UPL Brasil report highlights advances in sustainability

UPL Brasil, a company of the UPL Group and one of the largest global providers of sustainable agricultural solutions, published in August the third edition of its Sustainability Report, covering the fiscal year beginning in April 2024 and ending in March 2025. The document highlights progress on the environmental, social, and governance fronts, reinforcing the company's commitment to the ESG agenda.

According to a Jai Shroff (pictured, left), UPL's global CEO, said the last 12 months have represented another challenging period for agricultural production. However, the company has implemented important initiatives. "I'm very proud of the work our teams have done to continue our mission of reimagining sustainability, even under the most uncertain circumstances. Once again, we've been able to present examples that can inspire others to lead similar programs or choose UPL as a partner," he said. 

One of the most important initiatives of the period was the company's first financial transaction in Brazil linked to ESG goals—specifically, a Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL). In this model, interest rates vary according to the achievement of previously established ESG targets and indicators, ensuring that financial conditions are directly linked to the company's environmental, social, and governance performance.

UPL has committed to four key performance indicators (KPIs) – covering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, pesticide application education, community impact, and bioinput sales – which must be achieved by 2026. For the company, fulfilling these commitments “not only allows us to obtain differentiated financial conditions but also reinforces our role as agents of sustainable transformation in agribusiness.”

Environmental highlights 

In the environmental pillar, one of UPL's relevant achievements is the 19% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, scopes 1 and 2, when comparing 2024 with 2023. In these scopes, UPL also achieved total neutrality, through the acquisition of high-integrity carbon credits from projects dedicated to forest conservation and support for Amazon communities, such as Cristalino Carbon Removal (certified by Social Carbon) and ABC Norte REDD+ (certified by Verra).

The report demonstrates that UPL purchased electricity from renewable sources for all of its facilities in Brazil. The strategic partnership with Raízen has enabled biomass to now account for 100% of the energy used at the Salto de Pirapora, São Paulo, plant and approximately 81% at the Ituverava, São Paulo, plant, strengthening the agribusiness bioenergy production chains.

Growth in sales of biosolutions (5% in 2024/2025, one percentage point above the previous cycle) is also highlighted in the document, reinforcing the company's alignment with the mission of accelerating the rational integration between chemical and biological products.

Furthermore, on another front, Fruit, Vegetable and Green (FLV) producers achieved 84,1% compliance in sprayers through the Apply Well program, a public-private partnership carried out free of charge by UPL and the Agronomic Institute (IAC), which, over 18 years, has already impacted more than 90 rural workers throughout Brazil, promoting education in the field and good practices for the safe use of agricultural pesticides.

Social Highlights 

In the social pillar, UPL highlighted in its Sustainability Report the opening of a new unit in Ituverava, São Paulo, of Associação Vida, a non-governmental organization (NGO) supported by the company that focuses on education to build and shape the future of adolescents in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability. With other units in Campinas, São Paulo, Salto de Pirapora, São Paulo, Monte Santo de Minas, Minas Gerais, and Sorriso, Mato Grosso, the initiative has benefited approximately 2.380 families since 2008, demonstrating its real and ongoing impact on the community.

As part of its diversity and inclusion initiatives, UPL increased female participation in its workforce to 25,67% and launched the "Jornada Vozes" (Voices Journey Guide) in booklet format, designed to promote literacy about minority groups. During this period, no cases of discrimination were identified, reinforcing the company's commitment to inclusion and equity in the workplace.

UPL concluded the 2024/2025 fiscal year with another important milestone: the launch of the Sustainable Agriculture Pact (PAS), a socio-environmental impact program led by UPL, which partners with five cooperatives recognized for their work in innovation and sustainability: Comigo, Copasul, Coplacana, Integrada, and Holambra. The initiative encompasses rural producers of different profiles and will provide, free of charge, 1.000 simplified sustainability reports and 1.000 simplified GHG emissions inventories. The goal is to improve transparency and enhance the socio-environmental performance of Brazilian agribusiness, starting with the cooperative sector.

"In yet another challenging year for global agriculture, Brazil has maintained its focus and delivered practical and measurable sustainable results. Sustainability cannot be an afterthought or a priority left behind profit. It needs to guide how we innovate, invest, and grow. This report is clear proof of how UPL is doing just that: reimagining sustainability through transparency, collaboration, and impact," he emphasizes. Mike Frank (pictured, center), CEO of UPL Corporation. 

Governance Highlights

The 2024/25 Sustainability Report sets a new milestone by presenting, for the first time, an external verification conducted by a specialized consultancy, reinforcing the credibility and transparency of the information disclosed.

In addition to SLL, in terms of governance commitments, UPL reported the completion of its compliance risk matrix, consolidating a detailed diagnosis of priority risks and establishing action plans to mitigate them, strengthening corporate governance and the culture of integrity in all areas of the company.

The report also shows that, in February 2025, UPL carried out annual external audits of the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards, maintaining certifications at the Salto de Pirapora and Ituverava factories, both with the seal of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (Ukas).

The company remained a signatory to the United Nations (UN) Global Compact and the 100% Transparency Movement, a voluntary initiative that establishes five goals for 2030 related to interaction with public administration, senior management remuneration, high-risk value chain, compliance and governance structure, and performance of conduct channels.

Rogério Castro (pictured, right), CEO of UPL Brasil, emphasizes that the report reflects the solidity of a strategy built over recent years, combining growth, social and environmental responsibility, and innovation connected to the realities of the field. "Our commitment to ESG is more than a strategic pillar: it's a conviction. And we believe that companies are made of people—and within them lies the true potential for change," he concludes.