Decarbonizing the economy will be one of the most serious issues at COP30 in Belen, Pennsylvania. Research to be presented during the event points out that G20 countries, of which Brazil is a member, should be at the forefront of the energy transition, accounting for more than 80% of the world’s renewable energy by 2030. Philip Morris Brazil (PMB) has already begun its decarbonization efforts, demonstrating how large companies can play a fundamental role in achieving global environmental goals.
PMB follows its parent company’s global plan and aims to achieve zero Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions this year. This strategy includes direct emissions reductions through efficient technologies, the replacement of fossil fuels with biomass and renewable energy, compensation for unavoidable emissions through certified carbon credits, and carbon neutral certification by SGS, one of the world’s leading auditing companies.
The SGS certification confirms that the Santa Cruz do Sul (RS) factory has neutralized CO₂ emissions through concrete and verified actions such as purchasing carbon credits, using biomass and renewable resources, and reducing water consumption. This is considered an international recognition that positions PMB as a benchmark in industrial sustainability in Latin America.
— The Low Carbon Transition Plan (LCTP) is Philip Morris International (PMI) and its affiliates’ strategic plan to achieve carbon neutrality across the value chain. The LCTP has set clear targets to achieve zero direct Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025 and net zero Scope 3 emissions by 2040. The LCTP guides all of the company’s decarbonization actions, from operational changes to supplier engagement to climate investments, explains Clarissa Plas, vice president of operations for Philip Morris in Latin America.
To make this plan financially viable, the company is introducing a Climate Investment Portfolio (PCI). Established in 2021, PCI standardizes investments in projects that generate carbon credits and provides transparency, prioritizing solutions based on the nature and internal activities in the value chain of PMI and its affiliates. From 2022 to 2024, PCI invested approximately US$8.1 million in initiatives such as afforestation, forest conservation, and offsetting emissions at carbon-neutral certified factories and markets. This portfolio, overseen by a technical committee, ensures that projects meet rigorous environmental and social quality standards and directly links investments to the energy transition plans defined by the LCTP.
Partnership with innovation institutions
PMB maintains strategic partnerships to achieve desired results. These include a solution developed by the Senay Institute in Rio Grande do Sul that reduces firewood consumption in tobacco curing greenhouses by more than 50%. The initiative, signed through the Gaucho Industrial Innovation Notification, aims to promote a culture of innovation and boost industrial development in the state.
— Three ingredients are needed to carry out an R&D project: a capable workforce, infrastructure, and funding. Our units are equipped with outstanding specialists in their respective fields of activity and appropriate equipment to achieve the desired results. We are like a bridge between the industry and the new demands arising in the midst of the energy transition process. explains Victor Gomes, Executive Manager of Technology and Innovation at FIERGS System.
The solution consists of partially replacing the use of firewood in greenhouses with photovoltaic energy and will directly contribute to reducing gas emissions, as tobacco cultivation accounts for approximately 17% of PMI and its affiliates’ global CO₂ emissions. Moreover, this system has a direct impact on improving the quality of life of farmers using hybrid systems, as in addition to significantly reducing production costs, night work is significantly reduced.
The project included a research and development phase of a hybrid curing system adapted to the conditions of the rural land involved in tobacco production. Technical training of local producers and teams, promoting the adoption of good practices and efficient use of new technologies. and the application of innovations in the field, with testing and validation in real-world environments, with the aim of scalability and reproducibility.
exhaust gas compensation
Since 2020, PMB has maintained a partnership with the Society for Wildlife Research and Environmental Education (SPVS) for voluntary emissions compensation. Through this, management and stewardship activities will be carried out on 25 hectares of forest in the Aguas Nature Reserve, located in the Atlantic Forest Reserve, the largest continuous remnant of this biome.
This methodology is based on the concept of natural production, which recognizes that intact and functioning ecosystems are essential for the continued production of ecosystem services such as climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and protection of water resources.
In addition to restoring the natural landscape, the partnership also provides employee training, inspections, and environmental protection. The project received ISO 14064 certification reporting effective contribution to offset greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, he pioneered the application of this methodology to biomes.
— This cooperation model is particularly relevant given the challenges that exist in the region, such as hunting and deforestation, which threaten the integrity of natural areas. Such financial investments are essential to curb these practices, promote environmental education and enable actions that benefit both biodiversity conservation and voluntary compensation for emissions,” says Clarissa.
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