Our approach to biodiversity management
Our management in biodiversity
Through partnerships and engagement, we aim for our actions not only to address the management of negative impacts but also generate positive results across the company's activities and beyond our borders, contributing to a positive future for nature in the global context.
As a cross-cutting issue, nature and biodiversity are governed by our Sustainability Policy , with the objective of preventing and minimizing risks and negative impacts and enhancing positive impacts, generating social, environmental, and economic value beyond the company’s activities. A guiding principle of the Policy is the pursuit of positive results for nature through investment in restoration, conservation, and research, integrating biodiversity, climate, water, and people. This policy applies to Vale S.A. and its subsidiaries throughout the life cycle of their projects and in all their areas of operation. It also guides our suppliers on Vale’s non-negotiable guidelines for responsible operations. It is important to mention that the policy is aligned with the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (especially Targets 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 15, 20, and 21).
Biodiversity governance is integrated into Vale’s structure, including the Executive Sustainability Committee, which is statutory and supports the Board of Directors, among other instruments and macroprocesses. The Executive Sustainability Committee is responsible for developing and submitting guidelines and a strategic plan to the Board of Directors, considering socio-environmental issues, and implementing the approved plan. In 2021, the Board of Directors decided to create the dedicated Executive Vice Presidency Office for Sustainability. This office is responsible for implementing the general biodiversity-related policies and guidelines established by the Board and identifying, addressing, and managing nature-related impacts, dependencies, risks, and opportunities (as well as critical issues that result in risks or impacts on the business) and evaluating sustainability investment proposals. One of the policies that the Executive Vice President for Sustainability is responsible for implementing is the Sustainability Policy (read more about it in Governance ).
Nature and biodiversity are integrated into our strategic sustainability plans and disseminated throughout the company, aligned with our Sustainability Policy and the Internal Corporate Biodiversity Standard. Our guidelines and strategic plans are approved by the Board of Directors, and their implementation is monitored across all areas of the company through reports from the Executive Vice Presidents and oversight by the Advisory Committees. Biodiversity risks are included in the company’s integrated risk map and risk management, and the TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) Pilot Project informed the review of the biodiversity risk management process based on an integrated assessment conducted by a multidisciplinary team. This process was approved and is monitored by the Sustainability Risk Executive Committee.
Explanatory note
The Mitigation Hierarchy is an iterative best-practice approach to managing biodiversity in production planning and execution, comprising four steps — avoid, mitigate/minimize, restore and offset.
All operational units have environmental teams and professionals with biodiversity expertise responsible for managing plans and programs, as well as related operational risks. They report to the corporate biodiversity team, which reports to the VP of Sustainability within the Executive Board of Climate, Nature, and Cultural Investments.
Biodiversity management is incorporated into the specific requirements of Vale’s management model (VPS – Vale Production System), based on the internal regulatory standard that establishes Guidelines and Processes for Biodiversity Management. This document was published in 2020 (revised in 2023) and applies to all projects and operations, covering the planning, implementation, operation, and closure stages. The guidelines and processes are based on the impact mitigation hierarchy, focus on managing biodiversity impacts and risks, and support the achievement of our commitments.
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Goals and Commitments
Among the commitments in our 2030 agenda, we have goals related to reducing pressures on nature and biodiversity (such as reducing our emissions and reducing new water withdrawals) and the Forest Target. This goes beyond our borders, seeking partnerships to leave a positive impact on nature at the landscape scale.
Vale has three key commitments in this area:
- Restore and protect 500,000 hectares by 2030, beyond our own boundaries (Forest Target);
- Not operate in UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites;
- Prevent and offset significant impacts from new projects and expansions located in areas of high biodiversity value, aiming for no net loss.
All of these commitments are aligned with the ICMM’s Nature Position Statement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Forest Target
The Forest Target is part of Vale’s commitment to leverage its protection and restoration agenda through partnerships, in addition to being part of Vale’s climate strategy to achieve its goal of becoming NetZero by 2050.
The Forest Target consists of two objectives: to restore 100,000 hectares and to protect 400,000 hectares. This is a voluntary commitment that goes beyond our legal obligations and aims to contribute to a positive future for nature. This target was defined based on a 2019 baseline indicating that more than 80% of our impacted areas were associated with the Atlantic Forest and Amazon biomes, as well as our capacity to act in conservation and restoration. In 2019, our baseline was approximately 850 hectares of Vale-protected areas (both owned and in partnerships). It is important to mention that this target is aligned with the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, especially Targets 2, 3, and 10. The strategy for achieving this target was based on establishing partnerships, inspired by the work of Vale Natural Reserve (VNR) and the Vale Fund, with a focus on developing capabilities and businesses focused on this agenda, thus expanding results beyond this commitment.
