Through the Zilor + Sustainable 2030 Program, we enhance our governance by integrating ESG criteria into our business practices, which aims at meeting the demands of society and stakeholders’ expectations, adding value to our business and ensuring the longevity of our strategies.
In 2024, we issued our inaugural green debenture and became the first agribusiness company to receive the declaration of compliance with ABNT PR 2030 Recommended Practice. This distinction consolidates the integrity of our management system and establishes guidelines for the Company to implement and assess its sustainability practices, with a focus on ESG pillars.
ESG management at Zilor is a cross-functional initiative built by three pillars, which are broken down into 14 topics and 42 criteria. Double materiality guides the prioritization of nine topics with full visibility of indicators. The governance of this process is overseen by a multidisciplinary committee, liable for unfolding the criteria into programs with corporate goals.
Our Company adheres to international best practices for reporting our sustainability data:
Our Company is supported by relevant certifications; we remain committed to advancing our contribution to global food and energy safety, coupled with our commitment to sustainability, corporate governance, and innovation.
The challenges posed by climate are reflected in our strategic planning and in the implementation of agricultural and industrial practices, based on guidelines established by internal ESG standards and climate change adaptation.
In the 2024/2025 cycle, we published the Scopes 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), for which we received the Gold Seal, the highest level of recognition for companies that achieve maximum transparency in the publication of their inventories.
We have made a public commitment to avoid the emission of 5.5 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030 (from RenovaBio’s CBIOs) and have already achieved 50% of this target, with 2.745 million CBIOs, equivalent to 19.2 million trees. Emissions management connects risks and opportunities in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations.
We ensure the supply of renewable electricity for our operations from sugarcane biomass, allocating the surplus to regulated and free markets, contributing to bolstering the share of renewable sources in the Brazilian energy matrix. In 2024, we reinforced our capacity with the startup of the cogeneration project at the Barra Grande Unit, which uses sugarcane bagasse to generate bioelectricity, resulting in 16.1% increased export volume. We also enhanced our competitiveness by acquiring the Salto Botelho Unit (USB), which added 12 MW to our cogeneration portfolio. These initiatives consolidate our business diversification and reaffirm our commitment to sustainable energy transition.
The cogeneration expansion consolidated the Company's electric self-sufficiency and bolstered the supply of renewable energy to the market, initiatives that contributed to reducing the carbon intensity of operations and allowed the Company to negotiate RECs (renewable energy certificates).
Our social initiatives are strategically aligned aiming at fomenting the local economy. Accordingly, we conduct assessments to ascertain local needs and facilitate partnerships with local governments, schools, and civil society organizations.
Approximately R$4.5 million has been allocated in the 2024/2025 crop to 25 initiatives that promote education through sports, citizenship, and culture, boosting income generation and directly benefiting nearly 100,000 people through tax incentive projects using Income Tax (IR). The initiatives will be implemented between 2025 and 2026.