Water use

Percentage of plants in water-stressed areas

Percentage of water withdrawn in water-stressed areas

Percentage of water discharged in water-stressed areas

Percentage of cost of goods sold corresponding to plants located in water-stressed areas

Water consumption in water-stressed areas

*The target for water consumption in water-stressed areas is aligned with the company's operational planning.

In 2023, improved water management resulting from implemented actions led to a 21% reduction in water consumption (water withdrawn - water discharged) at facilities located in water-stressed areas, due to changes in production processes and strategic planning within the Company's Recycled business segment.

For 2024, Klabin's main challenges are related to maintaining the reduction in water intake and consumption, despite new expansion projects. Klabin is committed to developing actions to compose the Water Resources Management Plan, which will serve as a guiding framework for the Company's operations and strategies in the coming years.

Since 2018, Klabin has been evaluating all its units located in water-stressed areas using the WRI Aqueduct tool. To be considered exposed to water stress, facilities must be classified with a baseline water stress level exceeding 20% for both the current and future scenarios (2030 and 2040). In 2021, following the acquisition of five new units, Klabin increased its total to 7 out of 23 units located in water-stressed areas according to the WRI Aqueduct tool. To control and monitor risks related to these units, the Company has developed a monitoring report for river flow and rainfall volume in regions where the factories are located, aiming to anticipate potential water shortages and explore alternatives.

This report is overseen by the Water Management Working Group, which not only supports the strategic management of this resource but also contributes to defining necessary actions to mitigate impacts in these regions, aiming to reduce water intake and consumption across all of Klabin's industrial units. The group consists of a multidisciplinary team including representatives from the Pulp, Paper, and Packaging businesses, as well as from the Research and Development, Innovation, and Industrial Environmental Responsibility sectors. In 2023, this group underwent restructuring to broaden the vision and involvement of industrial units, including the areas of Innovation, Research and Development, and Projects and Engineering.

Summary table

As a result of water management in 2023, the volume of reused water at Klabin represented approximately 1.6 times the volume of raw water withdrawn.

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Withdrawn water by source

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Water discharged by the source 

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The number of non-compliance cases in water discharges resulted in formal actions

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Substances defined and analyzed for disposal

Manufacturing plants follow the limits established by current legislation in each state and country for reference and effluent monitoring. Parameters such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and BOD removal efficiency are a priority, as well as the concentrations of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and phosphorus in effluents at pulp and paper mills. The indices are often compared to global benchmarks, such as the IFC guidelines (20 to 100 m³/t is considered suitable for pulp mills and 10 to 50 m³/t for paper mills). 

All Klabin plants monitor the flow and quality of effluents generated by the plants, both before and after internal treatment. The main parameters analyzed are pH, Conductivity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total and Ammoniacal Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sedimentable Solids, among other parameters to control the efficiency of effluent treatment plants. 

In case of results outside the established targets, the plant requests a reanalysis of the sample and initiates a multidisciplinary investigation to find the root cause of the problem. Following this process, a structured action plan for resolution and monitoring is developed, following the methodologies defined in each unit. All units have specific areas and personnel responsible for the operation and monitoring of water and effluent parameters. 

Self-monitoring is regularly conducted, allowing for comparisons between third-party results and internal findings. If a downward trend in efficiency or deviation from monitored parameters is identified, the operational teams act immediately to identify and resolve the root cause. 

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Water consumption

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Percentage of water used from reuse

As part of Klabin's sustainability governance structure, there is a Permanent Sustainability Committee composed of Executive Directors led by the Director of Technology and Sustainability and coordinated by the Sustainability Manager. Additionally, the Sustainability Committee, formed by the company's board members, includes water management as one of the topics addressed. Klabin also maintains a legal department with environmental specialists who monitor issues related to legal parameters and has a permanent contract with an Environmental Law Firm for preventive monitoring and advice on regulatory changes, including those related to water security. This organized structure defines strategies and actions related to the sustainability commitments made, acting jointly across the entire chain.