The VNR is a protected area owned by Vale, located in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. It is one of the largest remaining Atlantic Forest areas, totaling 23,000 hectares, with over 40 years of experience in conservation, research, and partnerships. The Vale Fund is a development and investment fund created by the company in 2009 to generate positive socio-environmental impact.
To protect 400,000 hectares, we are working with a similar model adopted in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest almost 40 years ago, leveraging VNR's expertise and establishing partnerships with protected areas to support conservation actions. In 2022, we began studying protection alternatives, such as REDD+ projects, seeking greater integration with climate commitments. By the end of 2025, 45% of the target had been achieved, with 25,364 hectares restored and 200,093 hectares protected. These areas help maintain an important carbon stock, supporting the climate change mitigation and adaptation agenda and fostering climate regulation. In addition, they protect springs and waterways that are essential for maintaining water security in the regions where they are located. The initiatives under this goal support the effective management and conservation of these areas, engaging local communities in the surrounding areas.
We have already reached an important milestone: 50% of our Forest Goal conservation target—200,000 hectares protected beyond our borders.
To restore 100,000 hectares, the Vale Fund has built a network of partners and business arrangements with positive socio-environmental impact that, through sustainable management systems, improve landscape permeability, sequester carbon, and generate jobs and income for the community. As a result, by December 2025, the supported businesses had implemented sustainable models that restored 25,364 hectares of degraded areas.
Learn about the Meta Florestal Theory of Change.
Explanatory Note
REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries) is an incentive program developed within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to financially reward developing countries for their achievements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from deforestation and forest degradation.
Progress Toward the Forestry Goal by 2025
Scope of the Forestry Target actions - Geographic distribution: 500,000 hectares
No Net Loss Commitment
Our long-term goal is to prevent and neutralize significant impacts on our new projects and expansions in areas of high biodiversity value, striving for a No Net Loss commitment and, whenever possible, generating a Positive Net Impact (Net Gain). Our No Net Loss commitment is acknowledged and approved by the Sustainability Committee and the Board of Directors. We hold informative and deliberative sessions within the Sustainability Committee, which answers to the Board of Directors, reporting at least annually on our strategy and performance regarding nature and biodiversity.
This commitment is aligned with the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, highlighting Target 15, which addresses the management, reduction, and reporting of biodiversity impacts and risks.
Our strategy involves analyzing biodiversity risks and prioritizing attributes, using the Impact Mitigation Hierarchy as the basis for developing Action Plans and Management Plans, as well as improving those already implemented. The development of these plans involves experts and internal and external stakeholders, in addition to encouraging the production of scientific knowledge to support decisions and specific goals for each project or operation.
The Management Plan Pilot Project for the S11D Mine in Carajás allowed us to further develop and adapt the international performance standards of the IFC (International Finance Corporation, a member institution of the World Bank) to our current situation. In 2020, we published our internal regulatory standard with guidelines and processes for biodiversity management, revised in 2023. This standard includes all stages of the impact mitigation hierarchy, with compensation actions through the restoration and conservation of areas as a basis for neutralizing the loss of habitats (without net deforestation) and species.
Summary of the processes outlined in the regulatory standard
Learn more about our journey to achieve No Net Loss in our 2021 Vale & Biodiversity report.
Regulatory Implementation Case Study
Changes to the S11D project’s layout prevented the destruction of over a thousand hectares of forest. Thanks to significant investment in technology and innovation, we reduced fuel consumption by 70%, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50%, and water consumption by 93%.
Through restoration efforts, we were able to connect forests previously separated by degraded areas. We planted nearly one million seedlings, restoring the forest across over five thousand hectares. Monitoring these areas has detected the presence of felines such as the jaguar (Panthera onca ) and the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis ), animals at the top of the food chain, indicating progress in restoring biodiversity in these areas.
A study developed by ITV concluded that these forest restoration efforts effectively reversed the prevailing environmental degradation in the landscape and provided considerable biodiversity gains for the region. See more here.
The compensation plan focused on the conservation of cavities and ferruginous rocky fields. Giving particular attention to the Tarzan and Bocaina mountain ranges, we supported ICMBio in the establishment and protection of the Carajás Ferruginous Fields National Park.
