GRI GRI 303-3 Water withdrawal

GRI 303-3 Water withdrawal

Bracell carries out regular climate zoning studies. We use historical precipitation and temperature data to calculate evapotranspiration and soil water deficit. This helps to identify areas suitable for eucalyptus cultivation. Based on this information, technical recommendations are developed for each region, including clone allocation and fertilization.

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 Additionally, groundwater withdrawn from a well at the Lençóis Paulista mill is used for seedling production in the nursery.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. 25.954/2022, 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 24 stations for monitoring surface (river) water quality, 9 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 in the ground from seedling nurseries, and 1 station where effluents are discharged into the ground from a water and oil separator.

At the headquarters of three farms in Bahia, water is also withdrawn through artesian wells. In these cases, the water is used for human consumption.  In our forestry operations in Bahia the total volume from the 49 authorized withdrawal points (both surface and groundwater) is recorded in an internal database, which is managed in compliance with applicable legislation and covers all Bracell operational fronts.

In 2025, surface water withdrawal in Bahia’s forestry operations decreased by 28% compared to the previous cycle. In our São Paulo operations, forestry withdrawals increased by 29%, while mill withdrawals increased by 3.54%.

Groundwater withdrawal decreased by 19% in Bahia’s forestry operations, while São Paulo saw a 61% increase due to the inclusion of water consumption for seedling production at the Avaí (SP) nursery. Our São Paulo mill reported a 19.71% increase, with total consumption remaining below the limit established in the current water permit. In Bahia, mill withdrawals decreased by 5.3%.

In our Paper operations, water withdrawal increased by 8% in the Southeast and decreased by 17% in the Northeast.

Bracell does not withdraw water in water-stressed areas.

Surface water withdrawals (m3)
Operation 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Forestry Mill Total 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 18,181 0 18,181
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 50,522,855 666,463 52,248,000 52,914,462
Southeast Paper 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 0 1,231,503 1,231,503
Northeast Paper 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 0 19,445 19,445
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 51,692,810 684,643 53,498,947 54,183,591
Surface water withdrawals (ML)  
  Operation 2020   2021   2022   2023   2024   2025  
Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total
Bahia Pulp 2  0  2  29  0  29  5  0  5  65  0  65  25  0  25  18  0  18 
São Paulo Pulp 309  0  309  328  12,947  13,276  315  49,224  49,538  458  52,016  52.474  550  49,973  50,523  667  52,248  52,915 
Southeast Paper 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  1.145  1.145  N/A  1.232  1.232 
Northeast Paper 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  N/A  19  19 
Bracell 311  0  311  358  12,947  13,305  319  49,224  49,543  523  52,016  52,539  576  51,117  51,693  685  53,498  54,183 
Note: the data presented refers to water volumes expressed in megaliters (ML), in accordance to reporting guidelines for GRI 303-3. Bracell also discloses water data in cubic meters (m3) due to the calculation for Bracell 2030 target. 
Groundwater withdrawals (m3)
Operation 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Forestry Mill Total 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        656,246.40 14,845,602 15,501,848
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 4,717,466 801,777 5029,262 5,831,038.94
Southeast Paper 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 0,00 0,00 0,00
Northeast Paper 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 0,00 157,886.00 157,886.00
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 1,458,024 20,032,750 21,490,773

 

Groundwater withdrawals (ML)  
Operation   2020   2021   2022   2023   2024   2025  
Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total
Bahia Pulp 890  14,721  15,611  872  14,560  15,432  852  15,145  15,997  874  15,739  16,613  827  15,681  16,508  656  14,846  15,502 
São Paulo Pulp 282  6,832  7,114  395  7,072  7,467  405  6,520  6,926  557  4,342  4,899  486  4,231  4,717  802  5,029  5,831 
Southeast Paper 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  N/A   0  0 
Northeast Paper 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  N/A   157,856  157,856 
Bracell 1,172  21,553  22,725  1,268  21,631  22,899  1,257  21,666  22,923  1,431  20,081  21,512  1,313  20,126  21,440  1,458  20,033  21,491 

Note: the data presented refers to water volumes expressed in megaliters (ML), in accordance to reporting guidelines for GRI 303-3. Bracell also discloses water data in cubic meters (m3) due to the calculation for Bracell 2030 target. 

Total water withdrawal (m3)
Operation 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Forestry Mill Total 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 16,533,490 674,427 14,845.602 15,520,029
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 1,468,240.01 57,277,261 58,745,501
Southeast Paper 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 0 1,231,503 1,231,503
Northeast Paper 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 0 177,331 177,331
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 2,142,667 73,531,697 75,674,364

Note 1: Bracell Papéis was established in 2023 and is reporting its environmental performance for the first time, with data from 2024. Bracell Papéis Southeast 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.

Total water withdrawal (ML)
Operation 2020   2021   2022   2023   2024   2025  
Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total Forestry Mill Total
Bahia Pulp 892  14,721  15,613  902  14,560  15,461  857  15,145  16,002  939  15,739  16,678  852  15,681  16,533  674  14,846  15,520 
São Paulo Pulp 592  6,832  7,423  724  20,019  20,743  720  55,744  56,464  1,014  56,359  57,373  1,037  54,204  55.240  1,468 57,277  58,746 
Southeast Paper 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   1,145  1,145  N/A   1,232  1,232 
Northeast Paper 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  214  N/A   177  177 
Bracell 1,484  21,553  23,036  1,625  34,579  36,204  1,577  70,890  72,466  1,954  72,097  74,051  1,889  71,244  73,133  2,143  73,532  75,675 
Note 1: the data presented refers to water withdrawal volumes in megaliters (ML), in accordance to the reporting guidelines for GRI 303-3. In the other tables, volumes are also presented in cubic meters (m³) due to the calculation standards adopted for Bracell 2030 targets. 
Note 2: in 2023, Tissue Southeast mill started operating. In 2025, Bracell started reporting sustainability performance disclosure (2024 performance) for tissue operations. Tissue Southeast operation does not have its own water abstraction points (surface or groundwater), using water already withdrawn by Bracell’s industrial site in Lençóis Paulista (SP), where pulp production takes place. 
Note 3: the water withdrawal volumes for São Paulo Pulp and Tissue Southeast operations consider exclusively the primary sources of the pulp mill, namely: six groundwater wells and one surface water abstraction from the Tietê River. 
Note 4: the water withdrawal volume for the Tissue Northeast operation considers the industrial unit situated in Feira de Santana (state of Bahia). At the sites of São Gonçalo dos Campos (state of Bahia) and Pombos (state of Pernambuco). There is no water withdrawal, as the industrial processes employed are considered dry processes. 
Note 5: the water withdrawal volume for forestry operations encompasses water abstraction from officially licensed (permitted) abstraction points located in the states of Minas Gerais and Paraná, in addition to the state of São Paulo. All licensed abstraction points are subject to systematic control and monitoring by the Forestry Environmental Department of Bracell São Paulo Pulp. Further details on forestry water management practices are disclosed 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 19.2
2025 19.9