Suzano, a global benchmark in the manufacture of bioproducts developed from cultivated eucalyptus, and the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES, in Portuguese) will invest R$2 million in the project “Transformative connections: productive inclusion for income generation” in the region of Bico do Papagaio, in the far north of the state of Tocantins. The project will be implemented by Instituto Meio and aims to strengthen productive inclusion activities based on a local development strategy that supports priority sectors in the region.
The initiative is expected to benefit 800 people directly and more than 2,400 people in total through the support of projects developed by groups focused on organized production, family farming, harvesting and traditional communities, while also fostering social entrepreneurship in the region. The project considers several criteria to identify priority arrangements, such as towns with high levels of social vulnerability, prevalence of family farming, areas rich in biodiversity, potential for ecotourism, presence of traditional communities, and low ability to attract public investments, among others.
Additionally, the project pays special attention to the numerous challenges encountered by family farmers and harvesters in the region, including the lack of technical assistance and training, lack of technologies adapted to the reality of these groups, and lack of innovation and investments, which are key to ensuring food and nutritional security and generating income for these families. Accordingly, the initiative aims to develop strategies to drive the socioeconomic development of the organizations involved and their beneficiaries.
For Arthur Dias Cagnani, executive manager of Forestry Operations at Suzano, the main result expected from this initiative is the reduction of socioeconomic vulnerability in the communities and region through job creation and income generation. “We have expanded our role in the value chain and in society to drive significant changes in the way we produce and consume. This is why, together with local organizations and investors such as BNDES, we support initiatives that generate income by fostering sustainable businesses that have always been one of the strengths of each region,” he said.
Lars Diederichsen, founder of Instituto Meio, highlighted that social transformation helps ensure that all people have opportunities to work and generate income in a dignified and sustainable way. “Community engagement and the strengthening of production chains and local production arrangements are key to increasing the reach of investments in productive inclusion projects.”
Ana Costa, superintendent of Social Development and Public Management at BNDES, believes that supporting local development through local production arrangements is essential when it comes to driving the social and productive inclusion of the benefited individuals. “The project will provide more opportunities for adding value to local products, generating income and supporting the social organization of vulnerable groups, which will result in a process of social and productive inclusion, a strategic goal in our path to creating a green and inclusive BNDES,” she concluded.
About Suzano
Suzano is the world’s largest pulp producer, one of the largest paper producers in Latin America and a benchmark for the development of sustainable and innovative solutions from renewable sources. The company’s products, which are part of the lives of more than 2 billion people in more than 100 countries, include pulp, printing and writing paper, paper straws and cups, paper packaging, sanitary pads and toilet paper, among others. Suzano is guided by its purpose of “Renewing life inspired by trees.” The company pursues sustainability through innovation to address the challenges faced by society. With 99 years of history, the company has shares listed on stock exchanges in Brazil (SUZB3) and the United States (SUZ).
About BNDES
Throughout its 71-year history, BNDES has been the Government’s main instrument for making long-term investments in the Brazilian economy, boosting sectors and supporting issues that are relevant to the country’s economy, such as economic and social infrastructure, neo-industrialization, environment and climate. Through its work, the Bank strives to reduce inequality, create jobs, generate income and drive social inclusion, as part of the necessary transition to a low-carbon economy. BNDES is one of the main financiers of micro, small and medium-sized companies. In times of crisis, it also acts in a countercyclical manner, as a developer of solutions to resume economic growth.
About Instituto Meio
Instituto Meio is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 with the mission of leveraging employment and income opportunities through economically viable, socially fair, environmentally sustainable and culturally accepted solutions. Its vision is to boost potential and strengths to improve the quality of life of current and future generations. To this end, it develops and implements initiatives in support of inclusive entrepreneurship, strengthening inclusive businesses, production chains and local production arrangements, as well as CSOs. Throughout its history, it has supported more than 60,000 individuals, leading to an increase of more than 230% in their average individual income and 326% in the average monthly revenue of companies.