Suzano, the world's leading market pulp producer, announced new applications of its sustainable bio-based materials in China at the Suzano Bioeconomy Forum in Shanghai.

The forum, aimed at exploring new applications of Suzano's bio-based materials in the Chinese market, brought together local government officials, customers, academics, and business experts from various industries including rubber, bio-fuel, textile and construction.

At the event, Suzano and leading Chinese rubber chemicals manufacturer Ningbo Actmix Rubber Chemicals signed a milestone partnership agreement to commercialize the use of Suzano Ecolig® in Actmix's rubber products.

Ecolig® is a kraft lignin produced from Suzano's responsibly-grown eucalyptus. It serves as a sustainable alternative to other chemical additives and fossil-based antioxidants currently used to prevent oxidation and enhance the performance of rubber, and can be used in a wide range of applications, including rubber goods, retreaded tires, conveyor belts, and shoe soles.

During the forum, Suzano also signed two further partnership agreements with Fudan University, a renowned Chinese university, and Insper-Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, a Brazilian private, non-profit university respectively.

Victor Hugo, Sales & Marketing Manager for Suzano's Bioproducts business commented, "The expansion of the EcoligTM business in Asia through strategic partnerships is an important step that paves the way for Suzano to better serve sustainable businesses in different segments, effectively supporting the growth of the bioeconomy".

Pablo Machado, Suzano Asia President of Business Management commented, "These partnerships reinforce Suzano's commitment to enabling a sustainable future through innovation. By collaborating with local stakeholders on bio-based solutions that offer greener alternatives to fossil-based products, Suzano is well-positioned to support China's transition to a low-carbon economy."

About Suzano's Bioproducts business

Suzano is the world's leading market pulp producer, one of the largest paper producers in Latin America, a leader in the toilet paper market in Brazil and a leader in the development of sustainable and innovative solutions from renewable raw materials. Our products and solutions are present in the lives of more than 2 billion people, supply more than 100 countries, and include pulp, printing and writing papers, packaging papers, cups and straws, sanitary papers and absorbent products, as well as new bioproducts developed to meet global demand.

Suzano's Bioproducts business has developed Suzano Ecolig®, a multifunctional lignin-based bioproduct. With high antioxidant potential, UV radiation absorption, and binding properties, Suzano Ecolig® combines sustainability and performance and is present in products including rubber goods, wood panels, asphalt solutions and even cosmetics.

We have also developed Suzano Biofiber®, Suzano's microfibrillated cellulose. This new renewable bioproduct is biodegradable and serves as a reinforcing, retention, and suppressing agent, rheological modifier, grease and oxygen barrier agent and solution stabilizer. Like Ecolig®, Suzano Biofiber®can replace fossil-based materials or optimize the use of raw materials in cosmetics and personal hygiene items, paper, textile fibers, construction materials and much more.