Sustainability

Sustainability

A Long-Term View in Uruguay

Our activities are sustainable by balancing three equally important areas: economic, social and environmental.

For Montes del Plata, sustainability means managing business in a balanced and harmonious manner with the environment and all interested parties. To achieve this, we use the best available techniques and technologies and maintain an open and continuous dialogue with local communities.

Our approach to sustainability includes managing the possible impact of our activities. We conduct programs and actions to enhance the naturally positive aspects of our operations, as well as to mitigate the negative ones. 

Our activities are sustainable by balancing three equally important areas: economic, social and environmental.

Sustainability Goals 2030

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were defined by the United Nations (UN) to protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of people worldwide. These goals prioritize issues such as climate change, biodiversity, quality education, reducing inequalities, and sustainable agriculture, among others.

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What are we committing to?

2030 Target Current Status Linked SDG
Occupational health and safety
< 1
Accident frequency rate
1.1
< 10
Accident severity rate
31
Gender equity
35%
of positions held by women
33%
40%
of leadership positions held by women
35%
Work climate
≥ 80%
Favorability in climate survey
83%
Ethics
100%
of ethics management system implemented
97%
Local development
10
local suppliers developed by the ProActiva program
4
>70%
new local hires
82%
6
local employability projects
2
USD 15
million investment in the community
USD 5.1 MM
1 MILLION
cumulative training hours
544,000
Community relations
+75%
favorability as a company responsible for the environment and the community
77%
Carbon footprint
-10%
CO2 eq emissions for scopes 1 and 2
154 (-8%)
50
million tons of CO2 eq for scope 3
43,736,228 tons CO2 eq
Set target for scope 3 CO2 eq emission reductions.
-
Renewable energy
+15%
renewable energy supply to the national power grid
+5% (601)
Water
-18%
water consumption at the mill
-18% (25)
Biodiversity
42%
natural areas and increase high conservation value areas
42% and 9 HCVAs
≥43%
MdP natural areas in Uruguay's biological corridors
46%
90%
of native flora and fauna species identified
69%
Circular economy
100%
industrial solid waste recycled
67%

Local Development and Dialogue

The local communities near our forestry and industrial operations are main stakeholders. In Montes del Plata, we have developed different programs to maximize the opportunities that arise from the company's presence in the field, and we work hard to mitigate possible negative impacts.

The development and improvement in the quality of life of the inhabitants of these communities is an objective in itself. We seek to encourage, support and accompany projects that generate shared value and promote local development through self-management and strengthening of the social mesh.

Conservation of biodiversity

Caring for the environment and natural resources is very important for Montes del Plata. Approximately 35% of our land is unforested and used for other purposes including cattle grazing, conservation of native forests and special ecosystems such as palm groves and wetlands.

Some of these lands have been identified as High Value Conservation Areas (HVCA) given their unique historical-cultural and environmental attributes and thus require specific management actions. Scientific studies and monitoring activities, including rehabilitation and conservation of wild fauna and flora, are performed in these areas.

M´Bopicuá Biopark

A contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and history.

M’Bopicuá Biopark is located in an area with great historical and environmental value on the banks of the Uruguay River in the department of Río Negro. With a surface area of 150 hectares, the biopark is comprised of a fauna breeding centre, an autochthonous flora trail and a historical area of high cultural value with the ruins of the “Saladero de M’Bopicuá” meat preservation plant that dates back to the 19th century.

One of M’Bopicuá Biopark’s main objectives is to breed wild fauna, especially endangered autochthonous species, and later introduce them to their natural habitats. Since it was established, several mammal, avian and reptile species have been reproduced and in some cases reintroduced into the wild.

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M´Bopicuá Biopark

Ethics and Conduct

We manage our business with a commitment to social, environmental and economic responsibility.  Ethics and transparency remain the key pillars of our Values, Management Policy, and Code of Conduct. For ethics and transparency purposes, it is extremely important to ensure the integrity of all individuals who work for our company. 

Anonymous ethical complaints Download code of ethics and conduct Download code of ethics and conduct for suppliers
Ethics and Conduct
Management and Certifications System

Management and Certifications System

From our very beginning in 2009, Montes del Plata has followed the principles and criteria set out by the Forest Stewardship Council® for forest management, which allowed us to win the FSC®’s Responsible Forest Management certification. This seal certifies that we manage our forests in a manner that is beneficial and responsible for society, the environment, and our company, in addition to being profitable.

