Sustainable Finance
Green Financing
To support Klabin’s growth plan, the financial strategy includes an approach to debt linked to favorable market conditions integrated with performance and social and environmental commitments. In this regard, issuances of related financial instruments have increased progressively, reflected in the 37% of current debt linked to sustainability, as shown in the chart below. Access Klabin's 2024 Sustainable Finance report.
Klabin's issuance of green bonds adhered to several eligibility criteria, aligning with the four pillars outlined in the Green Bond Principles by the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA). This adherence was verified by Sustainalytics, which provided a Second Party Opinion (SPO).
The proceeds from these bond issuances are earmarked specifically for financing and/or refinancing, in whole or in part, investments and/or costs associated with eligible "Green Projects". These projects are evaluated by Klabin's sustainability governance bodies.
In 2019, Klabin became the first Brazilian company to issue securities in this category with a 30-year maturity (Notes 2049). In September 2017, the Company issued a USD 500 million bond with a ten-year term. Finally, in January 2020, the Notes 2049 issue was retapped to raise an additional USD 200 million, bringing the total debt of this type to US$ 1.2 billion.
These issuances underscore Klabin S.A.'s commitment to social and environmental responsibility in Brazil, showcasing its pioneering financial strategy rooted in sustainability.
In 2024, Klabin fully repaid its first green bond, issued in 2017 with a ten-year maturity, valued at USD 500 million. As of now, only USD 21 million of the total US$ 1.2 billion issued remains to be allocated
Fund allocation | USD MM | % |
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Issuance | 1,200.00 | 100 |
Verified | 1,179 | 98.22 |
Balance | 21 | 1.78 |
Resource Allocation 2017–2024 (%)
Native Forest Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation | Renewable Energy | Waste Management | Clean Transportation | Energy Efficiency | Sustainable Forest Management | Sustainable Water Management | Circular Economy & Eco-Efficient Production | Climate Change Adaptation |
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1.53 | 4.71 | 1.21 | 2.09 | 0.60 | 82.51 | 0.73 | 5.16 | 1.47 |
Eligibility Criteria | Environmental Benefits | Cumulative Values (2017–2024) | Unit |
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Native Forest Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation | Areas covered by invasive-species control activities | 50,702.5 | hectares |
Renewable Energy | GHG emissions avoided | 307,973 | tCO₂e |
Waste Management | Waste diverted from landfill | 32,900 | metric tons |
Clean Transportation | Total GHG emissions avoided | 67,813 | tCO₂e |
Energy Efficiency | Total GHG emissions avoided | 13,438 | tCO₂e |
Sustainable Forest Management | Total area of small and medium-sized rural producers’ properties certified | 363,688.74 | hectares |
Sustainable Water Management | Reduction in specific water consumption | 28.3 | % |
Eco-efficient and/or circular-economy-adapted products, technologies, and production processes | Reduction in energy consumption | 12.5 | % |
Climate Change Adaptation | Percentage of area monitored using site-security methods | 100 | % |
Klabin’s sustainable finance strategy has been strengthened not only through issuances of use-of-proceeds bonds, but also through sustainability-linked debt whose financial terms are tied to the achievement of sustainability targets. These targets are derived from the company’s commitments set out in its 2030 Agenda, which establishes 23 targets across 23 material topics, covering areas such as building a renewable future, contributing to a sustainable economy, advancing prosperity for people, and technology and information security.
Financial Instrument | Amount Issued (US$) | Maturity | Mechanism | Linked Target | 2024 Performance |
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Sustainability-Linked Bond | 500 million | 2030 | Step-up of 12.5 bps if not met in 2025 | Water — Reduce by 3.68 m³ per metric ton of production | 3.17 m³/ton |
Step-up of 6.25 bps if not met in 2025 | Waste — Reuse/recycle at least 97.5% | 99.35% | |||
Step-up of 6.25 bps if not met in 2025 | Biodiversity — Reintroduce or increase the population of 2 extinct or threatened species in the ecosystem by December 2025 and 3 species by December 2027 | 2 species | |||
Sustainability-Linked Loan | 800 million | 2027 | Margin step-up of 6.25 bps (3.125 bps per target) if the 2025 and/or 2027 targets are not achieved | Biodiversity — Reintroduce or increase the population of 2 extinct or threatened species in the ecosystem by December 2025 and 3 species by December 2027 | 2 species |
Revolving Credit Facility | 500 million | 2026 | 2.5 bps discount on the interest rate upon target achievement | Waste — Reuse/recycle at least 97.5% | 99.35% |
Prepaid Receivables | Not applicable | - | 5 bps discount on the interest rate upon target achievement | Waste — Reuse/recycle at least 97.5% | 99.35% |
Below are the annual results for each sustainability-linked financial instrument that has been issued and remains outstanding for the Company.
