VCP believes that the pursuit of excellence in sustainability involves constant learning and joint efforts. This is why every year it reinforces its commitment to sustainable development of its business, through guidelines and projects that harmonize the creation of economic, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive value.
In search of greater involvement by its audiences in sustainability, in 2007 VCP began a series of actions to multiply the vision of sustainable growth that permeates its management and operations. One action was the creation of the Sustainability area, which follows up all the projects on the theme in the varied sectors of the company, and promotes more sustainable concepts and practices in professional’s daily routines. Another initiative was the promotion of the concept of eco-efficiency in pulp and paper production, using fewer natural resources and conserving the environment.
In addition, in 2007 the Sustainability Committee came into being, guided by the Sustainability Plan, with the mission to assure sustainable growth as an integral part of the business strategy in all the company’s management processes.
Signing up to the Global Pact was another major move by VCP in 2007. Developed by the United Nations (UN), the initiative seeks to mobilize the international business community to adopt essential and universally accepted practices in human rights, labor relations, the environment, and combating corruption.
External Social Investment
External Social Investment (ESI) is the voluntary donation of private resources in a planned, monitored and systematic manner, in social, environmental and cultural projects of public interest. Within the context of Corporate Social Responsibility, ESI is one of the ways the company relates to one of its strategic audiences: the community.
In 2007 VCP put about R$ 3.4 million into social investment. This went in the main (70%) to the company’s and its partners’ projects, and the rest was donated and sponsored specifically selected efforts.
Environmental Investment
VCP’s investment in environmental initiatives in 2007 totaled R$ 32.5 million. This was divided up between internal initiatives – related to the prevention and control of pollution, environmental education, and improved environmental performance – and external action. The external projects took in environmental issues that involve the company’s focused need generating benefits for the community, society, and the environment.
In 2007 internal environmental investment accounted for 91% of all investments and was directed mainly into the management of waste and the pollution control system. The R$3 million invested externally was mainly used in conservation.
Votorantim Institute - “Social Action that Transforms”
The Votorantim Institute was established in 2002 to qualify social investment by the Votorantim Group. The decision to create it was to strengthen synergies between the companies, identify and take opportunities to generate value for society, promoting efforts regarding a common cause: youth.
The youth-focused programs are defined as “routes". Creating routes for the future, the Institute suggests paths, offering youths opportunities in education, wok, culture and sport, as well as strengthening rights and encouraging talented youths who stand out in the various projects in Brazil.
Mission
“To make community life an environment conducive to social development”.
Vision
“To be a reference point in ethics and entrepreneurship in Brazilian social development”.
Values
“Ethics, Humility, Solidarity, Entrepreneurship, Dedication and Excellence”.
General Guide
The target audience defined for the programs over the next five years is youth.
Main Guidelines
• Social Projects – The projects get medium and long term investment with the systematic participation of the investor and follow up of targets and results. These are the Institute’s priorities.
• Sponsorship – That of a social nature, as the name suggest, has a social focus; that of a market or institutional nature is characterized by the promotion of the company image or a specific product.
• Donations - Must be channeled to the Institute’s target audience and be linked to defined targets and have their results evaluated.
Environmental Education – VCP’s EECs: Commitment to the Future
The Environmental Education Program, which was ten years old in 2008, develops its activities through its Environmental Education Centers (EECs) which serve as a base for the development of educational activities focused on the environment, linking formal and informal education, as well as strengthening relationships with local communities, promoting greater integration between the company and society.
VCP now has two Industrial Environmental Education Centers and five Forestry EECs, four fixed and one mobile unit, created in 2006 to travel around the 40 municipalities where the company operates in the Vale do Paraíba (SP). This unit is a truck equipped with a presentation room and an archive of documents and educational exhibitions.
VCP works with the following EECs:
• EEC Capão Bonito (SP) – Advanced Relationship Post
• EEC Santa Branca (SP)
• EEC Vale do Paraíba (SP) – Advanced Post (Mobile Unit)
• EEC Jacareí (SP) – Mill
• EEC Piracicaba (SP) – Mill
• EEC Capão do Leão (RS)
• EEC Três Lagoas (MS)