Additionally, our Chain of Custody certification guarantees that to obtain our pulp we use wood which is harvested from controlled, verifiable, and acceptable sources.

We obtained these certifications after an audit process carried out by independent organizations that conduct an annual follow-up in which they verify that we comply with the principles and criteria.

In 2013, this certification encompassed all of the company's forestry assets. In 2014, we broadened the reach by promoting a certification group for our independent medium and small forest producers to help them comply with FSC®’s Principles and Criteria. By 2016, Montes del Plata had obtained the PEFC ™ certification for all of its forestry operations in implementation with the Uruguayan Sustainable Forest Management Standard UNIT 1152P.

In 2017, our Punta Pereira Industrial Complex obtained ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems and OHSAS, 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management System certifications. The latter also certifies our forestry processes.

These standards help us to continuously improve product quality, customer satisfaction, environmental performance, and worker health and safety.

Our Carbon Footprint

Desde 2019 medimos nuestra huella de carbono (HdC), uno de los indicadores ambientales más destacados en los últimos años. 

Este estudio incluye todas las actividades forestales, logísticas e industriales de nuestra operación. 

Desde 2020 hemos verificado nuestra HdC por una tercera parte independiente, a través de la ISO 14064- 1 bajo los lineamientos de esta norma y el GHG (Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard tiene en cuenta para esta medición:  

  • La captura de carbono de los árboles de nuestros predios forestales que remueven y almacenan el CO2 existente en la atmósfera. 
  • Las emisiones al aire producto de nuestras operaciones. 

Tenemos el objetivo de trabajar sobre las emisiones año a año para continuar reduciéndolas y así maximizar nuestro impacto positivo. 

CONSERVATION AREAS

Santo Domingo

The Santo Domingo private establishment is located 30 km from the town of Quebracho in northwestern Paysandú.

It has been defined as a High Value Conservation Area in order to protect its wetlands, palm groves and riparian forests, which are the habitat of several fauna species. Specific rehabilitation plans have been designed, which include palm grove management of the Butiá Yatay species. Currently, there are young specimens alongside 200 year-old adult trees.

Monitoring activities have detected new avian species, some of which have never been recorded in Uruguay, as well as an increase in carnivorous mammals (foxes, ferrets, felines and armadillos).

A special management plan has led to improvements in the reproduction conditions of the Yacaré, which live in the lakes along the Tierras Coloradas Stream. Furthermore, on two separate occasions, Coatíes have been released into their natural native forest habitat through the wild fauna reintroduction programme led by the M’Bopicuá Biopark.

CONSERVATION AREAS

Capilla Vieja

The Capilla Vieja private establishment is located 10 km from the town of Pandule in the department of Paysandú.

This area was defined as a HVCA and entered into the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). The banks of the Queguay River host various types of native forests (riparian, transition and park). We have detected over 150 groups of vertebrate species in these forests. This research led to the development of a specific management plan aimed at their conservation. 

 

CONSERVATION AREAS

Tres Árboles

The Tres Árboles private establishment is located 70 km from the town of Guichón in the eastern section of the department of Río Negro.

Stone constructions located here give the area significant historical value. It was deemed a High Value Conservation Area due to the detection of a species catalogued as a priority for the National System of Protected Areas of Uruguay. The Homonota uruguayensis species, known locally as the "Geko de las Piedras” or Stone Gecko, is a very small (40-50 mm) oviparous saurian that can be found in basalt rocky formations and hilly sandstone areas. 

CONSERVATION AREAS

Sauce del Yi

The Sauce del Yi establishment is located close to the town of Sarandí del Yi on the banks of the Maestre de Campo stream in Durazno.

Two rock paintings were found in Sauce del Yi and declared National Historical Monuments. As such, the area was catalogued as a High Value Conservation Area.

The rock formations where pictographs have been found are located in two areas in Uruguay.

With 43 pictographs, Chamangá is the best known area. It is located in the department of Flores and is part of the SNAP programme.

Maestre del Campo, the second rock painting area, has 9 pictographs including the ones found in Sauce del Yi. It is located in Durazno.

These findings are associated with granite outcroppings, which are characteristic of the central-southern region. Prehistoric, 1,500 to 2,000 year-old, cultural expressions underscore their archaeological relevance.

The art was preserved by the stone’s natural exudation process and represents geometric traces and abstract figures, which are difficult to perceive with the naked eye.

