GRI 3-3 Management of material topics: Biodiversity and ecosystems
Protecting forests and biodiversity is intrinsic to our business. In our forestry operations, we implement targeted strategies to protect native vegetation and biodiversity within the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes hosting our operations (read more under GRI 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased or managed in or adjacent to protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas).
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:
- In 2024, we hosted a workshop with experts to establish project assumptions, metrics and methodology
- We identified Bracell’s priority conservation areas in the municipalities of Oriente (SP), Santa Rita do Pardo (MS) and Esplanada (BA)
- 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.
| Impacts | Description | Details |
| Potential negative impacts | Loss of native fauna and flora species and populations. | No impacts have been observed so far during biodiversity monitoring, thanks to good forestry practices. |
| Actual positive impacts | Enhanced ecosystem services in forests managed as mosaics interspersed with native vegetation, enabling natural pest and disease control, supporting species and populations, and delivering societal benefits. | We recorded improvements in ecosystem services. The impact has broad reach and low intensity. |
| Actual negative impacts | Disturbance to fauna and flora due to noise and light pollution (vehicle traffic, machinery use, etc.). | The impact has broad reach and high intensity. We have external control mechanisms in place to prevent and minimize these risks. |
| Actual negative impacts | Changes in native vegetation, biodiversity, microclimate, landscape, and soil characteristics caused by our activities. | The impact has broad reach and high intensity. We have effective internal controls in place to mitigate these effects. |
| Actual negative impacts | Soil quality degradation caused by poor forest management practices. | The impact has broad reach and high intensity. We have effective internal controls in place to mitigate these effects. |
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
| Primate crossing construction | Installed a wildlife crossing at the Barreiro Rico Ecological Station in Anhembi (SP). | The crossing reconnects areas traversed by a municipal road, enabling safe crossing for primates and reducing the risk of roadkill. Five endangered primate species benefit from the structure, including the southern muriqui—the largest primate in the Americas and a critically endangered species. |
| Acoustic wildlife monitoring | Deployment of acoustic monitoring systems in Carlos Botelho State Park and Nascentes do Paranapanema (SP)—currently in progress. | These systems gather vital data on environmental factors influencing wildlife patterns, including hydrological cycles. Using acoustic data to inform conservation in state parks is a first in wildlife management and protection practices in Brazil. |
| Fire prevention | Built firebreaks and service roads to support the management of state parks and ecological reserves. | Created natural firebreaks to contain wildfires and minimize spread Improved access to conservation sites through road building, facilitating both area management and rapid response to fire outbreaks |
| Fire prevention | Donated firefighting tools such as motor pumps to trained fire response teams in parks and ecological stations. | Equipment includes tools like portable water pumps to control fire outbreaks. |
| Firefighting | Trained fire responders in wildfire prevention and response | Provided capacity-building for staff at conservation sites in the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul |
| Seed collection | Provided specialized training in native seed collection | Trained the team at Bauru Botanical Garden (SP) to support seed collection and seedling propagation in a flora conservation and restoration project. |
| Fire monitoring systems | Three conservation sites in São Paulo were added to Bracell’s regional wildfire monitoring system. | These areas are monitored via 360° cameras at Bracell’s forestry base and a 24/7 hotline that enables local communities to report fire outbreaks. |
| Controlling invasive species | Geospatial analysis using deep learning tools to support invasive tree species (Pinus spp.) control efforts at the Itapeva Ecological Station (SP). | Managing invasive species is crucial for protecting biodiversity, preserving local ecosystems, and preventing exotic species from harming native plant development. |
Protected Areas under our One-to-One Commitment
| State | Protected Area | Municipality | Year area included in the Commitment |
| São Paulo | Sebastião Aleixo Ecological Station | Bauru | 2022 |
| Caetetus Ecological Station | Gália | 2022 | |
| Santa Bárbara Ecological Station | Águas de Santa Bárbara | 2022 | |
| Barreiro Rico Ecological Station | Anhembi | 2022 | |
| Aimorés Wildlife Refuge, Botanical Garden | Bauru | 2022 | |
| Carlos Botelho State Park | São Miguel Arcanjo | 2022 | |
| Nascentes do Paranapanema State Park | Capão Bonito | 2022 | |
| Avaré Ecological Station | Avaré | 2023 | |
| Paranapanema Ecological Station | Paranapanema | 2023 | |
| Angatuba Ecological Station | Angatuba | 2023 | |
| Itapeva Ecological Station | Itapeva | 2023 | |
| Mato Grosso do Sul | Nascentes do Rio Taquari State Park | Alcinópolis | 2023 |
| Prosa State Park | Campo Grande | 2023 | |
| Matas do Segredo State Park | Campo Grande | 2023 | |
| Pombo Natural Municipal Park | Três Lagoas | 2023 | |
| Pantanal do Rio Negro State Park | Aquidauana | 2024 | |
| Bahia | Pituaçu Metropolitan Park | Salvador | 2023 |
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.
GRI 101-1 Policies to halt and reverse biodiversity loss
Bracell views biodiversity as a strategic material topic and integrates this topic into policies, commitments, and programs focused on forest preservation, deforestation prevention, and recovery disturbed land. Within our long-term roadmap, Bracell 2030, we have outlined specific targets (learn more on page GRI 2-22 Statement on sustainable development strategy).
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).
GRI 101-2 Managing Impacts on Biodiversity
Bracell uses a structured approach to minimizing impacts on biodiversity, implementing preventive measures across our operations to avoid environmental damage. This includes sustainable technology, environmental impact assessments, and creating protected areas to preserve local ecosystems. When impacts are unavoidable, we implement offsets, such as restoring disturbed land.
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.
