Achievements are part of the sustainability targets the company aims to reach by 2030; of the 14 environmental and social commitments undertaken in 2023, two have already been achieved and at least four are expected to be met by the end of 2025.
A mill that sequesters carbon, protects native forests and cuts natural gas consumption by half. This is the reality at Bracell, one of the global leaders in dissolving pulp, which has just achieved major milestones under its Bracell 2030 Sustainability Plan, launched in 2023 — well ahead of schedule.
The company exceeded its One-for-One Commitment, conserving 302,000 hectares of native vegetation, an area equivalent to three times the size of Bracell’s planted eucalyptus forests. At the same time, it reduced natural gas consumption by 50% in its industrial operations and expanded the use of biomass and clean energy.
“We believe Brazil has the potential to lead the global climate agenda by seeking new solutions based on regeneration, circularity and innovation. At Bracell, our operations in Brazil are guided by the 5C philosophy: everything we do must be good for the Community, the Country, the Climate — one of the reasons we are here today — and the Customer. Only then will it also be good for the Company. We are proud to say that our operations in Brazil are climate-positive, absorbing more carbon than they emit,” said Praveen Singhavi, President of Bracell.
According to Márcio Nappo, Vice President of Sustainability, the achievements reflect the progress made two years after the launch of Bracell 2030.
“These advancements show that we are on the right path and reinforce our belief that it is possible to grow while preserving. We are also very close to reaching our target of 30% women in leadership positions, reinforcing our commitment to diversity and inclusion. We remain determined to make Bracell a benchmark in sustainability, with a positive impact on climate, biodiversity and society,” Nappo stated.
Progress Toward Bracell’s 2030 Targets (as of December 2024)
Climate Action
To create a climate-positive operation and support a low-carbon economy, Bracell has committed to:
- Reducing carbon emissions per ton of product by 75% → 57% achieved
- Removing 25 MtCO₂eq from the atmosphere between 2020 and 2030 → 4.3 MtCO₂eq achieved
Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity
Building regenerative systems that support nature, biodiversity and ecosystem services is also a priority. The company aims to:
- Support the conservation of 230,000 hectares of native vegetation on public lands → 186,000 hectares supported
- Protect and improve habitats of endemic and endangered species through monitoring natural habitats in priority conservation areas → Priority areas defined and new monitoring methodology completed; monitoring to begin in 2026
- Support wildlife reintroduction, doubling the number of Bracell-managed areas certified for wildlife release (from 3 to 6) → 4 areas certified
- Support at least 10 biodiversity conservation research partnerships or projects per year → 8 projects supported
“In 2025, we surpassed the One-for-One Commitment target, which consists of conserving one hectare of native vegetation for every hectare of eucalyptus planted by Bracell. Today, we protect 302,000 hectares. This initiative is unprecedented in the Brazilian sector and reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship,” highlighted Márcio Nappo.
Promoting Sustainable Growth
To expand its business aligned with efficiency, circularity and responsible production, Bracell committed to:
- Reducing water consumption per ton of product by 47% → 38% achieved
- Reducing solid waste sent to landfill per ton of product by 90% → 48% achieved
- Increasing chemical recovery of lime and soda ash in pulp production to 97% → 96.2% achieved
“We closed 2024 with water consumption of 19.2 m³ per ton of product, which represents a benchmark in the Brazilian pulp industry. This result reflects our investments in innovation and technology to ensure minimal environmental impact,” said Nappo.
Empowering Lives
To advance diversity, equity and inclusion and expand positive social impact through Bracell Social, the company intends to:
- Increase income by 20% for families participating in income-generation projects → 21% achieved
- Increase Portuguese and Math proficiency by 30% in supported public schools → Data under analysis
- Increase the proportion of women in leadership roles to 30% → 29.4% achieved
- Achieve 90% positive evaluation regarding respect and equity in the workplace → 71% achieved
- Promote female entrepreneurship, ensuring at least 60% of supported impact businesses are led by women → 64% achieved
“When it comes to caring for people and communities, we are pleased to celebrate surpassing targets that benefit families and women in priority regions. I would also like to highlight the increase in the number of women in leadership positions, a key priority for fostering a more inclusive work environment,” concluded Nappo.
Transparency regarding progress against targets is a priority for Bracell. The company will therefore publish annual updates on each pillar in its Sustainability Report, available on the Bracell website.
