reported water withdrawal volume for forestry operations includes licensed withdrawal points in the states of Minas Gerais, Paraná, and São Paulo. All withdrawal points are monitored and managed by the Environmental Department of Bracell’s São Paulo forestry operations. Learn more about our forestry water management practices under GRI 3-3 Management of the material topic: Water and effluents.

Water withdrawals per metric ton of pulp produced (m³/adt)

Year	m3/adt
2020	30.04
2021	26.85
2022	20.42
2023	20.69
2024	19.20