GRI 101-4 Identifying Impacts on Biodiversity
At Bracell, we continuously assess the impacts of our operations on biodiversity, including both mitigated and potential impact (see more under GRI 3-3 Management of material topics: Biodiversity and ecosystems). This process includes assessing the environmental performance of products and services provided by suppliers, ensuring a comprehensive and integrated environmental management system.
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.
GRI 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased or managed in or adjacent to protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas
We identify and monitor High Conservation Value (HCV) areas through assessments on biological, ecological, social or cultural attributes. As forestry activities expand, we are reviewing potential HCVAs using criteria and assumptions developed by Proforest, a nonprofit that helps companies, governments and other organizations uphold their commitments to the responsible production and sourcing of agricultural commodities and forest products.
HCVAs in the state of São Paulo
- Fazenda Nova América, in Cabrália Paulista (117.74 hectares – HCVA 1): an area with a high concentration of biodiversity, including endemic, rare, and endangered species such as the Brazilian sassafras tree (Ocotea odorifera) and the hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus).
- Fazenda Rio Verde, in Bauru (190.40 hectares – HCVA 2): home to the largest fragment of Cerradão forest within a 2 km radius, this ecosystem plays a vital role in maintaining regional biological diversity.
HCVAs in the state of Bahia
- Fazenda Santo André, in Aramari (229.83 hectares – HCVAs 1 and 3): located in a Cerrado enclave between the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes, this site is used to extract non-timber forest products and has high biodiversity value despite being outside any official conservation site. It harbors species like angelim-rasteiro (Andira humilis), black-throated saltator (Saltatricula atricollis), and wild cats such as the eastern tigrina (Leopardus emiliae), jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). Despite its ecological importance, this area is not included in any official environmental protection list.
- Fazenda Jaboticaba, in Jandaíra (197.05 hectares – HCVAs 1 and 3): Atlantic Forest reserve containing ecosystems such as dense rainforests, restinga and muçununga. Species documented include Turk’s cap cactus (Melocactus violaceus), white-winged cotinga (Xipholena atropurpurea), and Coimbra-Filho’s titi monkey (Callicebus coimbrai).
- Fazenda Raiz, in Água Fria (675.77 hectares – HCVAs 1 and 3): located in the agreste region of Bahia, this site protects key Caatinga species, including the only known population of the endemic eastern tigrina (Leopardus emiliae).
- RPPN Lontra, in Itanagra and Entre Rios (1,378.16 hectares – HCVAs 1, 2, and 3): this is the largest private reserve in the northern coast of Bahia, with high biodiversity value and significant herpetological and ornithological diversity. Monitored species include the bearded capuchin (Sapajus libidinosus), Rio rocket frog (Allobates olfersioides), and Fringe-backed fire-eye (Pyriglena atra). Although outside official protection zones, this extractive-use area is covered by Brazil’s National Action Plans (PANs) for Endangered Species (the maned sloth PAN and the Bristle-spined rat PAN), underscoring its conservation importance.
Bracell conducts operations adjacent to these Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) in Bahia. RPPN Pedra do São José II, for example, is located near a eucalyptus plantation.
Bracell follows strict environmental protocols to minimize impact and preserve the ecological attributes of these high-value regions. Our management practices include continuous monitoring of fauna and flora, safeguarding ecosystem integrity, and maintaining essential environmental services.
RPPN Lontra
RPPN Lontra is the largest private environmental reserve on Bahia’s northern coast, spanning 1,378.16 hectares. It is an ombrophilous forest remnant hosting rich biodiversity, and the most diverse herpetological and ornithological area monitored by Bracell in Bahia. This area is included in Brazil’s National Plan for Endangered Species, underscoring its critical role in biodiversity conservation.
In 2024, Bracell built an accessible ecological trail within the reserve for scheduled community visits.
GRI 304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity
We recognize that our operations and related infrastructure have both direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity. These impacts are temporary and reversible. We actively identify biodiversity risks, including those with uncertain effects, such as biodiversity loss and atmospheric changes.
We manage these impacts as part of our Integrated Management System. All impacts are documented in our Environmental Aspects and Impacts Matrix (AIA).
Whenever an impact is identified, we act immediately to remediate or mitigate it in cooperation with stakeholders, as part of our commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable operations. In addition to preventive and mitigation measures, we also run training and stakeholder engagement programs focused on prevention.
We have committed to zero deforestation in our operations since inception (see our Sustainability Policy). 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, legal reserves or peatlands.
| Impacts | Direct/Indirect | Details |
| Habitat loss | Direct | Caused by operations and mechanized activities, worker commuting, road construction and maintenance, reopening of roads over water bodies, harvesting, transport of machinery and timber, soil preparation, and forestry operations. Noise from these activities can drive away wildlife (significance level: medium). |
| Erosion and silting in nearby water bodies | Direct | Resulting from soil shear caused by mechanized operations and supporting activities, which may contribute to soil erosion (significance level: low). |
| Wildlife roadkill | Direct | Caused by the movement of vehicles and machinery on service roads, potentially leading to biodiversity loss (significance level: low). |
| Climate change | Direct | Due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from operations such as pulpwood haulage, harvesting, refueling, and aerial pesticide application (significance level: medium to high). |
| Impacts | Direct/Indirect | Details |
| Water pollution | Direct | Caused by the use of pesticides and fertilizers in nurseries, which may generate effluents and affect water quality (significance level: low). |
| Air pollution | Direct | Generated by dust from pulpwood haulage and mechanized operations, affecting air quality (significance level: medium). |
| Soil pollution | Direct | Caused by waste from maintenance work, washing of field machinery containing chemical residues, and improper waste disposal (significance level: low). |
| Plastic pollution | Direct | Arising from the generation and improper disposal of waste from operational and administrative activities (significance level: low). |
| Noise pollution | Direct | Noise generated by operations and transport can drive away wildlife (significance level: medium). |
| Chemical pollution | Direct | Use of pesticides and insecticides can cause ground and airborne drift, affecting plants, fauna, and soil biology (significance level: medium). |
| Impacts | Direct/Indirect | Details |
| Loss of biodiversity | Direct | All activities mapped in our Environmental Impact Assessment Matrix (AIA) can affect biodiversity, with the extent ranging from localized to site-specific. The likelihood level ranges from low to high, and the significance level from low to medium. All impacts are addressed with mitigation and awareness measures. |
GRI 304-3 Habitats protected or restored
Bracell has been running a forest restoration program in São Paulo since 2021, which was updated in 2023 to accelerate and expand ecological recovery. In partnership with third parties, we protect and restore habitats based on environmental analyses and recommended restoration methods.