Klabin priced a USD 500 million issuance of Senior Unsecured Notes, linked to sustainability performance goals with a final maturity of 2030, with 2025 as the trigger for the pricing of the next interest rate.
The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are aligned with three of the Klabin Sustainable Development Goals (KSDG), which are integrated with the company's growth plan. The bonds referring to this issuance are susceptible to coupon (interest) readjustments depending on whether the goals set by the Company are reached in 2025, as defined by the Sustainability Performance Trigger (SPT).
The goals selected by Klabin in this operation – focusing on water, waste, and biodiversity – align with the Company's ambition to enhance the resilience and efficiency of its resource extraction, transformation, reuse, and regeneration model. Klabin's influence on these three topics directly impacts cost-efficiency, its ability to maintain constructive relations with society and, lately, the very capacity of the ecosystem where the company operates to respond positively to stimuli for greater productivity, both for forestry and industrial operations.
It should be noted that one year after the deadline for meeting the triggers set for 2025 and the subsequent reassessment of the interest rate, the Company successfully achieved or surpassed the goals agreed upon with the market during the bond issuance. Sustainability Performance Triggers (2025)
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In 2022, Klabin made an amendment to the financing agreement linked to the execution of the Puma II Project, totaling USD 800 million. This financing consists of A-Loans and Co-Loans with IDB Invest, IFC, and JICA, as well as B-Loans with commercial banks ("Financing"). The amendment extended the average maturity from 3.1 years to 6.9 years while maintaining the original financing cost. Notably, the cost of the financing is now contingent upon the Company's achievement of sustainability goals.
Linked biodiversity goal: reintroduce or promote the population increase of 2 extinct or threatened species by December 2025, and 3 species by December 2027, within the ecosystem. 2024 result: 01 specie reintroduced (black-fronted piping guan
) and 01 specie in population reinforcement (vinaceous-breasted amazon).
If Klabin fails to meet these goals, there will be a potential increase in the financing rate of up to 6.25 basis points (bps), with 3,125 bps applied if the first goal is not met and an additional 3,125 bps if the second goal is not met.
Klabin has contracted a revolving credit line linked to sustainability (RCF) of US$ 500 million with nine financial institutions, maturing in October 2026. This line is linked to the sustainability indicator below, which is part of the company’s sustainable goals until 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Waste: Minimum of 97.5% reuse/recycling of solid waste;
To learn more details about the evolution of this goal, access Sustainability-Linked Bond
In 2023, Klabin started a Sustainability-Linked prepaid receivables program. This will enable the cost of the program to be reduced by 5 bps. The annual measurements of the waste goal will be integrated into the receivables program, mirroring the measurements already established for the RCF.
Linked waste goal (annual): minimum of 97.5% reuse/recycling of solid waste. 2024 result: 99.35% reused.
2030 Goal: Reduce specific industrial water consumption by 20%.
Sustainability Performance Target (SPT) trigger: Water consumption at or below 3.68 m³ per metric ton of production (16.7% reduction vs. 2018).
(12.5 bps step-up in the SLB coupon if the SPT is not met.)
Rationale: Specific water consumption = (water withdrawn − water returned to the environment) ÷ the Company’s total production.
In 2024, Klabin’s reduction in water consumption remained above the target projected for 2030, at 28.3% below the 2018 baseline. This performance is largely attributed to the stabilization of new operations in Phase II of the Puma II Project, which have shown greater water-use efficiency than previous operations; it was also influenced by a higher volume of water discharged and increased pulp and paper production.
The Ortigueira Unit, which accounts for 51.4% of Klabin S.A.’s total water withdrawal, recorded a significant reduction in consumptive water use over the past year due to improvements implemented under the Puma II Project. Fluctuations are expected in the post-expansion period, as the unit is still stabilizing.
