Fibria at COP15

Fibria monitored the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15), held December 7-18 in Copenhagen, represented by Umberto Cinque, Industrial Environment general manager. The company hopes that the preservation of Brazil’s forests will gain increased international prominence as a strategic factor in the development of a low carbon global economy. Access en.cop15.dk to learn more about this important climate change conference.

Carbon under control

In November, Fibria’s Aracruz (Espírito Santo State) and Jacareí (São Paulo State) units were awarded Carbon Footprint certification by independent auditor BRTÜV, subsidiary of German TÜV Nord, following assessment of their CO₂ emissions and capture during the pulp manufacturing process — encompassing planting to product delivery at the port. Fibria is one of the first pulp producers in Brazil to obtain this certification for its entire production chain. According to the present inventory, relating to 2008, for every ton of pulp produced, the company sequestered 3.88 tons of CO₂.

Guaíba Unit sale completed

Fibria concluded the sale of its Guaíba Unit (Rio Grande do Sul State) to the Chilean group CMPC on December 15^th. This deal represents an important phase of the strategy for the management of Fibria’s debt, optimizing the company’s capital structure and laying the foundations for the recovery of its investment grade rating in preparation for the coming cycles of growth. At the completion of the negotiations, Fibria received payment of the first installment, amounting to US$ 1.3 billion; the balance of US$ 130 million is to be paid within 45 days, subject to the usual adjustments on a transaction of this kind.

Forest recertification

Between November 16^th and 20^th, Fibria’s forests in Espírito Santo State were submitted to the process of recertification under the Brazilian Program of Forest Certification (CERFLOR) to verify the practice of sustainable forestry management. The certifying body – Bureau Veritas Certification (BVC) – analyzed the operational, legal, environmental, social, health and safety features applied by the company and organized four public hearings to sound out stakeholders’ expectations of the firm. The process will be concluded once BVC’s report, including the answers to the issues raised in the public hearings, has been made available for 30 days on the bureau’s website. In Espírito Santo, Fibria has 97,000 hectares of planted eucalyptus forests interspersed with 58,000 hectares of native reserves.

Model of sustainability

Fibria was selected by Exame magazine in November as one of the 20 companies in Brazil that are models of sustainability. An initiative of the magazine’s annual special Sustainability Guide (Guia Exame de Sustentabilidade), more than 200 companies were evaluated in four business aspects: general, economic, social and environmental. José Luciano Penido, chairman of Fibria’s Board of Directors, represented the company at the event’s 10th award ceremony, held in São Paulo.

Prestigious business

Fibria was classified among the “Most Respected Companies in Brazil” by Editora Globo’s Época Negócios 100 annual company evaluation publication, placing first in the Pulp & Paper sector. For this 2^nd edition of the list, a national survey was carried out of 15,000 Brazilian companies, using six indicators for assessing corporate reputation: admiration; social and environmental commitment; reliability and ethics; company background and evolution; innovative posture; and quality of products and services. CEO Carlos Aguiar, received the trophy on behalf of Fibria at a ceremony on December 1^st.

Wood and food in harmony

In November, Fibria’s Vale do Paraíba Forest Unit (São Paulo State) inaugurated joint planting of eucalyptus and short-cycle crops at Fazenda Taboão in Santa Branca. The project aims to provide an alternative source of income to small and medium-scale farmers in the region as well as demonstrating the feasibility of growing other crops, such as corn, pumpkins and palm trees (that yield the “heart of palm” delicacy) alongside eucalyptus trees. The project has also been implemented at the Capão Bonito Forest Unit (São Paulo State) and the Três Lagoas Forest Unit (Mato Grosso do Sul State). In 2010, the professionals involved in the project intend to produce watermelon, cassava and other traditional crops of the Paraíba Valley region together with eucalyptus.

Citizenship in school

In 2010, Fibria’s Awakening Project, implemented in association with the Life Is Worth More Program run by the Centro de Valorização da Vida NGO, was successfully implemented at 38 schools in the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais and Bahia, offering orientation on citizenship and quality of life to some 10,000 students, parents and teachers as well as members of local communities.

Did you know...

...that, following the mechanized harvesting of eucalyptus trees, the bark, leaves, roots and branches – which together contain about 90% of a tree’s nutrients – are left on the site and are subsequently reabsorbed into the soil in the form of organic materials, thus helping reduce erosion?