Desenvolvimento regional do setor de celulose e papel no Brasil: o caso do Mato Grosso do Sul

Abstract

This research examines the pulp and paper sector in Brazil, specifically focusing on Mato Grosso do Sul, the country’s leading pulp-producing state. The state hosts two major industrial plants in the municipality of Três Lagoas, in the Eastern region: Suzano Celulose e Papel, which shares its site with the paper manufacturer Sylvamo (formerly International Paper), and Eldorado Brasil, which focuses exclusively on pulp production. Currently, Suzano is developing the "Cerrado Project," a new industrial plant located in Ribas do Rio Pardo, near the state capital. Additionally, the Chilean group Arauco has announced the installation of a new factory in Inocência. The choice of this state is driven by favorable soil and climatic (edaphoclimatic) conditions—a key competitive advantage—combined with over one million hectares of eucalyptus plantations spread across the Eastern Coast. However, in recent years, Brazil has faced a "triple crisis": environmental, economic, and pandemic-related. In this context, this thesis discusses the challenges facing the sector—which ranks fourth in Brazilian exports—aiming to align with the 2030 Agenda for sustainable economic growth. The study focuses on three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) intended to: improve resource efficiency and decouple economic growth from environmental degradation; promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities and job creation; and foster technological innovation and sustainable industrialization by encouraging multinational companies to adopt sustainable practices.