Suzano helps lift over 140,000 people out of poverty in its areas of operation over a five-year period

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 11:45 am

Suzano helps lift over 140,000 people out of poverty in its areas of operation over a five-year period | Suzano,

Suzano, the world's largest pulp producer, has made significant progress in its social investment strategy over the past five years. Between 2020 and 2025, the company helped more than 140,000 people overcome poverty in its areas of operation, reaching 70% of its goal to benefit 200,000 people by 2030. In 2025 alone, over 44,000 individuals were raised above the poverty line thanks to initiatives supported by the company across Brazil, as disclosed in Suzano's 2025 Sustainability Report.

Suzano's social investment strategy prioritizes income generation and economic inclusion for historically vulnerable groups in Brazil, including women, Black people*, and young people. In 2025, company-supported projects primarily benefited Black people* (70%) and women (63%). This included more than 11,500 women that participated in Suzano-supported initiatives in 2025, receiving assistance for productive and work-related activities. Women also accounted for 93% of participants in entrepreneurship promotion initiatives.

In 2025, more than 10,000 young people (up to 24 years old) were integrated into the job market or enrolled in vocational education programs through initiatives supported by Suzano. The Company is engaged in professional training projects that encompass technical skills development, socio-emotional learning, preparation for recruitment processes, and proactive job placement support. These initiatives expand access to first-time employment and enhance employability in regions where job opportunities are limited. Key partners in this journey include Rede Cidadã, Instituto Coca-Cola Brasil, SENAI-MS, Instituto Aliança com o Adolescente, GAMT-SP, and Instituto Mirim de Campo Grande.

Family agriculture and sustainable extractive practices play a critical role in income generation in areas of Brazil with high poverty and are supported through initiatives in partnership with organizations like UNICAFES, Instituto Meio, and SENAR (in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Bahia), among others. In 2025, these efforts enabled approximately 8,000 individuals to overcome poverty in Brazil's most vulnerable areas.

A considerable share of Suzano's progress toward its goals also stems from direct hiring by the company itself and its network of suppliers. Since 2022, the Company's business model and value chain have contributed to lifting more than 18,000 people out of poverty by creating new job opportunities within their operations. In 2025 alone, 4,342 individuals benefited from these initiatives. Additionally, during the same period, 20% of the people hired by Suzano came from socially vulnerable backgrounds.

These results demonstrate how Suzano's initiatives drive structural change across various regions. "Suzano's social investment strategy is a key driver for creating business value and reducing poverty in the communities where we operate. In 2025, we reached 136 municipalities across Brazil with structured initiatives focused on income generation, skills development, and economic inclusion, expanding opportunities for populations facing greater vulnerability," said Giordano Automare, Suzano's Executive Sustainability Manager. "We strive to act strategically and collaboratively, partnering with civil society organizations because we believe that building together is the path to achieving scale and consistency," he added.

Creation of value

In 2025, Suzano invested R$20million in poverty reduction initiatives and successfully mobilized approximately R$60 million in additional funding from partners, including development banks, international cooperation agencies, government bodies, Brazil's S System (such as Sesi and Senai), and private social investors. During the same period, entrepreneurs, rural producers, recyclers, extractivists, and workers supported by the Company generated over R$163 million in revenue.

For more information about these and other Suzano initiatives on the ESG agenda, please access the Company's 2025 Sustainability Report: https://www.suzano.com.br/sustainability-reports/2025-sustainability-report

(*) The term "black people" refers to the Brazilian Portuguese terms "Preto" and "Pardo", as designated by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).