All activities follow regulations such as IBAMA’s Normative Instruction No. 04 and the São Paulo State environmental regulator’s (CETESB) SMA Resolution. The methods include inducing natural regeneration, clearing, ring weeding, herbicide application, and enrichment planting with native seedlings.
Since 2015, Bracell also runs a Disturbed Land Restoration Program in Bahia, approved by state environmental regulator, INEMA, using planting, soil improvement, and erosion control techniques. The Bahia program includes site assessments, implementation, and monitoring over three years.
In 2024, 1.821 hectares in Bahia underwent active restoration, and 450 hectares were treated for invasive exotic species. In São Paulo, 393 hectares are currently undergoing restoration. Through a partnership with SOS Mata Atlântica, 77,000 seedlings were planted in Botucatu, Agudos, and Piratininga (SP), helping restore riparian forests and protect water resources.
Of the 393 hectares being restored in São Paulo, 0.7 hectares have already been restored and officially certified by CETESB. Additionally, 30 hectares restored by SOS Mata Atlântica have met legal criteria and are considered restored, though formal certification from the environmental authority is expected in 2025.
All restoration areas—whether required by law or part of voluntary programs—are monitored pursuant to SMA Resolution 32 to ensure all environmental criteria are met.
Monitoring is done via satellite imagery and drones to identify threats and gaps in planting. Bracell’s Biodiversity Monitoring Program tracks fauna and flora across the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga biomes to support responsible forest management practices.
Areas protected or restored
| Area | Status | Region | Size (km2) | Status |
| RPPN Lontra | Protected | Bahia | 13.77 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Falcão | Protected | Bahia | 94.24 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Lua Alta | Protected | Bahia | 60.94 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Pedra do São José II | Protected | Bahia | 23.22 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Total – Bahia | 192.17 | |||
| Area | Status | Region | Size (km2) | Status |
| Casa da Rocha | Restored | São Paulo | 0.24 | In progress |
| Nova América II | Restored | São Paulo | 0.001 | In progress |
| Recreio | Restored | São Paulo | 0.31 | In progress |
| Santa Izabel | Restored | São Paulo | 0.02 | In progress |
| São Benedito IV | Restored | São Paulo | 0.24 | In progress |
| Sossego II | Restored | São Paulo | 0.52 | In progress |
| Paraíso VII | Restored | São Paulo | 0.16 | In progress |
| Santa Mariana II | Restored | São Paulo | 0.0001 | In progress |
| Nova América II | Restored | São Paulo | 0.29 | In progress |
| Córrego do Campo | Restored | São Paulo | 0.23 | In progress |
| Monte Líbano I | Restored | São Paulo | 1.09 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Monte Líbano II | Restored | São Paulo | 0.35 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Santa Izabel | Restored | São Paulo | 0.01 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Dona Lourdes | Restored | São Paulo | 0.01 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Mamedina | Restored | São Paulo | 0.03 | Under long-term monitoring |
| São Luiz V Vera Cruz | Restored | São Paulo | 0.24 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Arataba | Restored | São Paulo | 0.05 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Regina | Restored | São Paulo | 0.03 | Under long-term monitoring |
| São Benedito IV | Restored | São Paulo | 0.02 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Selva | Restored | São Paulo | 0.04 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Corvo Branco | Restored | São Paulo | 0.004 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Revolta | Restored | São Paulo | 0.04 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Santa Branca | Restored | São Paulo | 0.01 | Under long-term monitoring |
| Total – São Paulo | 3.8851 | |||
Partner-protected or restored areas
| Department | Partner organization | Status | Region | Size (km2) | Status |
| Riacho Mole Project | SOS Mata Atlântica | Restored | Bahia | 0.3 | In progress |
| Riacho Mole Project | SOS Mata Atlântica | Restored | Bahia | 0.2 | In progress |
| Santa Rita II, Santa Cruz and Nova América II | SOS Mata Atlântica | Restored | São Paulo | 30.8 | In progress |
| Shangrilá | Bracell and Jardim Botânico | Restored | São Paulo | 4.5 | In progress |
Fire prevention and response
In protected areas, wildfires represent one of the main risks to biodiversity and the integrity of protected ecosystems. To mitigate this risk, we create and maintain fire breaks, donate firefighting equipment to local communities, install warning signs and organize fire response workshops for neighbors and members of local communities.
Bracell’s Fire Prevention and Response department has been created with a mission to preserve the environment, the well-being of people and the planet, and the sustainability and competitiveness of the business. Bracell has 39 fire monitoring towers equipped with high-resolution cameras covering 76% of our properties in São Paulo and 70% in Bahia, including both planted forests and protected areas.
Fire responders are divided into two groups: a Rapid Response Group (RRG) and an Identification and Containment Group (ICG). At the beginning of the dry season each year, we publish maps showing water withdrawal locations that are accessible to light and heavy fire trucks. Water withdrawal locations are strategically located to optimize refilling time and the fire response. During the dry season, internal and external fire breaks are kept especially clean, particularly those surrounding critical areas.
