The relationship process with local communities serves two primary purposes: to preserve Suzano's social license to operate (SLO) and to strengthen territorial development. To accomplish this, maintaining consistent and transparent communication with local associations, cooperatives, NGOs, neighbors, unions, municipal and state authorities, and other companies is crucial. This approach helps sustain a positive perception of Suzano within the territory.
In addition to communication, a key aspect is the company's willingness to develop solutions in collaboration with the territory and its communities. These solutions aim to tackle important local issues, whether environmental, social, cultural, economic, structural, or emergencies. The two aspects—communication and joint problem-solving—are deeply interconnected and reinforce our relationship strategy.
This strategy encompasses the full scope of the 13 manufacturing units¹, their forestry base, which supplies them, and port activities across Brazil. Collectively, these operations affect the daily lives of approximately 1,675 localities across more than 220 municipalities in 11 Brazilian states, either directly or indirectly.
The implementation of the relationship and social investment strategy in neighboring locations is overseen by the local Social Relationship teams, which are distributed across all of Suzano's operational units. This implementation is organized around several strategies, including:
- Operational Dialogue: a communication approach before operations and ongoing engagement with neighbors and surrounding communities during operations.
- Community engagement programs and projects: initiatives aimed at local development and strengthening institutions in priority locations;
- Face-to-face agendas: planned moments for maintaining a qualified presence and relationship with the locations directly affected by the business, regardless of operational planning.
In addition to the methods and dialogue systems described earlier, Suzano has a process for recording and handling all interactions, requests, compliments, and complaints from local communities, neighbors, and local entities. This is managed through Relacione+, a system developed by the company to ensure that all communication and interactions with stakeholders are properly acknowledged and addressed by Suzano.
These engagement mechanisms facilitate the social impact assessment, ensuring ongoing feedback on socio-economic and environmental factors relevant to the communities where we operate. Impacts, whether beneficial or adverse, are analyzed according to the following criteria:
- Detection: whether the impact is actual or prospective;
- Incidence: whether the impact happens directly or is affected by the operations;
- Class: whether the impact is adverse or beneficial;
- Severity or attractiveness: whether the impact adversely or beneficially alters the context of society;
- Frequency: whether the actual impacts are continuous, periodic, or sporadic;
- Probability: whether the occurrence of potential impacts is certain, probable, or remote;
- Scope: whether the impacts are regional, local, or specific;
- Demand: whether there is any legitimate demand from the community or stakeholder impacted by the activity or undertaking that is recognized and prioritized by the CVC (Shared Value Commission).
To publicly disclose the results of our environmental and social impact assessments, we share them through various channels, including the public summary of the Management Plan, the Suzano Sustainability Center, the Annual Sustainability Report, the Institutional website, and other channels.
To engage and understand the territories where it operates, the company uses a tool called the Social Inventory. This involves participatory consultations with communities to collect information for their characterization and to help prioritize their relationship processes. The data gathered includes basic infrastructure such as energy and water access, schools, and health facilities, as well as details on local development dynamics and models.
Other models of engagement include processes for identifying, classifying, and monitoring High Conservation Value Areas (HCVAs), Areas of Relevant Ecological and Social Interest (ARIES), Sites of Special Significance (SSSI), archaeological sites of interest, and the uses and access of communities within the company's areas. Additionally, it is important to monitor social programs and projects in strategic areas such as Relationships, Poverty, and Education.
By recognizing the territory's potential and maintaining a consistent, transparent dialogue about the company's activities, the foundation for the third guideline—focused on Community Consultation and Engagement—is laid. This guideline aims to create strategies that bolster local social institutions, thereby promoting territorial development. These strategies are customized to reflect each community's unique characteristics and the priorities of various social groups. It emphasizes the importance of developing tailored approaches that strengthen local social institutions, which in turn support territorial growth. Each approach is adapted to fit the community's profile and the main aims of its social groups.
When investing in social projects, Suzano applies selection criteria based on its Compliance Policy, legal requirements, and investment guidelines aligned with its key social priorities, to ensure the appropriateness of social institutions.
When conducting social projects, Suzano adopts two forms of action:
- Intervention conducted by Suzano (Relationship): a model in which teams from the Social Development department deliver the intervention directly to beneficiaries and monitor adherence to the anticipated results outlined by the project.
