We are the first company in the pulp industry in São Paulo to implement three-stage effluent treatment.

• Primary treatment: mechanical removal of fibers and inorganic compounds through solid-liquid separation

• Secondary treatment: biological treatment of organic matter using activated sludge systems to significantly reduce organic load

• Tertiary treatment: an advanced filtration or “polishing” stage to ensure effluent quality prior to discharge into the Tietê River

Tertiary effluent treatment supports high-performance removal of organic load—as measured by Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)—at approximately 98% efficiency, far exceeding federal regulatory requirements (Conama Resolution 430/2011). In addition, approximately 92% of water withdrawals are returned to the Tietê River as treated effluent.

Effluent discharge limits are set in accordance with Brazilian environmental laws and standards, including Article 18 of Decree No. 8.468/1976, Article 16 of CONAMA Resolution 430/2011, the state environmental regulator’s (CETESB) Technical Reference Document, Technical Opinion 072/18/IPSE, and international eco-label standards such as Nordic Swan and the EU Ecolabel (see GRI 2-6 About Bracell for further details).

At our mill in the Camaçari Industrial Park (BA), process water is collected post-use and pumped to Bracell’s on-site primary treatment system, which includes a sedimentation step. The organic effluent is then sent to the local utility, which performs secondary biological treatment (activated sludge), ensuring more than 95% removal of organic load. The treated effluent is then discharged into the ocean via a dedicated outfall pipeline, in compliance with Inema Ordinance No. 16.507/2018 and No 18.841/19, Conama Resolution No. 430/2011, and other regulations issued by the relevant environmental agencies.

We consistently maintain quality standards that surpass national regulatory requirements, with especially rigorous monitoring of parameters like Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). In our São Paulo operations, BOD was 1,134 mg/L and COD was 196.01 mg/L, both within the limits established by federal regulations (Conama Resolution No. 430/2011), where the BOD limit is 60%. This performance reflects the effectiveness of the tertiary treatment system built at our pulp facility.

In our Bahia operations, continuous COD monitoring ensures the primary treatment system is performing optimally. The secondary treatment stage effectively reduces organic load, though due to mixing with effluents from other industrial operators within the complex, it is not possible to measure Bracell’s isolated contribution to the final effluent discharged offshore.

Bracell did not detect harmful substances in wastewater that could cause irreversible damage to water bodies, ecosystems, or human health. To define priority discharge substances, Bracell follows the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality.

Bracell Papéis Nordeste does not discharge effluents, and Bracell Papéis Sudeste routes 100% of its effluent to the Lençóis Paulista (SP) site treatment plant. Bracell does not discharge water in areas classified as water-stressed (see more in section GRI 2-6 About Bracell).

Surface water discharges (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	0	0	0	0	312,800	312,800	0	153,151	153,151	0	97,615	97,615	0	142,030	142,030	0	112,710	112,710
São Paulo Pulp	0	0	0	0	15,745,505	15,745,505	0	51,451,820	51,451,820	0	49,309,676	49,309,676	0		49,760,589	0	52,588,332	52,588,332
Paper Southeast	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	1,225,111	1,225,111	N/A	767,533	767,533
Paper Northeast	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
Bracell	0	0	0	0	16,058,305	16,058,305	0	51,604,971	51,604,971	0	49,407,291	49,407,291	0	51,127,730	51,127,730	0	53,468,575	53,468,575

Surface water discharges (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	0	0	0	0	313	313	0	153	153	0	98	98	0	142	142	0	113	113
São Paulo Pulp	0	0	0	0	15,746	15,746	0	51,452	51,452	0	49,310	49,310	0	49,761	49,761	0	52,588	52,588
Paper Southeast	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	1,225	1,225	N/A	768	768
Paper Northeast	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
Bracell	0	0	0	0	16,058	16,058	0	51,605	51,605	0	49,407	49,407	0	51,128	51,128	0	53,469	53,469

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. 