We have also signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Bahia State Environment Department (SEMA) and the State Water Resource Institute (INEMA) to plan and implement forest fire prevention and reduction initiatives.
GRI 304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations
Species identified during biodiversity monitoring are classified based on official protection lists, local laws and regulations, and scientific literature on degrees of threat, rareness, endemicity, economic importance, species migration, and other parameters.
The degree of threat is determined based on international as well as national and state conservation lists. The conservation lists used include:
- IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List;
- MMA Ordinance No. 148/2022
- National List of Endangered Wildlife Species (MMA Ordinance No. 444/2014);
- Official National List of Endangered Flora Species (MMA Ordinance No. 443/2014)
- List of Threatened Brazilian Flora Species (MMA Ordinance No. 298/2019)
- National List of Invasive Alien Species (MMA Ordinance No. 2.546/2020)
| Region | Level of extinction risk | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |||
| IUCN | ICMBio | IUCN | ICMBio | IUCN | ICMBio | ||
| São Paulo | Critically endangered | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| São Paulo | Endangered | 9 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| São Paulo | Vulnerable | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
| São Paulo | Near threatened | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| São Paulo | Least concern | 0 | 0 | 625 | 0 | 643 | 0 |
| Bahia | Critically endangered | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Bahia | Endangered | 7 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 9 |
| Bahia | Vulnerable | 13 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 18 |
| Bahia | Near threatened | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 11 |
| Bahia | Least concern * | 252 | 250 | 252 | 250 | 1,306 | 1,080 |
* The number of species in this category increased due to a review of the database.
In 2024, the number of species reported under this disclosure rose by 117%. The 2023 reporting standard included only threatened species—those classified as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable—and excluded those classified as least concern and near threatened.
GRI 305-1 Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions
Bracell’s Greenhouse Gas Inventories follow guidance provided in the latest edition of ISO 14064, the GHG Protocol, and the quantification methodologies published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Inventories are conducted at the corporate level, covering our pulp mills in São Paulo and Bahia, as well as forestry operations in those two states and Mato Grosso do Sul.
In 2024, Bracell’s Scope 1 fossil emissions accounted for 43% of the total, amounting to 731,362.80 tCO₂e—a 22.4% increase compared to the previous year. This increase was primarily driven by higher fossil fuel use in our logistics operations, especially due to longer transport distances between plantation areas and the mill, along with a significant rise in forest fire incidents.
The gases included in the Scope 1 emissions calculation are: CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs and SF6.
| Scope 1 Categories | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |||
| Emissions (tCO2e) | Percent Share (%) | Emissions (tCO2e) | Percent Share (%) | Emissions (tCO2e) | Percent Share (%) | |
| Mobile combustion | 96,418.860 | 15.7% | 121,700.475 | 20.4% | 214,992.18 | 29.4% |
| Stationary combustion | 356,481.661 | 58.0% | 309,539.105 | 51.8% | 296,113.67 | 40.5% |
| Generated waste and effluents | 46,321.353 | 7.5% | 596.112 | 0.1% | 13,974.3 | 1.9% |
| Fugitive | 3,139.397 | 0.5% | 5,231.529 | 0.9% | 12,284.43 | 1.7% |
| Agricultural operations | 111,079.267 | 18.1% | 155,955.175 | 26.1% | 154,586.98 | 21.1% |
| Land-use change | 1,232.098 | 0.2% | 4,431.985 | 0.7% | 39,411.23 | 5.4% |
| Total | 614,672.636 | 100% | 597,454.381 | 100% | 731,362.80 | 100% |
Bracell reports biogenic CO₂e emissions associated with forestry and mill operations. These include biomass combustion, the use of renewable biofuels in the logistics fleet, fire events, and the natural dynamics of eucalyptus forest management cycles. Unlike fossil-based emissions, biogenic emissions are generally considered carbon neutral over the long term, since they come from renewable biomass that absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere during its growth.
| Emissions (tCO2e) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Scope 1 | 614,673.00 | 597,454.00 | 731,362.80 |
| Scope 1 – Biogenic | 10,415,840.85 | 10,810,512.98 | 9,156,105.51 |
Carbon balance
In 2024, Bracell generated 1,716,315.84 tCO₂e in anthropogenic emissions from fossil fuel combustion (across Scopes 1, 2, and 3) and 2,227,222.45 tCO₂e in biogenic LULUCF emissions, and removed 4,119,009.65 tCO₂e through its planted and native forests. As a result, the net emissions balance was -175,471.36 tCO₂e, indicating a positive impact on climate.
In 2024 we achieved significant reductions in stationary combustion, including as a decrease in natural gas consumption and increased use of biomass in our gasifiers.
| Emissions | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Total (S1 + S2 + S3) | 1,555,114.00 | 1,701,669.00 | 1,716,315.84 |
| Scope 1 | 614,673.00 | 597,454.00 | 731,362.80 |
| Scope 2 | 5,258.00 | 9,611.00 | 13,213.63 |
| Scope 3 | 935,183.00 | 1,094,603.00 | 971,739.41 |
| Biogenic LULUCF emissions | 3,793,831.00 | 3,940,391.00 | 2,227,222.45 |
| Biogenic removals | -1,309,842.00 | -1,286,441.00 | -4,119,009.65 |
| Balance | 4,039,103.00 | 4,355,619.00 | -175,471.36 |
GRI 305-2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions
Bracell’s Greenhouse Gas Inventories follow guidance provided in the latest edition of ISO 14064, the GHG Protocol, and the quantification methodologies published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Inventories are conducted at the corporate level, covering our pulp mills in São Paulo and Bahia, as well as forestry operations in those two states and Mato Grosso do Sul.