Commitment not to operate in UNESCO natural heritage sites
We help to protect part of an important site – the Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves , with the conservation of Vale Natural Reserve (VNR) and the Sooretama Biological Reserve (REBio).
The VNR is a Vale property located in Espírito Santo, with 23,000 hectares of Atlantic Forest voluntarily designated for conservation and research. The Sooretama REBio is a federally protected area adjacent to the VNR, with which we have a partnership to support conservation efforts. Together, they form the largest remaining block of Atlantic Forest in the state, covering approximately 50,000 hectares, where endangered and endemic species live under protection.
Alignment with global and national agendas
Our goals and commitments, as well as our nature strategy, are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the National Biodiversity Targets.
As an ICMM (International Council on Mining and Metals) member, Vale actively participated in the development of the new Nature Position Statement and is committed to contributing to a positive future for nature by supporting and actively participating in commitments related to reducing and managing impacts in its operations, working directly within its value chain, seeking partnerships to work on landscape recovery and conservation, leveraging systemic transformations, and providing transparency to its actions and results.
As a CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development) member, Vale has committed to the Brazilian Business Commitment for Biodiversity , highlighting the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services to our business and demonstrating our progress in their conservation and sustainable use.
As a member of the Life Coalition since 2024, Vale joins leading companies and financial institutions in seeking methods to measure biodiversity and accelerate global conservation through concrete actions and transformative solutions. In 2025, Vale joined the Life Business and Biodiversity Coalition and implemented the Life methodology to assess biodiversity performance at the company’s sites.
Our dependencies and impacts
We seek the best methods, technologies, and actions that minimize interference with natural resources. In spite of that, our operations have direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity.
In order to map and assess these impacts, specific assessments are prepared covering everything from planning for entry into new territories to the final design of projects. These assessments aim to assess potential impacts on natural heritage areas, protected areas, and sensitive habitats and species. All operational expansions and new projects are preceded by environmental impact studies, in accordance with the standards and regulations of each country and region in which they operate. These impacts are reported annually by the operational environmental departments to the corporate department. Based on these reports, the most material impacts are assessed, based on the frequency of reporting and assessment.
The implementation of the TNFD’s LEAP approach (Locate, Evaluate, Assess and Prepare) confirmed the results related to the most material impacts already tracked in the annual reports. The ENCORE (Exploring Natural Capital Opportunities, Risks and Exposure) tool was used to assess the materiality of impacts for each production process (mining, railways, and ports). Impact drivers were measured based on data related to emissions, water use, pollutants, waste, and biodiversity reported annually by operations and available at the corporate level in the Vale ESG Databook 2023. Data available for the period 2018 to 2022 were used. Our most material impacts are related to water use and changes to natural ecosystems.
Based on the impact mitigation hierarchy, we implement prevention, control, mitigation, recovery, and compensation measures to reduce and neutralize our impacts and incorporate the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services into the company's activities. Our actions comply with legal obligations, but we seek, whenever possible, to implement additional actions focused on restoration and conservation, with a focus on the landscape.
It is worth noting that actions focused on avoiding and mitigating impacts related to land use changes and vegetation removal also prevent greenhouse gas emissions. These measures are reinforced in the project planning stages based on guidelines and recommendations within biodiversity and climate change regulations. Similarly, actions focused on recovery and offsetting support the capture and maintenance of carbon stocks, with results evaluated within the carbon balance.
Based on an assessment of the locations of our operations and the results of our annual indicator reports, our main impacts involve changes in ecosystems, primarily through changes in land use and vegetation cover, resulting in the localized loss of flora and the reduction or alteration of fauna habitats. In 2025, the area affected by Vale’s operations totaled 109,196 hectares (our footprint).
This figure includes areas already altered for the implementation of our operations, as well as those that have already received formal authorization from environmental regulatory agencies for implementation/operation. Much of this area is located in Brazil, interfering with the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes.
We always consider the dependence of our businesses on water supply in our planning and strategy. In 2024, following the implementation of the TNFD's LEAP approach, we mapped the material dependencies in our various processes (mining, railways, and ports). We mapped a significant asset dependency on water supply (groundwater and surface water), as well as climate regulation, mass stabilization, and erosion control. In mining processes, the most significant dependencies are water supply (groundwater and surface water), water flow maintenance, and climate regulation. For railways, the most significant dependencies are mass stabilization and erosion control, and for ports, water supply (groundwater and surface water) (see risks associated with impacts and dependencies in Biodiversity Risk Management).
