Effluent management in industrial operations
Effluent disposal performance
Total effluent disposal in the surface water category rose by 12% compared to the previous year, reflecting the start-up of the Ribas do Rio Pardo (MS) unit and the acquisition of Suzano Packaging. Seawater disposal showed minimal change between the two years; however, specific disposal decreased from 23.1 m³/t in 2024 to 21.35 m³/t in 2025. Any potential impacts from effluent disposal are mitigated by the effluent treatment technology employed.
Effluent quality
Generally, the priority of substances of concern are identified based on the requirements of environmental authorities or regional control needs where the industrial process is located. We inform our external stakeholders about the effluent analysis parameters, which are based on the European Commission's 2015 Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) methodology for the pulp and paper industry.
Below, we present the performance of each parameter, along with a comparative analysis of Suzano's performance against the IPPC reference values.
BOD performance
In 2025, Suzano's biological oxygen demand (BOD) load reached 10,881.7 metric tons, a 34% increase from 2024's 8,090.7 tons. This rise was primarily due to the acquisition of the Suzano Packaging unit and the full operation of the Ribas do Rio Pardo (MS) plant. Despite this, the specific indicator only increased slightly from 0.7 kg/t to 0.8 kg/t, remaining within the international standards of 0.3 to 1.5 kg/t set by the IPPC.
COD performance
In 2025, Suzano's chemical oxygen demand (COD) load was 81,918.62 tons, showing a 7% increase from 2024's 76,611.20 tons. Despite the overall rise, the specific indicator decreased from 6.4 kg/t in 2024 to 5.8 kg/t in 2025. This value stays below the industrial units' target of 7 kg/t and is also under the international standards set by the IPPC, which range from 8 to 23 kg/t.
TSS performance
In 2025, Suzano's total suspended solids (TSS) load was 9,892.9 tons, marking a 17% reduction from 2024's 11,852.7 tons. The specific indicator decreased from 0.99 kg/t in 2024 to 0.7 kg/t in 2025. These results fall within the international standards set by the IPPC, which consider 0.6-1.5 kg/t to be the optimal range.
AOX performance
In 2025, the load of organohalogen compounds (AOX) increased by 3% compared to 2024, rising from 483.9 tons to 496.90 tons. This change reflects the acquisition of the Suzano Packaging unit and the operations at the Ribas do Rio Pardo facility. We have observed stability in the specific indicator, which has been held steady at 0.04 kg/t over the past two years. This value remains well below the international standard's minimum reference of 2.5 kg/t, as well as the more stringent standards of up to 0.16 kg/t set by agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the company's internal target of 0.15 kg/t.
We emphasize that Suzano does not utilize elemental chlorine in its pulp bleaching processes. Our operations employ Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) technology, and the Jacareí mill is also equipped with Total Chlorine Free (TCF) technology.
Phosphorus performance
In 2025, the company's phosphorus load reached 569.4 tons, marking a 46% rise from 2024's 389 tons. The specific indicator also increased slightly, ending at 0.04 kg/t. This value is marginally above the international standards set by the IPPC, which consider 0.01-0.03 kg/t to be optimal performance.
Nitrogen performance
In 2025, nitrogen load increased by 38% from 2024, rising from 982.9 to 1,360.18 tons. The specific indicator remained stable at 0.10 kg/t. These results fall within the international standards set by the IPPC, which consider values between 0.10 and 0.25 kg/t to be optimal performance.
The subsequent information is provided in the tables below.
- Direct biochemical/biological oxygen demand (BOD) in effluents;
- Direct chemical oxygen demand (COD) in effluents;
- Presence of total suspended solids in effluents;
- Presence of AOX in effluents;
- Presence of total phosphorus in effluents;
- Presence of total nitrogen in effluents;
- Total water disposal by source.