In 2024, Scope 2 accounted for 1% of our total emissions. There was a 37.5% increase in electricity purchased from the national grid. This increase is due to factors such as the expansion of the MS Florestal offices, higher energy use at our port terminal, and operational variations such as turbine shutdowns at the São Paulo and Bahia sites. In our Bahia operation, the strategic decision to prioritize imported electricity over natural gas, combined with periods of lower efficiency in the evaporation area that limited liquor use for power generation, contributed to this increase.
| Scope 2 Category | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Emissions (tCO2e) | Emissions (tCO2e) | Emissions (tCO2e) | |
| Purchased electricity | 5,258.00 | 9,611.00 | 13,213.63 |
| Total | 5,258.00 | 9,611.00 | 13,213.63 |
In 2024, Bracell generated 1,716,315.84 tCO2e in anthropogenic emissions from fossil fuel combustion (across Scopes 1, 2, and 3) and 2,227,222.45 tCO2e in biogenic LULUCF emissions, and removed -4,119,009.65 tCO2e through our planted and native forests. As a result, the net emissions balance was -175,471.36 tCO2e, indicating a positive impact on climate.
| Emissions | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Total (S1 + S2 + S3) | 1,555,114.00 | 1,701,669.00 | 1,716,315.84 |
| Scope 1 | 614,673.00 | 597,454.00 | 731,362.80 |
| Scope 2 | 5,258.00 | 9,611.00 | 13,213.63 |
| Scope 3 | 935,183.00 | 1,094,603.00 | 971,739.41 |
| Biogenic LULUCF emissions | 3,793,831.00 | 3,940,391.00 | 2,227,222.45 |
| Biogenic removals | -1,309,842.00 | -1,286,441.00 | -4,119,009.65 |
| Balance | 4,039,103.00 | 4,355,619.00 | -175,471.36 |
| Emission | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Total (S1 + S2 + S3) | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Scope 1 | 40% | 35% | 43% |
| Scope 2 | 0.34% | 1% | 1% |
| Scope 3 | 60.1% | 64% | 56% |
GRI 305-3 Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions
Bracell’s Greenhouse Gas Inventories follow guidance provided in the latest edition of ISO 14064, the GHG Protocol, and the quantification methodologies published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Inventories are conducted at the corporate level, covering our mills in São Paulo and Bahia, as well as forestry operations in those two states and Mato Grosso do Sul.
In 2024, Scope 3 accounted for 57% of our total emissions. There was an 11.2% reduction in emissions, mainly due to shorter average distances traveled per shipment in export operations.
During the reporting period, Bracell offset 10,936.50 tCO2e in emissions generated by ocean freight to Europe through the purchase of emission allowances required under the EU ETS (European Union Emissions Trading System)—the European Union’s carbon pricing mechanism aimed at reducing GHG emissions by limiting and trading emission allowances, or European Union Allowances (EUAs). In 2024, maritime transport was added to the scope of the system. As a result, vessels accessing European ports are required to acquire allowances proportional to the CO2 emissions generated throughout their routes, starting from their departure in Brazil.
Participation in the EU ETS marks a significant step forward in Bracell’s climate management practices across our logistics chain. In addition to ensuring compliance with European environmental regulations, this initiative will support carbon pricing compliance in other international logistics operations. Indirectly, the funds generated through the purchase of emission allowances are allocated by the European Union to initiatives in innovation, clean energy, and climate adaptation, supporting the region’s energy transition.
| Scope 3 Category | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |||
| Emissions (tCO2e) | Percent Share (%) | Emissions (tCO2e) | Percent Share (%) | Emissions (tCO2e) | Percent Share (%) | |
| Purchased Goods and Services | 114,281.440 | 12.2% | 63,152.273 | 5.77% | 47,464.05 | 4.88% |
| Upstream T&D | 24,542.906 | 2.6% | 62,808.497 | 5.74% | 61,756.05 | 6.36% |
| Operational Solid Waste | 828.425 | 0.1% | 41,579.743 | 3.80% | 26,523.86 | 2.73% |
| Business travel | 541.395 | 0.1% | 547.172 | 0.05% | 364.99 | 0.04% |
| Employee Commuting | 5,103.384 | 0.5% | 12,744.223 | 1.16% | 9,603.34 | 0.99% |
| Downstream T&D | 789,995.711 | 84.5% | 913,771.498 | 83.48% | 826,027.12 | 85.01% |
| Total | 935,183.261 | 100% | 1,094,603.40 | 0.00 | 971,739.41 | 38,640.32 |
| Emissions (tCO2e) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Scope 3 | 935,183.00 | 1,094,603.00 | 971,739.41 |
| Scope 3 – Biogenic | 16,393.519 | 22,573.929 | 36,070.56 |
Carbon balance
In 2024, Bracell generated 1,716,315.84 tCO2e in anthropogenic emissions from fossil fuel combustion (across Scopes 1, 2, and 3) and 2,227,222.45 tCO2e in biogenic LULUCF emissions, and removed -4,119,009.65 tCO2e through its planted and native forests. As a result, the net emissions balance was -175,471.36 tCO2e, indicating a positive impact on climate.
| Emissions | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Total (S1 + S2 + S3) | 1,555,114.00 | 1,701,669.00 | 1,716,315.84 |
| Scope 1 | 614,673.00 | 597,454.00 | 731,362.80 |
| Scope 2 | 5,258.00 | 9,611.00 | 13,213.63 |
| Scope 3 | 935,183.00 | 1,094,603.00 | 971,739.41 |
| Biogenic LULUCF emissions | 3,793,831.00 | 3,940,391.00 | 2,227,222.45 |
| Biogenic removals | -1,309,842.00 | -1,286,441.00 | -4,119,009.65 |
| Balance | 4,039,103.00 | 4,355,619.00 | –175,471.36 |
GRI 305-4 GHG emissions intensity
Bracell’s Greenhouse Gas Inventories follow guidance provided in the latest edition of ISO 14064, the GHG Protocol, and the quantification methodologies published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Inventories are conducted at the corporate level, covering our pulp mills in São Paulo and Bahia, as well as forestry operations in those two states and Mato Grosso do Sul.
