R&D and innovation
Knowledge put into practice
At Klabin, research, development and innovation work aims to promote prosperity for the planet and for people, contribute to operational excellence and create solutions that are renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. This research has practical applications in the Company’s day-to-day operations and fosters the evolution of business, whether by improving processes, increasing productivity, optimizing the use of natural resources or developing new products.
All this work is structured in four areas:
Klabin Technology Center (CTK)
Its mission is to improve product quality by anticipating trends and creating sustainable technologies and applications. It has the infrastructure required to replicate processes, simulate manufacturing and accelerate product development.
Forestry Technology Center
This center focuses on the forestry chain, conducting research on topics such as genetic improvement, wood quality, soil, adaptation to climate change, pest control and biotechnology.
Industrial Process Development
In this area, Klabin concentrates on incremental improvements to Klabin’s processes and portfolio of products.
Packaging Technology Center (CTE)
This center creates designs in partnership with customers, based on their needs and challenges.
Klabin’s main challenge in research, development and innovation is to look for more sustainable processes and materials, at competitive costs. In 2025, the focus will be on operational excellence.
Connection with the Company’s needs
In 2024, Klabin invested R$50 million in research, development and innovation, focusing on improving processes and products, enhancing its energy supplies, developing and applying new materials, and maintaining patents. This work was driven by a commitment to closely align with business operations and support the continuous improvement our plants. Notable initiatives include the following:
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Adoption of digital twins to evaluate scenarios. For example, this technology made it possible to assess the use of wood with different chemical and physical characteristics in the cooking process carried out in laboratory digesters. The boiler and the lime kiln in Correia Pinto (Santa Catarina) were also mapped using this simulation resource;
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Acquisition of a Micro-NIR, a portable near-infrared spectrometer that can be taken into the field to identify the properties of different tree species, through leaf analysis, for example. Using this information, it is possible to assess whether planted trees will meet the Company’s raw material needs.
Participation in events
Klabin’s participation in domestic and international events strengthens the Company’s image as an important agent for innovation in its sector, as well as being an opportunity to connect with other players and form cooperation networks. These are some of the meetings the Company attended in 2024:
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56th International Pulp and Paper Congress and Exhibition, organized by the Associação Brasileira Técnica de Celulose e Papel (ABTCP);
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Roundtable Discussion on the Bioeconomy in Brazil, held by the Belgian Economic Mission to Brazil;
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DRUPA, the world’s largest trade show for the printing industry;
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Pine Chemicals Association International Conference;
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University of Toronto’s Pulp & Paper Consortium Annual Research Review Meeting;
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TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology (TAPPI Nano);
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24th World Packaging Conference, organized by the International Association of Packaging Research Institutes (IAPRI);
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Fruit Attraction Madrid;
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Brazilian Rubber Technology Association (ABTB) Congress and Expobor Exhibition;
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2024 Brazilian Bioenergy Science and Technology Conference (BBEST) and International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Conference.
Progress regarding patents
In 2024, Klabin obtained 10 new patents for forest-based products. These patents protect the Company’s assets, highlight its innovative spirit and support the work of its employees.