The Packaging and Recycling businesses, which together represent 1.3% of the companywide indicator, saw an increase in water consumption in 2024 due to specific operational changes that led to higher water withdrawal and lower volumes returned, directly contributing to the rise in consumption. Operations—and the indicator—are expected to normalize in the coming years.
Klabin units adopt a range of measures to optimize water use, including monitoring of submeters installed across plant areas; reuse of process water in cooling towers; and reuse of water in cleaning activities and in the dilution of the starch glue used in corrugators.
In addition, the Company invests in rainwater harvesting for non-potable uses, such as garden irrigation (Itajaí Unit), utensil cleaning (Lages Unit), toilets (Angatuba and Lages Units), and use in water treatment processes (Otacílio Costa Unit).
Ongoing operations, as well as those under implementation, will continue to be monitored throughout the year to ensure achievement of the specific water-consumption reduction target set for 2030.
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Connections with other KODS 2030 targets |
2030 Goal: Zero destination of industrial waste to landfills.
Sustainability Performance Target Trigger: reuse/recycling of solid waste of at least 97.5%
(6.25 bps increase in SLB interest rate if goal is not met)
Rational: goal calculated based on the proportion of solid waste reused, recycled and co-processed compared to the total solid waste generated in operations (in tons).
99.35%, with standout performances from the Otacílio Costa and Monte Alegre units, both reporting annual reuse rates above 99.9%.
Additionally, the Ortigueira Unit achieved particularly positive results, reaching a 99.78% industrial waste recycling and reuse rate over the year. This outcome was once again largely supported by the Waste Processing Center located at the plant, where a significant share of the site’s waste is reused or recycled.
In the packaging segment, a highlight was the Lages Unit in Santa Catarina, which began sending sludge waste for composting and Class I waste for co-processing, increasing its recycling and reuse rate from 86.37% in 2023 to 93.73% in 2024.
Also noteworthy is the Rio Verde Unit, which, since February 2023, has been reusing, recycling and/or co-processing 100% of the industrial solid waste generated in its operations and operated throughout 2024 without sending any industrial waste to landfill.
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2030 Goal: reintroduce two species that are proven to be extinct and promote the population reinforcement of four more threatened species.
Sustainability Performance Target Trigger: reintroduction or population reinforcement of at least two species native to the ecosystem.
(6.25 bps increase in SLB interest rate if goal is not met)
Progress for the goal: 2/2 species.
Position of the goal in the mitigation hierarchy:
1. Avoid | 2. Minimize | 3. Restore | 4. Offset ▼ |
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Reintroduction of fauna
In 2024, two monitoring campaigns were conducted for the Black-fronted Piping Guan (Aburria jacutinga), assessing its ability to survive, disperse, and form breeding pairs. The initiative continues the species reintroduction work started in 2022, when 30 individuals were released. The batteries of the VHF radio transmitters used to identify and track the animals are nearing end-of-life—an event planned as part of the process. For the next monitoring phases scheduled for 2025, to evaluate the species’ adaptation and dispersal in the forest, the technical team will employ contemporary methods: line-transect surveys, direct observation, playback, camera traps, and citizen science*.
The species was selected for its potential to support forest restoration: it has a large home range—up to 1,000 hectares—and is a strong seed disperser, feeding on at least 46 types of native fruits.
Population reinforcement
In 2024, three individuals of the Vinaceous-breasted Amazon (Amazona vinacea) reached the final stage of the population-reinforcement project in Paraná. They completed all rehabilitation steps, including a new pre-release training. With the issuance of a new permit for the release of threatened species by the Instituto Água e Terra (IAT), the individuals were prepared for reinforcement in the wild.
The Vinaceous-breasted Amazon was chosen because it appears on the list of threatened species in Paraná compiled by IAT during the Cumulative Impact Study (a condition of the Puma II Project).This is another bird that supports forest restoration through seed dispersal — especially of araucarias, themselves a threatened species—and it plays a highly relevant ecological role in the region.
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Connections with other KODS 2030 targets | Other goals regarding the Biodiversity topic:
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Updated and verified on: 08/20/2025