Communication

Press and News

The Brazilian planted tree industry is essential for the fight of COVID19

The coronavirus pandemic has spread throughout Brazil. The gravity of this moment requires all of us to be conscientious and act to minimize the impact of this crisis and its social and economic repercussions.

According to guidelines from health organizations, the forest-based sector has worked to stop the spread of COVID-19 where it works in order to protect the health of its employees. The sector has been rigidly following safety protocols. Ibá's recommendation is precisely this, to take care of each other.

The products from this industry are essential to tackle the current challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. With operations in more than 1000 cities and factories and forests scattered across nearly the entire country, this sector is a source of more than 5,000 products; some of these are essential for all of our daily lives, and even protect health professionals.

In hospitals, pulp and cellulose are the raw materials for products such as surgical masks and gowns and mattresses. Printing and writing papers are important for prescription pads and patient records; the sector is even present in medical equipment made of steel, since charcoal is used to make this raw material.

We are working hard so that personal care products like toilet paper, geriatric and infant diapers, wipes, paper towels, and detergent will not be scarce in Brazilian homes.

Packaging is important to ensure that essential items like food, medications, and cleaning products reach families. Shelf-stable cartons provide safe and durable packaging for essential foodstuffs such as milk, juice, and even beans. Without paper packaging nothing can get to your home, even via delivery, like paper bags that contain your food or cardboard boxes that ship items bought online.

This is an industry that cannot shut down.

Personally, I would like to express my profound thanks to and respect for these professionals who are keeping this production on course and helping the country cope with this crisis. On behalf of the Brazilian Tree Industry, I wish to thank everyone who is doing their part to provide comfort and security to all Brazilians at this difficult time. I also want to thank those professionals who are creating a healthy environment for employees to continue working safely. Together, we will strive to ensure that our products will be present where they are needed. This industry is here for all Brazilians: each of us doing our part, all of us taking care of each other.

Paulo Hartung
Economist, Executive President of Ibá (the Brazilian Tree Industry), board member of Todos Pela Educação, former governor of the state of Espírito Santo (2003–2010/2015–2018)