Flavio Maluf, who has served as CEO of Eucatex since 1997, has transformed the Brazilian wood products manufacturer into a global leader in sustainable practices. Eucatex is one of Brazil’s largest producers of laminates, partitions, doors, medium-density fiberboards, chipboard and medium-density particleboard panels, wood fiber sheets, paints, and varnishes, while simultaneously strengthening its environmental commitments that date back to its founding in 1951.
Long before sustainability became a buzzword, Eucatex built its reputation on an innovative use of eucalyptus, becoming a pioneer in the 1960s by utilizing this renewable resource to create acoustic ceiling panels.
“We were born from a forest base. We’ve been planting eucalyptus since the 1950s and using it to produce thin sheets and eucalyptus-based panels,” explained Flavio Maluf. “Currently, we invest in genetic improvement and clone seedling production. Our forests have one of the highest annual average growth rates in Brazil.”
Renewable Forest Management
The scale of Eucatex’s forest management is impressive: 50 million trees planted across 135 square miles. The company consumes 1.8 million cubic meters of wood annually while planting approximately 6,000 hectares per year. This careful balance ensures a sustainable supply chain.
“Our investment is constant, and we monitor the annual growth of forests by conducting inventories,” Maluf noted. The company’s forestry division operates within a sustainable development framework, with careful planning from seedling production through management, monitoring, harvesting, and transportation to manufacturing facilities.
Eucatex also pioneered recycling in the forestry sector, establishing one of Latin America’s largest industrial-scale wood recycling plants. The company collects wood residues — including pallets, spools, walkways, and construction debris — from more than 300 partners.
“Waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills is transformed into biomass and used in our production system,” Maluf pointed out. “This technology is more economical and has less environmental impact since it doesn’t depend on burning oil or natural gas.”
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Sources
In a constant pursuit of sustainable technologies, Eucatex recently invested R$300 million (about $52 million) in the Solar Plant Castilho, the largest in São Paulo state, with a generation capacity of 269 megawatt-peak.
“Seeking new things is in our DNA,” Maluf stated proudly. “Today, 50% of our factories’ electricity consumption comes from this type of energy. This is a great achievement, totally aligned with our philosophy.”
This transition to renewable energy represents a significant reduction in environmental impact compared to conventional energy sources, as solar power generates minimal greenhouse gas emissions.
Since the 1990s, Eucatex has held the Forest Stewardship Council certification, the highest recognition of sustainability in the industry. The company also maintains ISO 14001 certification, which attests to international standards of quality and environmental management.
“In 2001, we were the first company to receive a sustainable product certification from Home Depot, an American industry giant,” added Flavio Maluf. “This natural aspect of our business is also a strong attribute for our customers and partners.”
These credentials have contributed to Eucatex’s recent recognition in the Forbes Agro100 2023 list, where it ranked 81st among Brazil’s top agricultural and forestry companies.
Social Responsibility Initiatives
Eucatex’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns to include social responsibility. Since 1999, the company has implemented an environmental education program which has welcomed over 27,000 visitors.
“We work on environmental awareness for employees and on projects with universities and schools,” Maluf said. “Besides disseminating information about environmental preservation, we promote courses on health and safety, firefighting, and first aid, training residents and professionals. Where we have factories, we have projects with communities. In addition to education, we also renovate schools and other spaces.”
Innovation is at the core of Eucatex’s strategy. Recent product developments include the Acqua New line of skirting boards, which combines fine particles of wood from certified reforestation forests with PVC to create wood polymer composite.
Flavio Maluf emphasized how Eucatex’s DNA is sustainable solutions for people’s well-being. The Acqua New line has an “ecological bias from a renewable source, 100% recyclable, and produces zero greenhouse gas emissions.”
Flavio Maluf’s Vision for the Future
Under Maluf’s leadership, Eucatex has balanced economic growth with environmental responsibility. He believes that the world is moving toward sustainability at a plausible pace, overcoming financial and economic barriers as technologies become more affordable and viable.
“Starting from the experience we’ve acquired over the years, we always ask ourselves: ‘How can we work better with wood? How can we minimize waste? How can we make the production chain more efficient?’ From these questions, solutions and programs were created, and even new businesses, which tomorrow may be responsible for the company’s growth,” said Maluf.
Today, Eucatex exports to more than 40 countries across Latin America, Europe, and the United States. Approximately 20% of its products are adapted to meet regional preferences and requirements.
Maluf sees tremendous potential for Brazil in the global market for sustainable manufactured goods. “Today, almost 70% of Brazilian exports are commodities. The expectation is that one day it will be 90% manufactured goods. We have the vocation to take a much larger share than we currently have because our climatic conditions are favorable and we don’t have problems with raw materials.”
Eucatex’s journey under Flavio Maluf’s leadership demonstrates how sustainability can drive business success. From forest management to product innovation, renewable energy to community engagement, the company’s integrated environmental responsibility into every aspect of its operations. As global demand for sustainable products continues to grow, Eucatex stands as a model for how Brazilian companies can lead the way in creating a more sustainable future for the wood products industry.