Aracruz Celulose has been based in Esprito Santo for more than 30 years. What economic and social benefits has the Company brought to this region?
Aracruz helped Espírito Santo discover an economic niche ignored prior to its arrival: forestry activities employing renewable eucalyptus plantations and using innovative scientific concepts, oriented by the principles of sustainable development. At the end of the 1960s, the economy of Espírito Santo was in a state of total stagnation. Successive wood and charcoal cycles had come to an end, with corresponding devastation of native forests in the area. Together with other large projects set up in the same region, the implementation of Aracruz’ forestry program and pulp making operations helped revert this situation and turned it into one of the largest Brazilian exporting states. The Company has made more than US$4 billion in investments in Espírito Santo since the start-up of its activities. Because it opted to install its pulp mill in the rural municipality of Aracruz, the Company also had to invest in urban and highway infrastructure, education, health, and cultural and leisure activ