Areas of High Biodiversity Value
| Extent of land use change in areas of high biodiversity value (GRI 304-1/2023) | Hectares |
|---|---|
Total impacted area (surface and underground)
|
100,268
|
Total impacted area in wilderness
|
61,563
|
Total impacted area in hotspots
|
30,332
|
Areas impacted in protected areas
|
35,370
|
Areas impacted adjacent to protected areas
|
39,406
|
Areas impacted in priority conservation areas outside protected areas
|
26,551
|
Areas impacted adjacent to priority conservation areas outside protected areas
|
23,576
|
The protected areas adjacent to our operations are mostly comprised of conservation units owned by Vale. These are Private Natural Heritage Reserves (IUCN Category IV), already established or in the process of being created, located close to our operational units. There are also conservation units created and supported by Vale, such as the Ferruginous Fields National Park (IUCN Category II), created as part of the licensing of the Eliezer Batista S11D Complex in Carajás, and the Gandarela National Park, which Vale has supported in land regularization.
Regarding other classes of high importance areas for biodiversity, our operations interfere with or are adjacent to some Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Ramsar Sites (sites of ecological importance defined in the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance), according to the table below:
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)
| Country/Location | Type of operation | Category of importance for biodiversity¹ | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
Brazil/ Mariana
|
Mine/Power Plant
|
KBA
|
Contains portions
|
Brazil/ Ipatinga
|
Logistics/railway
|
Ramsar Site
|
Adjacent²
|
Brazil/ Carajás
|
Logistics/railway
|
KBA
|
Contains portions
|
Brazil/ Carajás
|
Mine/Power Plant
|
KBA
|
Overlaps
|
Brazil/ São Luis
|
Logistics/Port and Railway
|
Ramsar Site
|
Contains portions
|
Brazil/ São Luis
|
Logistics/Port and Railway
|
KBA
|
Contains portions
|
Oman/ Sohar
|
Pelletizing/Distribution Center
|
KBA
|
Contains portions
|
Wales/ Clydach
|
Power Plant
|
Ramsar Site
|
Adjacent²
|
2. For adjacent areas, a 10-km buffer was considered from the outer limits of areas of high biodiversity importance, and its overlap with the operational unit's area was assessed.
It is worth noting that in 2025, a strategic partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was formalized, following three years of constructive engagement. This partnership represents an opportunity for Vale to expand the incorporation of nature-positive approaches, strengthening management in its operations and the conservation and restoration agenda in the regions where the company operates.
Conservation and restoration
Areas protected by Vale
| Protected area | Location | Biome | Ownership | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carajás National Forest
|
Brazil (Pará)
|
Amazon Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
391,004
|
Tapirapé-Aquiri National Forest
|
Brazil (Pará)
|
Amazon Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
114,240
|
Itacaiúnas National Forest
|
Brazil (Pará)
|
Amazon Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
136,592
|
Tapirapé Biological Reserve
|
Brazil (Pará)
|
Amazon Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
99,198
|
Igarapé do Gelado Environmental Protection Area
|
Brazil (Pará)
|
Amazon Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
23,269
|
Ferruginous Fields National Park
|
Brazil (Pará)
|
Amazon Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
21,997
|
Serra Leste RPPN (Private Natural Heritage Reserve)
|
Brazil (Pará)
|
Amazon Forest
|
Owned
|
150
|
São Luís Botanical Park
|
Brazil (Maranhão)
|
Amazon Forest
|
Owned
|
110
|
Serra das Torres Monument
|
Brazil (Espírito Santo)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
IEMA Partnership
|
10,458
|
Duas Bocas Biological Reserve
|
Brazil (Espírito Santo)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
IEMA Partnership
|
2,910
|
Goytacazes National Forest
|
Brazil (Espírito Santo)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
Owned
|
1,425
|
Tubarão Botanical Park
|
Brazil (Espírito Santo)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
Owned
|
30
|
Vale Natural Reserve
|
Brazil (Espírito Santo)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
Owned
|
22,710
|
Sooretama Biological Reserve
|
Brazil (Espírito Santo)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
27,800
|
Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserve
|
Brazil (Espírito Santo)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
3,598
|
Cunhambebe State Park
|
Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
INEA² Partnership
|
38,053
|
União Biological Reserve
|
Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
7,756 |
RPPNs, Forest Reserves, and Environmental Easement Areas
|
Brazil (Minas Gerais)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
Owned
|
21,830
|
Protection areas of four small hydroelectric plants (PCHs)
|
Brazil (Minas Gerais)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
Owned
|
330
|
Mata Escura Biological Reserve
|
Brazil (Minas Gerais)
|
Atlantic Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
50,892
|
Vale Eco Center Malaysia
|
Malaysia | Sundaland
|
Owned
|
289
|
| Total | 974,641
|
[2] Source: State Environmental Institute (INEA), Rio de Janeiro State Government
Recovery and Restoration Indicators
Heading Example
| Opening and closing balance¹ | Hectares |
|---|---|
Areas impacted (Opening Balance)
|
61,771
|
Areas impacted in the reference year
|
1,449
|
Areas undergoing permanent recovery in the reference year
|
1,156
|
Areas impacted (Closing Balance)
|
62,064
|
Research and partnerships
Investments in research and scientific knowledge are essential to inform our impact management process, decisions, and actions. Focused on improving and maximizing the results of these actions, Vale establishes partnerships with biodiversity experts, such as universities, government organizations, and consulting firms.