In 2024, our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions intensity increased by approximately 19% compared to 2023. The increase was primarily driven by greater use of fossil fuels in our logistics operations and a significant rise in forest fires. It was also influenced by increased electricity purchases from the national grid to accommodate the expansion of our operations.
| Emissions (tCO2e) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Scopes 1 and 2 | 0.167 | 0.174 | 0.208 |
Note: Bracell’s emissions intensity metric covers scopes 1 and 2 emissions from our São Paulo, Bahia and Mato Grosso do Sul operations, as it refers to emissions from the pulp production process.
GRI 305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions
In 2024, there were no overall reductions. However, during the year, we achieved reductions in stationary combustion, such as decreased natural gas consumption and increased use of biomass in gasifiers, as well as reductions in Scope 3 emissions, mainly due to shorter average distances traveled per shipment in export operations.
| Operating site | Total emissions 2023 (tCO2e) | Total emissions 2024 (tCO2e) | Reduction in emissions |
| Bracell SP | 1,204,383.06 | 1,235,985.47 | 31,602.41 |
| Bracell BA | 367,239.46 | 357,234.41 | -10,005.05 |
| MS Florestal | – | 123,095.97 | 123,095.97 |
| Total | 1,701,669.08 | 1,716,315.84 | 14,646.76 |
GRI 305-7 Nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and other significant air emissions
Nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), and total reduced sulfur (TRS) compounds are among the most critical air pollutants due to their direct and indirect impacts on climate and human health. These pollutants are mainly produced by fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes.
| Substance | Site | Bahia Pulp | São Paulo Pulp | Bracell | ||||||
| 20221 | 2023 | 2024 | 20221 | 2023 | 2024 | 20221 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| NOx | t | NA | 451.93 | 448.42 | NA | 2,847.74 | 3,131.48 | NA | 3299.64 | 3,579.90 |
| SOx | t | NA | 30.47 | 39.65 | NA | 139.89 | 59.05 | NA | 170.36 | 98.70 |
| PM | t | NA | 197.30 | 199.99 | NA | 643.26 | 473.22 | NA | 840.56 | 673.21 |
| TRS | t | NA | 2.70 | 12.57 | 59.14 | 43.04 | 30.93 | 59.14 | 45.74 | 43.5 |
- The data include disclosures as part of the EU Ecolabel and Nordic Swan schemes for kraft pulp.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are not measured in air emissions reporting.
These substances impact the environment and human health by contributing to acid rain—which damages ecosystems and infrastructure—and causing respiratory issues. This underscores the need to control and reduce their emissions to mitigate their effects.
In the state of São Paulo, Bracell’s air emissions were calculated using emission factors provided by the state environmental regulator, CETESB. The methodology followed Board Decision No. 10/2010/P dated January 12, 2010. Emission calculations were performed through direct measurement, using continuous analyzers installed on the production line. All reported values are expressed in metric tons per year.
In Bahia, the methodology followed the guidelines of Ordinance No. 18.841 (dated August 3, 2019) on maintaining air emissions monitoring plans to ensure compliance with daily average limits for TRS, PM, SOx, and NOx. The provisions of CONAMA Resolution No. 382 (dated December 26, 2006) were also followed.
As in São Paulo, emissions in Bahia were calculated through direct measurement, using continuous analyzers installed on the production line. The goal is to ensure full compliance with Ordinance No. 18.841 and other regulatory standards through proper emissions monitoring, and to achieve zero deviations from the regulated parameters.
GRI 306-5 Waste directed to disposal
At Bracell’s forestry and mill operations, some of the waste generated still requires disposal, such as landfilling, co-processing, incineration, and autoclaving. These include effluent treatment sludge, wood debarking waste, end-of-life truck and bus tires, rubber, glass, and contaminated materials.
In 2024, Bracell achieved a significant reduction in the volume of industrial waste sent to landfills, driven by the expansion of circular economy initiatives. A key initiative supporting this progress was the approval of new suppliers to repurpose industrial by-products into agricultural inputs, such as soil amendments and organic fertilizers. This strategy not only mitigates environmental impacts but also strengthens local value chains by turning otherwise disposable materials into productive resources.
At the Camaçari (BA) site, grits—industrial waste generated during the pulp production process—is being tested, under the oversight of the relevant environmental authority, for use as ground cover on service roads near forestry operations.
In Lençóis Paulista (SP), wet biological sludge previously sent to landfills has been fully redirected to organic fertilizer production through composting.
Primary sludge has been used in the manufacturing of paper products, and calcitic waste has been redirected to agricultural soil amendments after audits confirmed compliance with legal and environmental requirements.
These initiatives are part of Bracell’s ongoing efforts to drive sustainable waste management solutions and directly support the environmental targets set out in the Bracell 2030 roadmap.
