How Suzano is Transforming its Approach to Sustainability

Paper is often seen as a sustainable alternative to plastic, given its biodegradable nature and wide range of uses.
However, the industry faces challenges tied to deforestation, high water consumption and energy-intensive practices.
Suzano, the world’s largest pulp supplier, is taking steps to address these issues by partnering with Marvin, an AI-powered land use and supply chain management startup specialising in sustainability-driven geospatial intelligence.
The partnership, which includes a long-term agreement and a strategic follow-on investment by Suzano Ventures, the company’s capital ventures arm, was formed after Marvin’s technology underwent extensive validation trials across Suzano’s operations, demonstrating its applicability in addressing sustainability concerns in forestry and land use.
Innovating sustainable forestry with Marvin’s AI platform
Founded in 2023, Marvin's all-in-one AI platform is designed to advance sustainable practices across industries like forestry, mining, agriculture and biofuels. The platform combines advanced satellite imagery, geospatial intelligence and scientific research to deliver actionable insights into land use.
For Suzano, Marvin’s technology offers a transformative approach to managing its 27,000 square kilometres of eucalyptus plantations and native forests in Brazil. Using remote sensing tools and on-the-ground data, Marvin’s platform provides Suzano with the ability to measure water use, monitor carbon sequestration, and assess the impacts of climate change on its operations.
“Our partnership with Marvin has been an enriching journey of learning and innovation,” says Yhasmin Paiva Rody, Sustainability Manager at Suzano. “This validation reflects not only the capabilities of Marvin’s technology, but also our collaborative approach to innovation, driven by an in-depth technical understanding and the agile development of cutting-edge solutions.”
Suzano has signed a multi-year contract with Marvin to apply its geospatial intelligence products across several critical areas, including:
- Yield production improvement
- Water resource and risk management
- Carbon measurement and verification
- Forest certification
- Supply chain optimisation and traceability
These applications allow Suzano to not only enhance its sustainability practices but also strengthen its position as a global leader in environmentally conscious pulp and paper production.
Suzano: A leader in pulp and paper innovation
Suzano is not only the world’s largest pulp producer but also one of the leading paper manufacturers in Latin America and a market leader in toilet paper production in Brazil. Its products, which include paper, books, straws, cups, sanitary pads and nappies, are used by more than two billion people worldwide.
The company operates extensive eucalyptus farms that supply raw materials for pulp, paper and other products, such as:
- Fluff pulp: For use in menstrual pads and nappies
- Microfibrillated cellulose: A material that can be transformed into fabric
- Lignin: A by-product used in tyres, resins and adhesives
Suzano’s pulp production capacity is 13.4 million tonnes annually, with an additional 1.7 million tonnes of paper production. In 2023, the company reported revenue of US$6.5bn and employed more than 35,000 people globally.
With such a vast operation, Suzano’s investment in Marvin reflects a broader commitment to innovation and sustainability.
“Before investing in Marvin, we carefully assessed a number of geospatial intelligence products available on the market that were potentially applicable to silviculture,” explains Álvaro Gómez Rodríguez, Senior Manager at Suzano Ventures. “We are confident that Marvin’s technology offers the most sophisticated tool for forest producers like Suzano, which we have now validated through trials in our own business.”
Strengthening sustainability in South America
Marvin’s collaboration with Suzano also supports its growth ambitions in South America. The startup recently opened an office in Brazil, aiming to enhance its capabilities in addressing the complex ecosystems of the region while meeting the growing demand for its services.
Ofer Judovits, Co-Founder and CEO at Marvin, emphasises the magnitude of the partnership: “It is very significant for us to receive validation of our platform product’s technical and economic value from a business with a well-earned reputation for excellence in its forest operations, that has been at the forefront of innovation and technology in the pulp and paper sector.”
Ofer notes that, while many businesses initially approach Marvin to address regulatory requirements such as the EU Deforestation Regulation, they quickly discover the broader benefits of its insights, from supply chain efficiency to long-term sustainability gains.
Yhasmin concludes: “The development of this platform is testament to the scale of innovation that can be achieved through deep, strategic partnerships between large corporations and startups and demonstrates the potential for Marvin’s technology to transform land management practices across a wide range of sectors.”
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