Direct biochemical/biological oxygen demand (BOD) in effluents
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| média | média | média | média | média | média | |
|
tons |
4.780,39 |
6.384,70 |
6.485,49 |
7.330,70 |
8.090,70 |
10.881,66 |
|
mg/L |
18,57 |
25,24 |
25,45 |
37,70 |
27,65 |
31,61 |
|
kg/t |
0,46 |
0,57 |
0,57 |
0,70 |
0,68 |
0,77 |
Direct chemical oxygen demand (COD) in effluents
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| média | média | média | média | média | média | |
|
tons |
72.609,80 |
74.486,64 |
74.315,66 |
69.325,10 |
76.611,20 |
81.918,62 |
|
mg/L |
282,12 |
294,41 |
291,62 |
356,10 |
219,90 |
180,99 |
|
kg/t |
6,95 |
6,65 |
6,53 |
6,40 |
6,43 |
5,82 |
Presence of total suspended solids in effluents
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| média | média | média | média | média | média | |
|
tons |
8.227,09 |
8.396,76 |
8.480,34 |
8.817,90 |
11.852,70 |
9.892,94 |
|
mg/L |
31,97 |
33,19 |
33,28 |
45,30 |
206,20 |
30,12 |
|
kg/t |
0,79 |
0,75 |
0,75 |
0,80 |
0,99 |
0,70 |
Presence of AOX in effluents
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| média | média | média | média | média | média | |
|
tons |
556,46 |
522,18 |
490,01 |
439,80 |
483,90 |
496,90 |
|
mg/L |
2,16 |
2,06 |
1,92 |
2,30 |
1,40 |
0,89 |
|
kg/t |
0,05 |
0,05 |
0,04 |
0,04 |
0,04 |
0,04 |
Presence of total phosphorus in effluents
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| média | média | média | média | média | média | |
|
tons |
336,48 |
284,96 |
281,72 |
284,50 |
389,00 |
569,36 |
|
mg/L |
1,31 |
1,13 |
1,11 |
1,50 |
3,50 |
2,79 |
|
kg/t |
0,03 |
0,03 |
0,02 |
0,03 |
0,03 |
0,04 |
Presence of total nitrogen in effluents
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| média | média | média | média | média | média | |
|
tons |
1.309,30 |
1.066,03 |
1.213,01 |
1.089,00 |
982,90 |
1.360,18 |
|
mg/L |
5,09 |
4,21 |
4,76 |
5,60 |
2,90 |
2,49 |
|
kg/t |
0,13 |
0,10 |
0,11 |
0,10 |
0,08 |
0,10 |
Total water discharge by source
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | In areas of water stress⁴ | Total | In areas of water stress⁴ | Total | In areas of water stress⁴ | Total | In areas of water stress⁴ | Total | In areas of water stress⁴ | Total | In areas of water stress⁴ | |
|
Surface water |
174.723.236,65 |
23.303.984,81 |
173.135.366,05 |
23.247.908,59 |
173.195.872,33 |
22.765.500,30 |
194.665.634,00 |
0,00 |
215.482.526,34 |
0,00 |
241.471.712,51 |
0,00 |
|
Sea water³ |
51.049.305,24 |
0,00 |
56.620.327,24 |
0,00 |
58.876.216,66 |
0,00 |
58.791.347,00 |
0,00 |
59.345.886,00 |
0,00 |
58.811.246,87 |
0,00 |
|
Third-party water ⁴ |
n/d |
n/d |
n/d |
n/d |
n/d |
n/d |
3.676,80 |
1.277,60 |
4.493,00 |
1.923,00 |
4.713,00 |
1.774,00 |
|
Total |
225.772.541,89 |
23.303.984,81 |
229.755.693,29 |
23.247.908,59 |
232.072.088,99 |
22.765.500,30 |
253.460.657,80 |
1.277,60 |
274.832.905,34 |
1.923,00 |
300.287.672,38 |
1.774,00 |
- The surface water category includes freshwater, defined as water with total dissolved solids of ≤ 1,000 mg/L. Additionally, Suzano does not utilize groundwater in its operations.
- The Aracruz (ES) unit has a submarine outfall that releases effluent directly into the sea.
- The units in Maracanaú and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (ES) only use water for administrative purposes, sourced from the local water authority. As a result, in 2023, we began including their water usage in this category. Previously, this data was recorded under surface water.
- The city of Suzano (SP) was designated as a water stress area by the Aqueduct Water Risk Analysis until 2022. Consequently, the values for the Suzano and Rio Verde units were categorized under this classification from 2020 to 2022. In 2023, a review was conducted, and only Maracanaú (CE) remained classified as a water stress area by the same tool.
Informações complementares
The priority of substances of concern is determined during the environmental licensing process for each unit. This is based on the characterization of the effluent from the pulp and paper process and the parameters specified in the licenses. These are in accordance with Brazilian environmental legislation, as referenced in CONAMA Resolution 430. Additional restrictions may be applied depending on the conditions of the receiving water body.
Therefore, environmental agencies determine effluent disposal limits during licensing, based on CONAMA 430 and local requirements. These limits guide the design and operation of effluent treatment systems. In 2025, there were no instances of non-compliance with these limits.
Finally, the volume of water discharged to third parties matches the effluent produced at the Maracanaú (CE) plant. Since this plant handles paper and consumer goods conversion, it generates only sanitary effluent, which is sent to the public's sewage and treatment system before being released into the receiving water body. Other organizations do not reuse this effluent.