Sustainability

COMMITTED TO 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. 

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.

Of Good Wood

In our day-to-day, while working in communities in up-country areas, we meet people that inspire us to create Good Wood Stories, which are inspiring stories that rescue values such as commitment, responsibility, and self-management.

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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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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

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

Since 2019, we have been measuring our carbon footprint (CF), one of the most prominent environmental indicators in recent years.

This study includes all forestry, logistics, and industrial activities of our operation.

Since 2020, we have had our CF verified by an independent third party, under ISO 14064-1 following the guidelines of this standard and the GHG (Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard). The factors considered in this measurement include:

  • The carbon capture of the trees on our forestry estates, which remove and store CO2 from the atmosphere.
  • The emissions into the air resulting from our operations.

Since the carbon capture significantly exceeds the emissions, it can be concluded that Montes del Plata has a negative carbon footprint. Despite this, the company aims to work on reducing emissions year by year to continue decreasing them and thus maximize its positive impact.

Áreas de conservación

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.

Áreas de conservación

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. 

 

Áreas de conservación

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. 

Áreas de conservación

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.

Áreas de conservación

Rincón del Río

Este establecimiento está ubicado en el departamento de Durazno sobre la costa del río Negro, a 23 kilómetros de la localidad de La Paloma.

La presencia de bosques pantanosos y la coexistencia e interconexión de varios ecosistemas como palmares, humedales, arenales y praderas son las características notables de este lugar.

Rincón del Río es además muy rica en todo tipo de especies, ya que los biólogos registraron 17 especies de mamíferos y casi el 60% de las aves continentales registradas en Uruguay pueden encontrarse en estas 430 hectáreas.

Áreas de conservación

El Arazá II

El Arazá II, es un pequeño bosque nativo ubicado próximo a Blanquillo en el departamento de Durazno.
Este nuevo espacio de conservación tiene como objetivo principal la protección de la rata de hocico ferrugíneo (Wilfredomys oenax), catalogada como "en peligro" (EN) por la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN), así como las marmosas (Cryptonanus sp.), pequeños marsupiales también conocidos como comadrejas enanas.


Se distingue como el primer espacio de protección con un enfoque específico en mamíferos de pequeño porte en Uruguay y la región. Con 5 hectáreas dedicadas a la conservación de micromamíferos prioritarios, la empresa se centra en la preservación de especies amenazadas y poco conocidas.


La elección de El Arazá II se llevó a cabo siguiendo rigurosamente los principios y criterios establecidos por el Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®), destacando el compromiso de la empresa con la gestión forestal responsable y sostenible.

 

Visitas al Complejo Industrial

Días y horarios

Visitas de centros educativos y organizaciones (con ómnibus propio): Todos los jueves a las 9.00, 10.30, 14.00 y a las 15.30 horas.
Duración aproximada: 1 hora. Las visitas comienzan en la Oficina Montes del Plata en Conchillas (Calle David Evans s/n).

Agendar visita

Comunicarse al teléfono: (+598) 4577 2832 o por correo electrónico: visitas@montesdelplata.com.uy. También puede inscribirse en Oficina de Montes del Plata en Conchillas de lunes a viernes de 9.00 a 17.00 horas.

Condiciones

  • Las visitas están sujetas a disponibilidad de la empresa.
  • El Complejo Industrial se reserva el derecho de cancelar las visitas hasta una hora antes de la misma.
  • Una vez reservada la fecha de la visita, los grupos deberán enviar información de los visitantes y documentación del vehículo.
  • Todos los visitantes deberán presentar cédula de identidad o pasaporte original vigente para el ingreso al Complejo Industrial sin perjuicio de haber enviado el número del documento con anterioridad.
  • Se reciben grupos estudiantiles a partir de tercer año de escuela.
  • No está permitido descender ni tomar fotografías o grabar videos durante el recorrido en el Complejo Industrial.

Visitas al Bioparque M’Bopicuá

El Bioparque M’Bopicuá ha sido acondicionado para recibir visitas de instituciones educativas, fundamentalmente escuelas y liceos. Estas visitas son guiadas por personal capacitado y se restringen a los meses de marzo a agosto para no afectar la reproducción de las especies.

El circuito guiado comprende tres áreas: la estación de cría de fauna, un sendero de interpretación del monte indígena y las ruinas del “Saladero M`Bopicuá” que datan del siglo XIX.

Por consultas e inscripciones: contacto_bioparque@montesdelplata.com.uy.

Nuestras oficinas

Nuestras oficinas

  • Colonia 

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

    Punta Pereira Planta Industrial Tel: +598 45775000

  • Montevideo 

    Luis Alberto de Herrera 1248, Complejo World Trade Center, Torre 3, piso 9. Tel: +598 26236300

  • Durazno 

    Artigas 369 Tel: +598 43620853 

  • Paysandú 

    Av. España 1552. Tel.: +598 47227575

  • Río Negro 

    Vivero Montes del Plata - Ruta 24 Km 0. Tel.: +598 4562 7523

    Terminal Logística - Ruta 24 Km 0. Tel: +598 45627000

    Centro Tecnológico Forestal - Ruta 24 Km 0. Tel +598 45631037

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