The 2023 Sustainability Report is Now Available

The 2023 Sustainability Report is Now Available

The document details the actions carried out over the past year and demonstrates how the company integrated ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) as one of the strategic pillars of its business. With a record annual investment of R$ 374 million in operational improvements, Unipar is advancing on several fronts, including the expansion of the Santo André (SP) unit, the construction of a new factory in Camaçari (BA), the technological transformation of the Cubatão (SP) plant, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the energy transition.

Sustainable Growth and Technological Modernization

One of the main highlights of 2023 was the completion of the expansion of the Santo André (SP) factory, increasing the production capacity of chlorine, caustic soda, and hydrochloric acid. With an investment of R$ 100 million, the installation of a new electrolyzer and a hydrochloric acid furnace resulted in an 18% reduction in electricity use and a 60% reduction in cooling water consumption, as well as a decrease in natural gas consumption and the prevention of more than 2,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

Unipar has also made progress in constructing its first plant outside the Southeast region, in Camaçari (BA), which is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2024. This new unit, with an investment of R$ 234 million, is the company’s first greenfield initiative and aims to meet the growing demand for chlorine-soda in the Northeast, a region expected to concentrate the most significant sanitation development in the next decade.

In September 2023, Unipar began the technological modernization of the Cubatão (SP) plant, replacing diaphragm and mercury technologies with membrane cells, in compliance with the Minamata Convention, which prohibits the use of mercury in industrial operations in Brazil by 2025. This project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025, increasing efficiency and freeing up physical space for future expansions.

Energy and Emissions Reduction

Committed to sustainability, Unipar has implemented several measures to reduce its carbon footprint. In 2023, the company intensified innovative technological projects and allocated investments to mitigate the impacts of emissions, aiming to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 10% by 2025 (baseline year 2020). The transition to wind and solar power is also underway, with the goal of meeting 80% of electricity demand from renewable self-production projects by 2025. Unipar has already reached 59% of this capacity with the operation of wind and solar plants.

Unipar's score on the CDP Insight Action for Climate Change was upgraded from C to B in the 2023 cycle, demonstrating significant progress in sustainable management. The C score was maintained in Water Resources, indicating a continued commitment to awareness and efficient management.

Commitments to Sustainability and Social Responsibility

In 2023, Unipar became a signatory of the UN Global Compact, joining a group of over 16,000 participants contributing to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One result of this commitment was participation in the +Water Movement, aiming to improve access to sanitation and water management. The company also committed to reducing water usage intensity by 15% and achieving at least 15% water reuse by 2030.

Sustainability also extended to the supply chain, with the approval of 1,327 companies, representing 47% of the total, all meeting sustainability criteria.

Unipar invested approximately R$ 17 million in social projects in 2023, benefiting 2.8 million people. Notable initiatives include a sanitation project in Jardim Planteucal, benefiting more than 30 families, and promoting critical thinking through art and culture for over a thousand public school teachers in Cubatão and Rio Grande da Serra (SP).

News for Customers

In November, Unipar launched the new Customer Portal, providing greater ease, speed, and autonomy in order requests. The platform was well received, with 58% of orders placed via the Portal in December.

For more information, check out the full report at: Sustainability Report