Pulp waste sent for final disposal
| Classification | Category | Method of disposal (t) | Disposal Method |
| Sludge from local effluent treatment | Nonhazardous waste | 15,019.71 | Landfill |
| Other waste not specified earlier | Nonhazardous waste | 69,297.07 | Landfill |
| Other fractions not specified earlier | Nonhazardous waste | 189.73 | Landfill |
| Fiberglass-based waste materials | Nonhazardous waste | 2.66 | Landfill |
| Containers and materials from healthcare processes that do not contain blood or body fluids in free form | Hazardous waste | 0.03 | Autoclave |
| Wood debarking waste and wood waste | Nonhazardous waste | 231.59 | Landfill |
| Mixed construction and demolition waste | Nonhazardous waste | 95.63 | Landfill |
| Total waste sent for disposal in our São Paulo mill operations | 84,836.39 | – | |
| Classification | Category | Method of disposal (t) | Disposal Method |
| Petroleum products, solvents, and plastics | Hazardous waste | 1.71 | Landfill |
| Petroleum products, solvents, and plastics | Hazardous waste | 39.55 | Co-processing |
| Rubber | Nonhazardous waste | 3.68 | Incineration (without energy recovery) |
| Plastics | Nonhazardous waste | 0.46 | Incineration (without energy recovery) |
| Glass | Nonhazardous waste | 0.13 | Co-processing |
| Paper and cardboard | Nonhazardous waste | 1.80 | Co-processing |
| Other inert materials | Nonhazardous waste | 7.89 | Co-processing |
| Total waste sent for final disposal in our São Paulo forestry operations | 55.22 | – | |
| Classification | Category | Method of disposal (t) | Disposal Method |
| Contaminated PPE | Hazardous waste | 4.32 | Co-processing |
| Oily sludge, oily water, miscellaneous waste materials contaminated with oils and greases | Hazardous waste | 21.60 | Landfill |
| Class I waste contaminated with paint and solvent | Hazardous waste | 4.31 | Landfill |
| Containers contaminated with paint or solvents | Hazardous waste | 4.60 | Landfill |
| Healthcare waste | Hazardous waste | 0.02 | Autoclave |
| Light bulbs | Hazardous waste | 0.39 | Landfill |
| Dregs | Nonhazardous waste | 8,940.30 | Landfill |
| Grits | Nonhazardous waste | 3,375.12 | Landfill |
| Yard waste | Nonhazardous waste | 752.4 | Landfill |
| Industrial waste (cleaning) | Nonhazardous waste | 1,124.00 | Landfill |
| Mechanized screen box | Nonhazardous waste | 8.10 | Landfill |
| Non-recyclable waste | Nonhazardous waste | 304.18 | Landfill |
| Total waste sent for final disposal in our Bahia operations | 14,539.34 | – | |
| Classification | Category | Method of disposal (t) | Disposal Method |
| Oily sludge, oily water, miscellaneous waste materials contaminated with oils and greases | Hazardous waste | 2.62 | Co-processing |
| Oily sludge, oily water, miscellaneous waste materials contaminated with oils and greases | Hazardous waste | 15.94 | Landfill |
| Laboratory waste | Hazardous waste | 0.18 | Landfill |
| Laboratory waste | Hazardous waste | 0.02 | Landfill |
| Used PPE without contamination | Nonhazardous waste | 1.22 | Landfill |
| Construction waste | Nonhazardous waste | 9.97 | Landfill |
| General waste (non-recyclable) | Nonhazardous waste | 17.37 | Landfill |
| Lightbulbs and electronic waste | Nonhazardous waste | 0.67 | Landfill |
| Total waste sent for disposal in our Bahia forestry operations | 47.99 | – | |
Paper waste sent for disposal
| Classification | Category | Method of disposal (t) | Disposal Method |
| Packaging containing or contaminated by hazardous substances | Hazardous waste | 4.10 | Co-processing |
| Wood (Class B under Conama Resolution No. 307/02) | Nonhazardous waste | 151.50 | Incineration (with energy recovery) |
| Total waste send for disposal in our Southeast paper operations | 155.60 | – | |
| Classification | Category | Method of disposal (t) | Disposal Method |
| Fluorescent, sodium and mercury vapor, and mixed lamps | Hazardous waste | 2.57 | Co-processing |
| Rags, paint cans, and solvents | Hazardous waste | 2.13 | Incineration (with energy recovery) |
| Water clarification sludge | Non-hazardous waste | 14,858.44 | Landfill |
| Municipal waste | Non-hazardous waste | 964.00 | Landfill |
| Total waste send for disposal in our Northeast paper operations | 15,827.14 | – | |
Waste sent to landfill from 2020 to 2024
| Year | Total waste sent to landfills (kg) | Waste sent to landfills per metric ton of pulp produced (kg/ADT) |
| 2020 | 12,835,672 | 52.1 |
| 2021 | 53,088,992 | 65.0 |
| 2022 | 237,543,980 | 80.9 |
| 2023 | 255,960,241 | 85.0 |
| 2024 | 84,836.42 | 44.3 |
| Year | Waste | Category | Landfill (t) | Business unit | Operation |
| 2024 | Sludge from local effluent treatment | Nonhazardous waste | 15,019.71 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2024 | Other fractions not specified earlier | Nonhazardous waste | 189.73 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2024 | Fiberglass-based waste materials | Nonhazardous waste | 2.66 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2024 | Mixed construction and demolition waste | Nonhazardous waste | 95.63 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2024 | Wood debarking waste and wood waste | Nonhazardous waste | 231.59 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2024 | Other waste not specified earlier | Nonhazardous waste | 69,297.07 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2024 | Petroleum products, solvents, and plastics | Hazardous waste | 1.71 | São Paulo | Forestry |
| 2024 | Oily sludge, oily water, miscellaneous waste materials contaminated with oils and greases | Hazardous waste | 21.60 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Class I waste contaminated with paint and solvent | Hazardous waste | 4.31 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Containers contaminated with paint or solvents | Hazardous waste | 4.60 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Light bulbs | Hazardous waste | 0.39 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Dregs | Nonhazardous waste | 8,940.30 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Grits | Nonhazardous waste | 3,375.12 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Yard sand | Nonhazardous waste | 319 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Industrial cleaning | Nonhazardous waste | 1,124.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Mechanized screen box | Nonhazardous waste | 8.10 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Non-recycled waste | Nonhazardous waste | 304.18 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2024 | Oily sludge, oily water, miscellaneous waste materials contaminated with oils and greases | Hazardous waste | 15.94 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2024 | Laboratory waste | Hazardous waste | 0.18 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2024 | Laboratory waste | Hazardous waste | 0.02 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2024 | Used PPE without contamination | Nonhazardous waste | 1.22 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2024 | Construction waste | Nonhazardous waste | 9.97 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2024 | General waste (non-recyclable) | Nonhazardous waste | 17.37 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2023 | Lightbulbs and electronic waste | Nonhazardous waste | 0.67 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2023 | General non-hazardous/unsalvageable waste (Class II) | Nonhazardous waste | 135.83 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2023 | Sludge (wastewater treatment) | Nonhazardous waste | 33,873.74 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2023 | Mixed waste (dregs, grits, knots, shives, ash and sand) | Nonhazardous waste | 82,813.41 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2023 | Organic waste | Nonhazardous waste | 492.05 | São Paulo | Forestry |
