The relationship process with neighboring communities has two main purposes: the first is to maintain Suzano's social license to operate and the second is to strengthen territorial development. To achieve these goals, it is essential to ensure constant and transparent communication with local associations and cooperatives, NGOs, isolated neighbors, unions, municipalities, states and other companies, thus maintaining the positive predominance in the territory's perception of Suzano.
Beyond communication, a fundamental aspect is that the company is open to building solutions together with communities to address relevant issues in the local context, which can be environmental, social, cultural, economic, structural or even emergency. The two dimensions (communication and developing joint solutions) are totally connected and feed back into our relationship strategy.
This strategy covers the entire area of influence of the 13 manufacturing units¹ and the forestry base that feeds these units, as well as port operations in Brazil. In global figures, these operations directly or indirectly influence the daily lives of around 1,630 localities in more than 200 municipalities in 9 Brazilian states.
The process of implementing the relationship and social investment strategy in neighboring locations is led by the local Social Relationship teams, spread across all of Suzano's operating units. This implementation is structured around some strategies, such as:
- Operational Dialogue: a methodology for prior communication and maintaining dialogue with neighbors and communities during operations;
- Community engagement programs and projects: initiatives focused on local development and the institutional strengthening of organizations from priority locations;
- Face-to-face agendas: structured moments for maintaining a qualified presence and relationship with the locations directly impacted by the business, regardless of operational planning.
In addition to the approach and dialogue mechanisms mentioned above, Suzano maintains a process for recording and managing all interactions, requests, compliments and complaints from localities, neighbors, and local entities, via Relacione+, a system developed by the company itself to ensure that any communication/interaction with interested parties is duly heard and dealt with by Suzano.
Also as a way of engaging and characterizing the territories in which it operates, the company applies an instrument known as the Social Inventory, through participatory consultations with communities, to gather information for characterization and, consequently, prioritization of the relationship process. Among the information gathered is basic infrastructure, such as access to energy, access to water, schools, and health facilities, the dynamics and model of local development, among other data.
Other models of engagement are the processes of identifying, classifying and monitoring High Conservation Value Areas (HCVAs), Sites of Special Significance (SSSs) and archaeological sites of interest or the uses and access by communities in the company's areas. Also noteworthy is the monitoring of social programs and projects in the strategic areas of Relationships, Poverty, and Education.
The entire process described above is valid for new operations (a new factory, for example) or even for the acquisition of new farms, when the aforementioned actions are preceded by social due diligence, carried out before a new farm is included in Suzano's portfolio through acquisition, lease or just the purchase of timber. This process is a prior social risk analysis, which characterizes the neighborhood and identifies possible social liabilities/risks related to the property. Depending on the risk, the social area may recommend not closing the deal.
The following information is available in the tables below:
- 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 consultation with the local community, by region.
Note:
- The following are considered 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 in which Veracel is responsible for social action. The acquisition of two Pactiv Evergreen mills (Pine Bluff and Waynesville), on October 1, 2024, located in the states of Arkansas and North Carolina, in the United States, is not being considered.
Number of operations under implementation/development that are in the consultation phase with the local community¹
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| número total | número total | número total | número total | número total | |
|
São Paulo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mato Grosso do Sul |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Espírito Santo |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Bahia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Maranhão |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total amount |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
- This indicator only considers the consultation for the implementation of new manufacturing projects. Community consultation is an ongoing process, scaled and planned according to the specifics of each project. At Suzano, consultation is considered to be a process of qualified, "two-way" dialog, bringing information and possible impacts of the project, but also bringing demands from the communities. Thus, the consultation process provides opportunities for the company to learn from the experience and knowledge of communities, identify their needs, vocation, economic potential and concerns, as well as manage the mitigation of the impacts of operations.
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
|
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% |
|
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% |
|
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% |
|
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% |
|
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% |
|
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% |
|
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% |
- All these initiatives are related to the operationalization of the community relations strategy and the reduction of social impacts involving the following processes: Operational Dialogue, socio-environmental investment programs/projects, community engagement processes, and socio-environmental impact management processes.
- In this item, the social impacts that are influenced by Suzano in the territories do not influence the gender context, considering the company's operational perspectives and business model.
Percentage of operations requiring consultation with the local community, by region¹
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | |
|
São Paulo |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Mato Grosso do Sul |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Espírito Santo |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Bahia |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Maranhão |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
|
Total amount |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
100,00% |
- To identify, prevent, and minimize the potential impacts caused by its operations, Suzano continuously carries out the Operational Dialogue process in all the communities surrounding the areas where operations are expected to begin, such as forestry, harvesting, and wood transport operations, as well as in the localities surrounding its manufacturing units.
Informações complementares
Engagement represents a deeper, more inclusive and continuous structured relationship that establishes Suzano as a partner in local development. According to the company's Social and Environmental Investments and Donations Policy (PC.00.0007), Suzano's social and environmental investments must be primarily the result of community engagement processes. Its methodology takes into account the specificities of the different realities and stakeholders involved, prioritizing and valuing the protagonism of the entire community, the development of legitimate leadership, the building of social capital and the recovery of citizenship and self-esteem.