The company uses the concept of hydrosolidary management, a pioneering methodology in the sector based on the balance between forest production and water production. This way, it is possible to integrate the different needs for water resources, including neighboring communities and ecological processes. This activity begins at the forest planning stage, which considers the micro-watersheds and the water intake points of the community located around the forest units.

Additionally, as described in items 15 and 18 of Klabin's Sustainability Policy, all units must practice responsible water management, seeking continuous improvement in all processes and acting in compliance with current environmental laws and regulations at municipal, state, and federal levels.

Water Efficiency (consumption evaluation, reuse, quality, and effluents)

Klabin has a Working Group that is carrying out water reduction actions, aiming to identify opportunities in all units to reduce water intake and consumption, as well as improvements in water quality and effluents throughout Klabin. The group consists of a multidisciplinary team that includes representatives from the Pulp, Paper, and Packaging businesses, as well as the Research and Development, Innovation, and Industrial Environmental Responsibility sectors.

Klabin uses Life Cycle Analysis and Water Footprint methodologies (ISO 14046), considering internal data and indicators related to the evaluated water impact categories (Acidification, Eutrophication, Human Toxicity, Ecotoxicity, Water Use, and Water Footprint) and determining the impact criteria categories in the LCA to develop actions aimed at reducing the water impact of its products.

100% of Klabin's industrial process effluents are treated at Effluent Treatment Stations before returning to the water body or the utility company. The treated effluents are monitored internally and by a third party to ensure compliance with all applicable legal requirements.

The minimum effluent disposal standards are based on municipal, state, and federal legislation for each unit. Klabin maintains a Legal department with environmental experts who monitor issues related to legal parameters. Moreover, Klabin has a permanent contract with an Environmental Advocacy Office aimed at preventive monitoring and advice on topics such as regulatory changes, including those related to water safety. Klabin also compares its results with the indicators of the International Finance Corporate (IFC), which has reference parameters for the pulp and paper sector. To determine the maximum discharge limits, Klabin conducts water dispersion and self-purification studies of the water body to assess and determine limits that do not alter the water quality and volume of the water body.

Regarding water quality, Klabin monitors 100% of water intake from all its operations daily. Monitoring volumes and parameters are relevant to identify actions to improve the quality of available water. These aspects are monitored by indicators, whose management since 2018 has been consolidated on a specific platform, facilitating information traceability.

Klabin units carry out actions to reduce water consumption through monitoring sub-meters installed in different areas of the plants, reusing process water for cooling towers (Otacílio Costa and PUMA units), pulp washing (Angatuba, Monte Alegre, Otacílio Costa, and PUMA units), wood log washing (Otacílio Costa), and pulp drying (PUMA unit), as well as applying recycled water in tool and area cleaning (Itajaí, Lages, Paulínia, and PUMA units) and glue dilution (São Leopoldo unit).

Klabin also captures rainwater for non-potable uses, such as garden irrigation (Itajaí unit), tool cleaning (Lages unit), toilets (Angatuba and Lages units), and use in water treatment processes (Otacílio Costa unit). 

As a result of water management, in 2023, the volume of reused water at Klabin represented about 16 times the volume of raw water intake.

Goals for Reducing Consumption

Klabin is committed to reducing its water consumption and has had three water management-related goals since 2018, one of which is directly linked to reducing specific industrial water consumption.

1. 100% of the locations where we operate with initiatives to increase territorial water security.
2. 100% of forest operations are under its management with hydrosolidary management.
3. Reduce specific industrial water consumption by 20%.

For more information, see Goals 2030.

Employee Awareness Measures

Klabin units continuously participate in the Superar Program, which adopts a management methodology based on the TPM (Total Productive Management) model. Among the aspects addressed in the program are energy consumption, water consumption, and waste generation and disposal. According to the profile of each unit, awareness/training actions are carried out to advance the identified improvement opportunities (focus on operational efficiency).

Additionally, Klabin has the ENK Portal available to all company employees, which includes training tracks related to Sustainability, addressing topics such as water management, waste management, energy, and climate change actions, among others, focusing on environmental education for its employees. Moreover, Klabin units annually develop specific campaigns to improve water efficiency in their operations, especially during environmental awareness weeks.