Producing and preserving are not antagonistic verbs. And generating a positive impact on local communities close to companies is a necessity. These are the basic premises that guide the Amazônia Possível initiative, which brings together institutions such as Coalizão Brasil, Clima, Florestas e Agricultura, CEBDS, Arapyaú, Rede Brasil do Pacto Global, Instituto Ethos and Sistema B. To illustrate, the initiative promoted a debate in the Brazil Climate Action Hub, from the Climate and Society Institute (iCS), at COP25. AmBev, Natura and Votorantim Cimentos presented cases that demonstrate the valorization of products in the Amazon and the generation of a value chain that directly impacts thousands of people in the region.
Another proposal of the Amazônia Possível initiative is to combat illegality. CEBDS president Marina Grossi emphasizes that it is necessary to separate the wheat from the chaff. “We need to differentiate between legal and illegal activities. Illegal activities must be combated with all the rigor of the law. But it is also important to highlight that there are good examples of responsible action that combines preservation and production and positively impacts society,” she argues.
Co-facilitator of the Brazil, Climate, Forests and Agriculture Coalition, André Guimarães, invited companies to join the initiative. “The Possible Amazon is a process under construction based on two pillars: no illegality and looking ahead. We need to build on past experiences to create new production processes that add value and build sustainable production chains, attracting investors and young entrepreneurs,” he emphasized.
In a survey of 26 companies, the initiative mapped robust investments and job creation in the region. The companies operating in the Amazon operate, for the most part, in local development and forest economy themes.
During the event, the initiative launched a collaborative process to develop 10 business principles for sustainable operations in the Amazon. Proposals are available for contributions from companies and institutions until January 30. Comments can be made here. (Bit.ly/AmazoniaPossible)
Business initiatives
Recently awarded the UN Climate Award, Natura is a company with outstanding performance in the Amazon. Sustainability manager Keyvan Macedo presented the Ekos project, which values local environmental assets and creates income-generating mechanisms for those he calls “guardians of the forest”. “Natura buys almost a fifth of its inputs from the Amazon region and our goal is to reach 30%. Despite all the difficulties, which are not just logistical, we bring prosperity to more than 4,600 families and preserve 1.8 million hectares”.
Keyvan also highlighted the importance of disruptive examples to overcome challenges. “There is a case that I always like to mention about collaboration. Even competing companies can come together to find solutions. One example comes from Ambev and Coca-Cola, who joined forces to facilitate the recycling of their packaging in the country.”
With over 100 years of operations in the municipality of Maués, in the Amazon, also known as the land of guarana, Ambev consumes 100% of the fruit used in the production of Guaraná Antártica harvested in the city, with over 80% from local producers, who receive seedlings produced on a farm owned by the company itself. The Vice President of Sustainability, Rodrigo Figueiredo, highlights that, even preserving 80% of the farm, the production of the fruit grew by 140% in the last decade.
“Our business benefits two thousand local families with 100% of manual work. We work with the community through social and training activities, sharing techniques. In addition, we distribute 50 thousand guarana seedlings to 150 families every year. The impact reverberates and, in two years, we have increased the income of local producers by 52%.”
Based on the maxim “from trash to treasure”, Votorantim Cimentos creates value for açaí, a fruit typical of the region. Composed of 80% of pit, previously discarded in quantities of over 300 thousand tons, açaí was recognized for its caloric value in the company’s ovens. The pit, processed in the region, replaces the coke that travels over 10 thousand kilometers to reach the Primavera unit in Pará. The use of the local product, in addition to reducing direct emissions, also reduces the gases emitted during transportation.
“One of the levers for reducing emissions in the cement sector is the replacement of fossil fuels. Today, 40% of energy in Primavera is supplied with açaí bagasse. This year alone, we avoided emitting 117 thousand tons of carbon directly. If we add the indirect emissions, we avoided another 200 thousand tons of carbon in the atmosphere. Açaí is changing our history.”
