Waste management

GRI-306-3

Amounts of waste generated and composition (t)

GRI-306-4 SASB-RT-CP-150a.1

Reused waste, by recovery operation (t)

GRI-306-5 SASB-RT-CP-150a.1

Unused waste, by disposal method (ton.)

GRI-306-3 GRI-306-4 GRI-306-5

Collection and monitoring of data, standards and tools

All units have a solid waste inventory and management system, based on characteristics such as weight, classification according to NBR 10.004, costs, revenues, and destination. Most of the waste is controlled by weight on scales in kilos or tons.

The management of this process relies on tools and software. Weights are recorded and consolidated on Klabin's indicator management platform, which identifies destinations and deviations, allowing for their adequate management, as well as monthly corporate critical analyses to accompany the volumes generated and final destinations. The units report waste inventories according to the standards and legislation of environmental, state and federal agencies.

Performance analysis

In 2016, Klabin implemented a solid waste processing plant at the Puma Unit, responsible for processing and reusing about 90% of all waste generated in the most representative units (more than 70% of the company's total production capacity). These initiatives reinforce the Company's commitment and are part of the planning to reach the goal undertaken in 2020, of zeroing industrial waste disposal to landfills by 2030.

All of Klabin's businesses have operations that generate solid waste, whether from human activities or production processes. The company strives for efficient production, with the least amount of waste and, moreover, encourages the reuse of by-products from the process. When internal recovery is not feasible, waste is directed towards recycling and external recovery, guaranteed by the implementation of procedures and regular monitoring of its proper internal segregation. In addition, since 2020, the Company has committed to the goal of zero disposal of industrial waste to landfills by 2030. The annual indicators are updated in the ESG Dashboard.

The corporate dashboard for environmental indicator management enables monitoring and tracking of the progress of the actions taken to utilize waste. Critical analysis meetings are held monthly by the corporate environmental area with the units to address deviations and to work together to define actions to reduce waste generation and find alternative destinations to the landfill. The R&D department also has a research line dedicated to eliminating - when possible - or reducing environmental impacts, seeking new technologies for incorporating and valuing the waste generated.

The potential significant impacts related to the waste are generated in the organization’s activities and in its value chain. The production process begins with the management of the eucalyptus and pinus forests. The trees are processed in the field, transported to the pulp and paper production units and, when debarked, generate bark that, along with the forest residues, are used in the boilers to produce energy and steam for the units. For conversion of the wood into pulp and paper, the main waste generated are sludge from the treatment of effluents and residues from the chemical recovery stage of the soda used to extract pulp fibers from the wood. Most of the waste is recovered for agricultural use. Other waste, such as dregs and grits that account for approximately 3% of the total generated at Klabin, have been the object of a study by the R&D team since 2018 and currently serve as raw materials for the production of soil corrective input that are absorbed by the Forestry division. Pulp produced is transported directly to conversion customers. Part of the paper produced is sent to Klabin's packaging plants and part is sold to customers, to be converted into packaging. At this stage, the leftover paper (refiles) is generated, which, along with the chips purchased from the market, are used for the production of recycled paper. In addition to this waste, others generated in greater quantity are the sludge from the treatment of effluents and tailings from the process to prepare the chips for production.

One of the great challenges is to maintain the waste reuse practices despite the increase in generation due to Klabin's growth in production, whether due to acquisitions or expansions. To promote and structure the post- and pre-consumption paper recycling chain, Klabin has four recycled paper production plants in the Southeast and Northeast regions. They absorb both refiles and corrugated board scraps generated by Klabin and material from clients and operators in the recycling chain (e.g., trimmers and waste managers). Klabin's recycling capacity is 450,000 tons per year, which places the Company as the largest paper recycler in Brazil. These recyclers supply high-quality recycled raw materials that are incorporated by the packaging units to produce secondary packaging.

All the fronts mentioned above (Zero Landfill goal by 2030 and Recycling plants) are part of Klabin's positioning to promote a more circular economy.

GRI-306-2

Measures taken to manage significant impacts​
 

Items 7.8, 7.9, 7.16, and 7.18 of Klabin's Sustainability Policy encompass, respectively: the pursuit of the most efficient technologies and solutions; the strengthening of circularity; pollution prevention by means of reducing the impacts of solid waste generation; and compliance with legislation and standards applicable to the product, environment, health and safety. Environmental management is also based on the guidelines set forth by ISO 14001, in which the majority of our units are certified.

In addition, all units are subject to internal auditing, and those that are certified must adhere to the standards of the management system. The non-certified ones, on the other hand, are being prepared for formal auditing by Klabin's own team, certified as ISO 14001 auditors. In addition to internal guidelines and policies, federal (Law No. 12.305/2010 – National Policy on Solid Waste), state and municipal legislation related to solid waste are constantly monitored, accompanied by actions to demonstrate compliance with these standards.

Environmental indicators are a pillar considered when calculating bonuses for employees and senior management.

The topic is also included in Klabin's Sustainable Development Goals (KSDGs), with the target of zeroing the disposal of industrial waste to landfills by 2030. It was internalized in the strategic planning of the units and is tracked monthly by means of performance indicators, monitoring of the generation and adequate destination of residues, and definition of actions to reduce the generation or projects to search for better technologies/disposal alternatives. In 2022, the Company reached a reuse percentage of 98.5% of the industrial solid waste generated in its operation.

The R&D department has been working together with the Sustainability and Environment departments in the units to find alternative disposal for waste other than landfills. Several advances have already been made, such as the incorporation of sludge, dregs and grits in the making of bricks and cement artifacts, and the agricultural use of process residues together with lime sludge.

Waste generated by third parties​
 

When hiring third parties for Klabin’s waste management, performance and legal requirements are defined. For verification purposes, in addition to the routine monitoring of the waste transportation and disposal operations, the contracted third parties undergo frequent environmental audits conducted by Company professionals for the purpose of identifying technical qualifications, opportunities for improvement and adaptations to meet the requirements of Klabin and/or legal requirements.

ISO 14001 Certification

Table with the list of employees by certified units can be checked at the end of the chapter in the link: ISO 14001 Certification