Brazil launches sustainable multimodal project with São Martinho partners

São Martinho, in partnership with Rumo, Necta, and Transvale, has launched a multimodal transport project for sugar. The initiative is called Rota Verde and is seen as a milestone for sustainable logistics in the Brazilian sugar-energy sector.

The operation combines road transport, powered by natural gas and biomethane, with rail transport. It will move sugar from the Santa Cruz unit, located in Américo Brasiliense, São Paulo. The goal is to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Initially, the project will use vehicles running entirely on natural gas. The plan is to later switch to full use of biomethane across the entire fleet responsible for transporting sugar from the unit. The trucks are equipped with Scania G460 Gas technology, which allows for a cleaner and more efficient operation. The project also uses an existing rail connection between the Rumo transshipment terminal in Itirapina, São Paulo, and the Port of Santos, ensuring better logistics integration.

A key feature of the project is the use of surplus biomethane produced by São Martinho’s plant in Américo Brasiliense. This strengthens the circular economy. The biomethane production unit started operations in August 2025 and received 250 million reais for its construction.

“Rota Verde marks a major advance in the integration of logistics efficiency and environmental responsibility. With this initiative, we connect innovation and sustainability, reducing emissions and using renewable resources like biomethane,” said Helder Gosling, Commercial and Logistics Director at São Martinho.

The operation is expected to transport about 350,000 tons of sugar per year. This will bring greater efficiency and cost reduction. According to a Life Cycle Assessment study by the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology, the project will cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 87% compared to conventional diesel trucks. José Eduardo Moreira, CEO of Necta, said the partnership shows it is possible to combine sustainability with operational savings, proving that biomethane is competitive with diesel.

The project will start in May 2026. It will be operated by Transvale, which will provide vehicles and drivers 24 hours a day, 26 days a month, for 10 months a year, until March 2030. “The transport company’s initial investment is estimated at 15 million reais, with 10 sets of 47-ton road train dump trucks,” said Ivo Ilário Riedi Filho, CEO of Transvale.

The expectation is that this proposal will increase São Martinho’s operational productivity index by up to 20%, reducing average time and transport costs.

Altamir Perottoni Junior, Commercial Vice President at Rumo, said the initiative is important because it brings together different links in the chain in a project that helps with decarbonization. He highlighted the complementarity between rail transport, which already has a lower carbon footprint, and sustainable road transport, which replaces diesel with biomethane.

Beyond being a logistics project, Rota Verde reinforces São Martinho’s leadership in sustainable solutions for the sugar-energy sector. The initiative aligns with the company’s ESG goals and global decarbonization targets, promoting practices that support a low-environmental-impact economy.