We seek consistent environmental studies, as well as mitigation, restoration, and compensation activities that constitute effective action plans, in addition to fostering the generation and dissemination of knowledge. To support our strategy, we maintain the Vale Technology Institute (ITV), a research center that has been operating in the Amazon since 2010. Headquartered in Belém (PA), ITV is a leader in scientific knowledge regarding biodiversity, habitat restoration, and DNA for area monitoring, climate change, and biotechnology.
By 2025, ITV had accumulated R$ 1.026 billion in research investments, 1,198 scientific publications, 298 Research and Development projects, 365 fellowship researchers, 55 permanent researchers, and 86 patents and software registrations (cumulative).
We want to advance even further, leveraging initiatives that amplify positive outcomes for nature. To this end, we are seeking to foster partnerships focused on restoration and conservation that support the journey toward zero illegal deforestation. Through our Forest Goal, we are charting a course centered on partnerships and the development of a new ecosystem of nature-based businesses.
During the Climate Conference (COP 27) in November 2022, we launched Biomas, a new company focused on restoring and protecting 4 million hectares of native forests in different Brazilian biomes (such as the Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and Cerrado) over 20 years. The initiative is the result of a partnership with Itaú Unibanco, Marfrig, Rabobank, Santander, and Suzano. Biomas recently launched the Muçununga Project, which will plant more than 70 native species from the Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia, restoring 1,200 hectares.
In 2022, we began a partnership with the Technology and Supply Agency in São Paulo, focusing on research into propagation and multiplication techniques for rare and endemic plants from the rocky fields of Minas Gerais. The Propagar Network establishes cooperation between researchers from universities and Science and Technology Institutes such as:
Dyckia sp, one of the species under study as part of the project. Vale
- São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (APTA)
- State University of Campinas (Unicamp)
- Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture of the University of São Paulo (Esalq/USP)
- Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU)
- Federal University of Viçosa (UFV)
- Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and
- State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS)
In late 2022, the Vale Institute of Technology—Sustainable Development (ITV-DS), in partnership with the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation Biodiversity (ICMBio), launched an innovative program aimed at genomic mapping of Brazilian fauna and flora species that are threatened with extinction, exotic, or have the potential to generate income for farmers involved in bioeconomy projects. The Brazilian Biodiversity Genomics Project (GBB) is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Brazil and involves various national and international research institutions. The initiative is funded by Vale, which recognizes the importance of research for maintaining biodiversity in Brazil and values the knowledge-generating potential of Brazilian science. In recent years, the GBB has studied 611 species of Brazilian fauna and flora, of which 563 have had their genomes sequenced. It involves 134 partners and 380 researchers, in addition to 14 ICMbio research centers. It also includes training for environmental agency staff at ITV—to date, 16 training sessions have been held, training 226 people in genetic and genomic mapping tools. A total of 43 reference genomes have been sequenced; 548 population genomes sequenced; 613 organelle genomes; and 478 environmental samples. This data already informs public policies and conservation strategies for key species, positioning Brazil as a global leader in genomics applied to biodiversity conservation.
Reports (TNFD and CDP)
TNFD
We have been members of the TNFD Forum since 2022, participating in meetings and providing feedback on the platform’s structure. We are part of the group of TNFD Pilot Program Partners led by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), as well as the Brazilian Advisory Group led by the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS).
- Our most material impacts are related to water use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and changes in the use of terrestrial ecosystems.
