Profile

Founded in 1936 in Brazil, Cosan now has 23 production facilities, 21 in São Paulo State and two being built, one in the city of Jataí (Goiás State) and the other in Caarapó (Mato Grosso do Sul State), four refineries and two port terminals. Through Cosan Combustíveis e Lubrificantes, licensed to use the Esso and Mobil brands, it has become the only totally integrated company in the sector.

Since 2005 Cosan’s stock has been traded on the New Market in São Paulo (Bovespa). In 2007 it became listed in New York, becoming the first Brazilian-owned company to be traded directly on the NYSE.

A producer of crystal sugar (VHP), granulated refined sugar, organic sugar, amorphous liquid sucrose and inverted liquid sugar, ethanol and electric energy (produced from sugarcane), Cosan is the third largest sugar producer in the world, the fifth largest ethanol producer, and one of the world’s largest ethanol exporters. In the 2008/2009 harvest it crushed a record 44.2 million tons of sugarcane. With its incorporation of NovAmérica, its crushing capacity is today about 60 million tons.

Aware of the importance of research and development, Cosan has partnerships with technological institutes to develop new varieties of sugarcane. The company is also focused on agricultural geoprocessing technology, and has developed sugarcane harvest satellite monitoring software. The system provides precise estimates on production, with detailed information on the state and quality of the sugarcane plantations, and also improves agricultural procedures and reduced costs.

 

back to top

 

Sustainability

With approximately 43,000 people working for it during harvest time, Cosan rigorously complies with labor legislation and all its employees have contracts in accordance with the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT). It also invests in training, and the company believes in the talent that exists at its facilities and runs various programs to support and maintain the team in different areas, be they Agricultural, Industrial, or Administrative. The results achieved are recognized through a Profit Share Program which is open to everyone.

To ensure safety in all activities, Cosan has a Safety, Health and Environment System, including training sessions and talks for its staff, and it makes use of Individual Protection Equipment (IPE), and incident analysis and control. It also prepares workers for the day ahead with workplace exercise, which helps prevent occupational illnesses, so improving the quality of life for those involved.

Being aware of its social responsibility the company supports the Cosan Foundation which, since 2001, has invested in the education and training of children, teenagers, the children of staff and members of the communities it operates in as a form of social, professional and intellectual development. The project offers extra classes on school subjects, citizenship classes, and semi-professional courses in mechanics, carpentry, IT, and basic electrics. It also provides practical courses in fruit and vegetable gardening and handicrafts, as well as cultural workshops and theater groups. The Foundation benefits over 600 people directly, reaching a wider public of approximately 60,000 people a year. Read more

The company is a reference point in clean and renewable energy and was a pioneer when it signed up to the Agro-environmental Protocol. These actions underline its commitment to projects that promote the conservation and recovery of vegetation in its agricultural areas, the protection of riparian forests and the implementation of technical soil and water resource conservation plans. See more

 

back to top