CONSERVATION AREAS

Rincón del Río

This property is located in the department of Durazno, on the banks of the Río Negro, 23 kilometers from the town of La Paloma.

The presence of swamp forests and the coexistence and interconnection of various ecosystems, such as palm groves, wetlands, sand dunes, and grasslands, are the notable characteristics of this area.

Rincón del Río is also very rich in all kinds of species, as biologists have recorded 17 mammal species, and almost 60% of the continental bird species recorded in Uruguay can be found within these 430 hectares.

CONSERVATION AREAS

El Arazá II

El Arazá II is a small native forest located near Blanquillo in the department of Durazno.

This new conservation area's main objective is the protection of the ferruginous-nosed rat (Wilfredomys oenax), listed as ""endangered"" (EN) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as opossums (Cryptonanus sp.), small marsupials also known as dwarf opossums.

It stands out as the first protected area with a specific focus on small mammals in Uruguay and the region. With 5 hectares dedicated to the conservation of priority micromammals, the company is focused on the preservation of threatened and little-known species.

The selection of El Arazá II was carried out following the principles and criteria established by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®), highlighting the company's commitment to responsible and sustainable forest management.

CONSERVATION AREAS

Palmares Butiá Odorata

The Butia palm (Butia odorata, formerly Butia capitata) is a palm tree that can reach approximately 10 meters in height when mature, although very old specimens can far exceed this size. Its distribution area covers around 65,000 hectares, restricted to the departments of Rocha and Treinta y Tres in Uruguay, as well as the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.

In addition to their stunning scenic beauty, Butia palm groves possess incalculable value from a biodiversity perspective, as they constitute a unique ecosystem. They are also noteworthy for their socioeconomic and cultural significance, given that various handcrafted products are made from this species.

However, the conservation of these palm groves faces a critical challenge: the almost complete lack of natural regeneration. Currently, the groves are mostly composed of centuries-old trees, which underscores the urgent need to implement preservation measures to ensure their continued existence.

See the Academy\'s 2025 Report

Contacts

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At Montes del Plata, we offer quality employment and prioritize local labor for our businesses, both forestry and industrial. Learn more

Visits to the Industrial Complex

Days and times

Visits from educational centers and organizations (with their own bus): Every Thursday at 9:00, 10:30, 14:00 and 15:30.
Approximate duration: 1 hour. Visits begin at the Montes del Plata Office in Conchillas (David Evans Street s/n).

Schedule a visit

Contact us by phone: (+598) 4577 2832 or by email: visitas@montesdelplata.com.uy. You can also register at the Montes del Plata office in Conchillas from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Conditions

  • Visits are subject to company availability.
  • The Industrial Complex reserves the right to cancel visits up to one hour before the scheduled visit.
  • Once the date of the visit has been booked, groups must send visitor information and vehicle documentation.
  • All visitors must present a valid original identity card or passport for entry to the Industrial Complex, regardless of whether the document number has been previously submitted.
  • Student groups are accepted from the third year of school onwards.
  • It is not permitted to get off the bike or take photographs or record videos during the tour of the Industrial Complex.

Visits to the M’Bopicuá Biopark

The M’Bopicuá Biopark has been adapted to receive visits from educational institutions, primarily schools and high schools. These visits are guided by trained staff and are restricted to the months of March through August to avoid disrupting the species' reproduction.

The guided tour comprises three areas: the wildlife breeding station, an interpretive trail of the native forest, and the ruins of the “M`Bopicuá Saltworks” dating from the 19th century.

For inquiries and registration: contacto_bioparque@montesdelplata.com.uy.

Our offices

  • Colonia 

    Conchillas: Calle Evans s/n - Tel: +598 45772832

    Punta Pereira Industrial Plant Tel: +598 45775000

  • Montevideo 

    Luis Alberto de Herrera 1248, World Trade Center Complex, Tower 3, 9th Floor. Tel: +598 26236300

  • Durazno 

    Artigas 369 Tel: +598 43620853 

  • Paysandú 

    Av. España 1552. Tel.: +598 47227575

  • Río Negro 

    Montes del Plata Nursery - Route 24 Km 0. Tel.: +598 4562 7523

    Logistics Terminal - Route 24 Km 0. Tel: +598 45627000

    Forestry Technology Center - Route 24 Km 0. Tel +598 45631037

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