Submarine outfall discharges (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	0	0	0	0	12,209,740	12,209,740	0	12,601,858	12,601,858	0	13,313,281	13,313,281	0	13,197,242	13,197,242	0	12,674,562	12,674,562
São Paulo Pulp	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Paper Southeast	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	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Paper Northeast	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	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0
Bracell	0	0	0	0	12,209,740	12,209,740	0	12,601,858	12,601,858	0	13,313,281	13,313,281	0	13,197,242	13,197,242	0	12,674,562	12,674,562

Submarine outfall discharges (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	0	0	0	0	12,210	12,210	0	12,602	12,602	0	13,313	13,313	0	13,197	13,197	0	12,675	12,675
São Paulo Pulp	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Paper Southeast	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	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Paper Northeast	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	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Bracell	0	0	0	0	12,210	12,210	0	12,602	12,602	0	13,313	13,313	0	13,197	13,197	0	12,675	12,675

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	0	12,739,374	12,739,374	0	12,522,540	12,522,540	0	12,755,009	12,755,009	0	13,410,896	13,410,896	0	13,339,272	13,339,272	0	12,787,272	12,787,272
São Paulo Pulp	0	5,208,374	5,208,374	0	15,745,505	15,745,505	0	51,451,820	51,451,820	0	49,309,676	49,309,676	0	49,760,589	49,760,589	0	52,588,332	52,588,332
Paper Southeast	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	1,225,111	1,225,111	0	767,533	767,533
Paper Northeast	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	0	0	0
Bracell	0	17,947,748	17,947,748	0	28,268,045	28,268,045	0	64,206,829	64,206,829	0	62,720,572	62,720,572	0	64,324,972	64,324,972	0	66,143,138	66,143,138

Note 1: effluents from Bracell’s São Paulo pulp and Southeast paper operations are jointly treated at a single Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) located at the Lençóis Paulista site. While our Southeast paper operations do not discharge effluent directly to the environment, its entire wastewater stream is routed to the WTP, which also processes effluents from the pulp manufacturing operation. /in our mill operations in Bahia, only one effluent stream is discharged into the river, namely inorganic effluent or stormwater, which is directed to the CETREL inorganic effluent flume, where it is mixed with other inorganic effluents from the Industrial Park before being discharged into the river.
Note 2: at the Feira de Santana site (Bahia), Bracell Papéis Nordeste operates a closed-loop Wastewater Treatment Plant, which recirculates process water internally. As a result, no effluents are discharged to the environment. The same applies to the São Gonçalo dos Campos (BA) and Pombos (PE) units, as these facilities use dry processing.
Note 3: Bracell does not discharge effluents into groundwater.
Note 4: there is no discharge in areas of water stress.

Total water withdrawal (ML)

Operation	2020			2021			2022			2023			2024			2025
	Florestal	Industrial	Total	Florestal	Industrial	Total	Florestal	Industrial	Total	Florestal	Industrial	Total	Florestal	Industrial	Total	Florestal	Industrial	Total
Bahia Pulp	0	127,394	127,394	0	12,523	12,523	0	12,755	12,755	0	13,411	13,411	0	13,339	13,339	0	12,787	12,787
São Paulo Pulp	0	52,084	52,084	0	15,746	15,746	0	51,452	51,452	0	49,310	49,310	0	49,761	49,761	0	52,588	52,588
Paper Southeast	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	1,225	1,225	N/A	768	768
Paper Northeast	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
Bracell	0	179,477	179,477	0	28,268	28,268	0	64,207	64,207	0	62,721	62,721	0	64,325	64,325	0	66,143	66,143

Note 1: the data presented refers to water withdrawal volumes in megaliters (ML), in accordance to the reporting guidelines for GRI 303-3. Bracell also reports water data in cubic meters (m³) due to the calculation standards adopted for Bracell 2030 targets. 
Note 2: effluent volumes generated for São Paulo Pulp and Paper Southeast operations are treated jointly at the single Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) situated at the São Paulo industrial site. Although Paper Southeast operation does not have surface water discharge as Bracell pulp mill , 100% of the effluents from tissue operations are fully conveyed to the WWTP, which also receives effluents from the pulp operations. 
Note 3: in Bahia mill operations, there is a single surface water discharge, namely inorganic effluent or stormwater, which is directed to the Cetrel Industrial System (SI) channel, where it mixes with other SI effluent streams from the industrial complex before being discharged into the river. 
Note 4: Paper Northeast operates only one WWTP at the industrial unit in Feira de Santana (state of Bahia), which operates under a closed-loop system. Therefore, there is no surface or submarine effluent discharge. São Gonçalo dos Campos (state of Bahia) and Pombos (state of Pernambuco) sites follows the same dry process. 
Note 5: Bracell does not discharge effluents into groundwater. 
Note 6: there are no effluent discharges in water-stressed areas.