- Our most material dependencies are related to water supply (groundwater and surface water), climate regulation, and erosion control.
- The risk assessment demonstrates the conformity of the TNFD risk assessment methodology with Vale’s risk management process. Our main material risks are related to changes in climate regimes, decreased water availability, and changes in areas of high biodiversity value, including the occurrence of endemic and threatened species.
In 2024, we made progress in implementing the TNFD’s LEAP approach for operations outside Brazil. In addition, we improved our assessment of biodiversity risks. In 2025, Vale Metais Básicos (VBM) published its TNFD report (see here) and Vale began applying the Locate, Estimate, Assess, and Prepare (LEAP) approach at two new international sites: Oman and Malaysia.
Value Chain
We acknowledge the importance and challenge of addressing ESG issues throughout our value chain. Our suppliers’ practices directly influence our impacts on nature, so managing risks and opportunities throughout the supply chain is essential to ensuring responsible practices that guarantee the continuity and competitiveness of our business.
In 2022, as part of our Sustainable Procurement program, we developed the ESG Criticality Matrix for our supply chain. This matrix was developed based on the segmentation of our supplier base in Brazil and an analysis of purchasing categories from the perspective of environmental, social, and governance risks, in alignment with the guidelines of ISO 20400 – Sustainable Procurement. With this matrix, revised in 2024, we classify our suppliers according to their potential ESG impacts and risks, considering greenhouse gas emissions intensity, biodiversity, waste management, water resource management, integrity, forced labor, child labor, and other factors.
Of the more than 6,200 suppliers we had contractual relationships with in 2024, approximately 2% are classified as critical (high or very high risk) for biodiversity and water. In 2025 we conducted a maturity assessment of suppliers regarding environmental issues. Through its Conexão ESG program, Vale launched engagement and awareness initiatives focused on environmental issues, prioritizing those classified as high-risk in terms of biodiversity and water. Three training and engagement workshops were held, covering approximately 30% of the critical suppliers identified in the assessment.
Learn more about it in Suppliers.
CDP Forests
CDP Questionnaire 2024
Learn more
Biodiversity Risk Management
Vale recognizes the importance of ecosystem and biodiversity conservation and is improving its risk assessment policies and processes in conformity with the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). Since 2015, we have been applying a biodiversity sensitivity/risk assessment to understand the interface of all our operations and projects with nature, as well as to prioritize areas at elevated risk to biodiversity. The analysis included nine categories of areas and/or territories relevant to biodiversity, according to global and national organizations (Key Biodiversity Areas – KBA, Protected Areas, Hotspots, occurrence of Endangered Species, among others), which were assigned weights that characterize their sensitivity and value in relation to biodiversity. The areas prioritized as substantial risk to biodiversity are those located in Brazil, in the Amazon (Carajás) and the Atlantic Forest (Iron Quadrangle). These areas have specific impact and risk management actions, consolidated in management and action plans that have been implemented in compliance with legal requirements and on a voluntary basis, and improved annually.
We mapped the risks related to nature in our direct operations located in Brazil based on an assessment of our most material dependencies and impacts, following the implementation of the TNFD’s LEAP approach. To assess production processes and the materiality of impacts and dependencies, we used the SBTN materiality tool and ENCORE, calibrating the results based on our team’s expertise. We found that the methodology and processes used by Vale are consistent with those proposed by the TNFD, and the main material risks mapped are already known and managed.
Learn more about Risk Management at Vale.
In relation to the risk of changes in high biodiversity value areas, with the occurrence of endemic and threatened species, the internal regulations, Guidelines and Processes for Biodiversity Management focus on mapping attributes and analyzing biodiversity risks, covering all areas of our business, operations, and projects, based on the Impact Mitigation Hierarchy and the IFC PS6 performance standard. Furthermore, investments in scientific research and knowledge generation about endemic and threatened species occurring in our areas of interest support our decisions focused on avoiding and reducing impacts, as well as restoration and conservation actions.
Vale has ongoing risk and impact management processes established across operations and projects, focusing on identifying, preventing, mitigating, and treating risks and negative impacts related to biodiversity. As reported in the CDP Forests , all activities planned and executed at Vale are supported by specific procedures to identify associated risks and define critical controls to eliminate, control, and/or mitigate them. Vale has a Risk Management Policy, a Risk Management Standard, and internal regulatory procedures aimed at defining criteria and processes for identifying, analyzing, and classifying environmental risks, as well as specific management and monitoring tools.
Learn more about Risk Management at Vale.
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