With a focus on Education, Empowerment and Well-being, the social projects reached 27 municipalities across Bahia’s North Coast, Agreste and Recôncavo regions
A member of the Cooperative of Seamstresses of Inhambupe and Region (Coopecir) – Uniform Factory, one of the initiatives supported by the Fostering Impact Businesses program, seamstress Jivânia Costa had her life transformed after joining the project in 2014. At the time, she was unemployed and raising two children.
“The Uniform Factory changed me professionally and allowed me to achieve personal goals I never thought possible. I went from being a housewife to a woman who dreams and pursues her objectives. Today, I hold a degree in financial management and contribute to the development of our cooperative. What makes me proudest is knowing that we help women and their families achieve their dreams,” says Jivânia, who is now Coopecir’s financial director.
The Uniform Factory is one of the initiatives that make up Bracell Social, the social investment program of Bracell, a global leader in dissolving pulp production. Structured around three pillars — Education, Empowerment, and Well-being — the program supported 12 projects in 27 municipalities across Bahia’s North Coast, Agreste, and Recôncavo regions in 2024, benefiting 75,000 people.
Cíntia Liberato de Mattos, Bracell’s Manager of Communications, Institutional Relations and Social Responsibility, highlights that Jivânia’s story is an inspiration to everyone.
“Jivânia has been with us for over 10 years and is an example of how our projects can create new life perspectives for people. That’s exactly what we aim for with these initiatives — that’s why we put such rigor into project design and training, so that participants don’t just learn an activity but also understand how to manage their businesses, improving their quality of life and that of their families,” she emphasizes.
Education that inspires
In the field of Education, the company develops three projects in Bahia: Continuing Education, Environmental Education Center, and Ecomunidade Project. The first is carried out in technical partnership with the Chapada Institute for Education and Research (Icep) and provides training for teachers, pedagogical coordinators, school administrators, and education department teams. In 2024, it reached 29,000 educators, students, and family members in 12 municipalities.
The Bracell Environmental Education Center, located on Fazenda Salgado in Inhambupe, promotes environmental awareness through hands-on experiences for students, teachers, and local communities in an educational and recreational space. In 2024, the site received 4,500 visitors from eight municipalities.
Meanwhile, the Ecomunidade Project trains and supports community environmental multipliers, focusing on mobilization efforts for proper waste disposal.
“Education is a core pillar of Bracell’s social initiatives. Through it, we help foster effective social and environmental awareness in new generations. With the Continuing Education Project, we are helping to improve the Basic Education Development Index (Ideb) in the municipalities where we operate,” says Cíntia.
Empowerment that drives prosperity
Another strategic pillar of the program, Empowerment, focuses on social projects that promote income generation in local communities. In 2024, these initiatives benefited 14,300 people in 23 municipalities.
They include:
- the Fostering Impact Businesses Program, which trains associations and productive groups;
- the Nós no Campo Project, focused on agricultural production using agroecological techniques;
- the Pollinators Project, which provides training and assistance to beekeepers;
- the Sustainable Nozzles Project, which donates wood waste to associations and cooperatives; and
- the Women Producers Project, which encourages female entrepreneurship.
Fábio Sento Sé Oliveira, Bracell Bahia’s Social Responsibility Coordinator, notes that the Bracell Social program helps strengthen local economies by expanding income sources for participants and their families.
“The Fostering Impact Businesses Program, for instance, generated income last year for nearly 7,000 people. In addition, four associations supported by the initiative obtained R$822,925.90 through public calls to further develop their projects,” he explains.
Well-being that multiplies
To promote citizenship and well-being, Bracell supports social projects such as Mais Cidadania (More Citizenship), which offers free essential public services in partnership with local governments, and Cultura.REC, which strengthens cultural movements and expressions in São Sebastião do Passé and Santo Amaro.
Another initiative is Mãos Dadas (Joined Hands), a volunteer program that encourages employees to engage in community support activities. In 2024, these initiatives collectively reached 11,500 people across nine municipalities.
“Bracell’s philosophy is that everything we do must be good for the community, the country, the climate, and our clients — only then will it be good for the company. That’s why, when we design and carry out projects across the pillars of Education, Empowerment, and Well-being, we act in harmony with what we believe matters most: caring for people and the communities where we operate,” concludes Cíntia Mattos.