- Intervention conducted by partner organizations (Poverty and Education) follows a model in which local partners are tasked with engaging directly with beneficiaries and collecting relevant data to assess the attainment of poverty and education objectives. Such local partner organizations include Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), trade associations, social impact enterprises, third-sector management firms, Sistema S, among others.
The process outlined applies to new operations, such as a new mill, or to the acquisition of new farms. It should be performed after social due diligence is completed—this step occurs before a new farm is included in Suzano's portfolio through acquisition, lease, or timber purchase. This social due diligence involves a prior risk assessment that evaluates the local community and spots potential social liabilities or risks associated with the property. Based on the identified level of risk, the social team may advise against finalizing the deal.
The tables below provide the following information:
- Number of operations under implementation/development that are in the consultation phase with the local community;
- Percentage of operations with implemented local community engagement processes, impact assessments, and/or local development programs, by region and type of initiative;
- Percentage of operations requiring a local community consultation process, by region.
Note:
1. The following are regarded as operational units: Aracruz and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (ES), Belém (PA), Imperatriz (MA), Jacareí, Limeira, Mogi das Cruzes, Rio Verde, and Suzano (SP), Maracanaú (CE), Mucuri (BA), and Ribas do Rio Pardo and Três Lagoas (MS). The Eunápolis (BA) unit is a joint operation, with Veracel responsible for social initiatives. The acquisition of two Pactiv Evergreen mills (Pine Bluff and Waynesville) in Arkansas and North Carolina, USA, effective October 1, 2024, is not under consideration.
Number of operations under implementation/development that are in the consultation phase with the local community¹
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| número total | número total | número total | número total | número total | número total | |
|
São Paulo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mato Grosso do Sul |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Espírito Santo |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Bahia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Maranhão |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total amount |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
- This indicator only accounts for consultations related to the implementation of new manufacturing projects. Community consultation is an ongoing process, tailored and scheduled based on each project's specifics. At Suzano, consultation is seen as a qualified, two-way dialogue that shares project information and potential impacts, while also capturing community demands. This process offers the company opportunities to learn from community experiences and knowledge, understand their needs, economic potential, concerns, and ways to mitigate operational impacts.
Percentage of operations with implemented local community engagement processes, impact assessments and/or local development programs, by region and type of initiative¹
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| São Paulo | Mato Grosso do Sul | Espírito Santo | Bahia | Maranhão | Total | São Paulo | Mato Grosso do Sul | Espírito Santo | Bahia | Maranhão | Total | São Paulo | Mato Grosso do Sul | Espírito Santo | Bahia | Maranhão | Total | São Paulo | Mato Grosso do Sul | Espírito Santo | Bahia | Maranhão | Total | São Paulo | Mato Grosso do Sul | Espírito Santo | Bahia | Maranhão | Total | São Paulo | Mato Grosso do Sul | Espírito Santo | Bahia | Maranhão | Total | |
| % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
|
Social impact assessments, including gender impact assessments, based on participatory processes² |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Environmental impact assessments and ongoing monitoring |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Public disclosure of the results of environmental and social impact assessments |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Local development programs based on the needs of local communities |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Stakeholder engagement plans based on stakeholder mapping |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Committees and processes for broad consultation with the local community, including vulnerable groups |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Work councils, occupational health and safety committees and other employee representative bodies to discuss impacts |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Formal processes for complaints from local communities |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
- These initiatives focus on implementing the community relations strategy and minimizing social impacts through processes such as Operational Dialogue, socio-environmental investment programs/projects, community engagement activities, and socio-environmental impact management processes.
- The social impacts Suzano has in the territories do not affect the gender context, given the company's operational perspectives and business model.
Percentage of operations requiring consultation with the local community, by region¹
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | % | |
|
São Paulo |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Mato Grosso do Sul |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Espírito Santo |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Bahia |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Maranhão |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Total amount |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
- To identify, prevent, and mitigate potential impacts from its operations, Suzano continuously conducts the Operational Dialogue process with all nearby communities in areas where activities like silviculture, harvesting, and wood transport are expected, as well as around its plants.
Informações complementares
Engagement signifies a deeper, more inclusive, and ongoing structured relationship that positions Suzano as a partner in local development. As outlined in the company's Socio-environmental Investment and Donations Policy (PC.00.0007), Suzano's socio-environmental investments should mainly stem from community engagement efforts. Its approach takes into account the unique characteristics of different local realities and stakeholders, emphasizing the role of the entire community, fostering genuine leadership, building social capital, and restoring citizenship and self-esteem.