| 2023 | Healthcare waste | Class I | 0.02 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2023 | Various materials contaminated with oil and grease | Class I | 18.05 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2023 | Light bulbs | Class I | 0.29 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2023 | Grits | Nonhazardous waste | 1,831.56 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2023 | Dregs | Nonhazardous waste | 7,515.87 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2023 | Non-recyclable waste | Nonhazardous waste | 287.18 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2023 | Yard waste | Nonhazardous waste | 664.40 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2023 | Industrial waste | Nonhazardous waste | 988.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2023 | Screening system solids | Nonhazardous waste | 10.08 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Healthcare waste | Class I | 0.12 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2023 | Contaminated filters | Class I | 4.60 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2023 | Contaminated hoses | Class I | 8.08 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2023 | Other contaminated materials | Class I | 4.64 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2023 | General waste | Nonhazardous waste | 14.76 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2023 | Contaminated soil | Class I | 2.41 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2023 | PPE and used uniforms | Nonhazardous waste | 2.58 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2023 | Construction waste | Nonhazardous waste | 53.60 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2023 | Batteries | Nonhazardous waste | 0.05 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2022 | Healthcare waste | Class I | 0.12 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Various materials contaminated with oil and grease | Class I | 18.40 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Light bulbs | Class I | 1.60 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Grits | Nonhazardous waste | 4,185.02 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Dregs | Nonhazardous waste | 8,150.74 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Knots and shives | Nonhazardous waste | 325.78 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Bark | Nonhazardous waste | 157.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Yard waste | Nonhazardous waste | 673.01 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Industrial waste | Nonhazardous waste | 3,731.91 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Primary sludge | Nonhazardous waste | 13,013.91 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Plastic carboys | Nonhazardous waste | 0.13 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Scrap metal | Nonhazardous waste | 245.74 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Laboratory waste | Nonhazardous waste | 2.85 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2022 | Other contaminated materials | Class I | 9.60 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2022 | Bags | Nonhazardous waste | 9.36 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2022 | General non-hazardous/unsalvageable waste (Class II) | Nonhazardous waste | 9.67 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2022 | Fiberglass and mineral wool | Nonhazardous waste | 107.50 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2022 | Sludge (wastewater treatment) | Nonhazardous waste | 164,455.78 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2022 | Mixed waste (dregs, grits, knots, shives, ash and sand) | Nonhazardous waste | 25,002.84 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2021 | Healthcare waste | Class I | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Light bulbs | Class I | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Grits | Nonhazardous waste | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Dregs | Nonhazardous waste | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Knots and shives | Nonhazardous waste | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Non-recyclable waste | Nonhazardous waste | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Bark | Nonhazardous waste | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Yard waste | Nonhazardous waste | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Industrial waste | Nonhazardous waste | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Screening system solids | Nonhazardous waste | 0.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2021 | Contaminated filters | Class I | 8.20 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2021 | Contaminated hoses | Class I | 2.87 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2021 | Other contaminated materials | Class I | 10.71 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2021 | Electronic waste | Class I | 0.43 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2021 | Wood | Nonhazardous waste | 0.67 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2021 | Construction waste containing asbestos | Class I | 12.58 | São Paulo | Forestry |
| 2021 | Lime mud | Nonhazardous waste | 19,682.64 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2021 | Wastewater treatment plant sludge | Nonhazardous waste | 21,429.05 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2021 | Restaurant waste (organic) | Nonhazardous waste | 6.78 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2021 | Fiberglass-based waste materials | Nonhazardous waste | 112.27 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2020 | Grits, dregs and sludge from the recovery process | Nonhazardous waste | 25,205.00 | Bahia | Mill |
| 2020 | General waste | Nonhazardous waste | 10.80 | Bahia | Forestry |
| 2020 | Restaurant waste (organic) | Nonhazardous waste | 13.24 | São Paulo | Mill |
| 2020 | Mineral wool and fiberglass | Nonhazardous waste | 13.09 | São Paulo | Mill |
RR-PP-430a.1 Percentage of wood fiber sourced (1) from third-party certified forestlands and percentage to each standard and (2) meeting other fiber sourcing standards and percentage to each standard
We conduct our forestry operations in compliance with the Forestry Certification Endorsement Program (PEFC) Standards, support environmentally compliant, socially beneficial and economically feasible operations. With the recertification of our plantation areas in 2024, a new five-year cycle begins, during which we commit to following certification standard requirements and commissioning annual third-party audits of our operations.
All pulpwood resource is verified against certification standards. In São Paulo, 70% comes from certified Bracell-managed plantations, and 30% from controlled sources. In Bahia, 90% of pulpwood is certified, while 10% comes from controlled sources.
We monitor 100% of the pulpwood resource. All shipments undergo due diligence to identify environmental and social risks and prevent the use of pulpwood from controversial sources, in line with Bracell’s commitment to not sourcing pulpwood of questionable origin.
In 2023, our São Paulo and Bahia mills sourced pulpwood from 73 suppliers. 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. Additionally, our Bahia operation is certified to ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems.