Work developed by CEBDS, in partnership with Idesam, maps good business practices in the region that can be replicated
Sustainable development in the world’s largest tropical forest is a reality that generates business, jobs and income while the trees remain standing. This is demonstrated by the experiences detailed in the “Study of Good Business Practices in the Amazon”, carried out by CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development) in partnership with Idesam. In total, the unprecedented publication details 11 projects carried out by companies that combine production and preservation. The initiatives involve more than 30 partners in the Legal Amazon and directly benefit 50,000 people.
The study points out paths and opportunities for greater engagement in sustainable practices in the region. The document presents initiatives that faced the typical challenges of the Amazon – which needed to reinvent themselves, adapt and which, therefore, are scalable and can be applied in different operating contexts. These are businesses such as restoration of degraded areas, professional training, development of startups, sustainable and higher productivity agriculture, bioeconomy, artificial intelligence in preventing deforestation and extractivism.
“Companies have been taking a leading role in building a new economic model that could be a major differentiator for the country in the global economy. There is an urgent call for the private sector to actively and responsibly engage in the valorization and conservation of the Amazon, promoting positive actions and using its own power of influence to leverage environmental agendas and practices that benefit the region. This study proves that it is possible to develop business while keeping the forest standing and involving the most diverse regional stakeholders,” emphasizes Marina Grossi, president of CEBDS.
The unprecedented work is part of the Business Movement for the Amazon, an initiative led by CEBDS that aims to build an effective agenda in defense of sustainable development, the creation of jobs and income with the forest standing and the reduction of deforestation.
The projects result in income generation for communities; encouragement of entrepreneurship; technological innovation; forest restoration; good agricultural practices; and professional training. These are businesses focused on actions such as decarbonization; traceability of the production chain; supplier training; partnerships for research, development and innovation; and investments in structural actions.
“This mapping is, above all, a ‘call to action’ for companies that operate in the region, or that are interested in contributing to the defense of the Amazon. The objective is to point out different paths and bring different models of projects and initiatives that can inspire partnerships and similar actions, thus fostering more responsible action and generating more shared value”, explains Mariana Pavan, consultant at Idesam.
The study also highlights the main challenges faced by companies during implementation, which can facilitate the replication of initiatives. There are seven: lack of specialized labor; logistics; difficulties in distributing production; impact monitoring; ensuring sustainable income; structural bottlenecks; and technologies and arrangements that are unsuitable for the region. These barriers resulted in lessons learned, such as corporate methodologies and procedures that are flexible to local reality; transparency in dialogue; building and valuing local capabilities; and commitment from senior business leaders.
“This is a very important study because it details the 'roadmap' already followed by the participating companies. It transforms the analyzed projects into inspiration for new initiatives in the region, or even the engagement of more actors in actions that are already underway”, concludes Grossi.
The companies that participated in the “Study of Good Business Practices in the Amazon” are: Amaggi, Amazon, Bayer, Dow, Energisa, Michelin, Microsoft, Natura, Neoenergia, Suzano and Vale.
About CEBDS
The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) is a non-profit civil association that promotes sustainable development through partnerships with governments and civil society, in addition to disseminating the most current concepts and practices on the subject. Founded in 1997, it brings together 100 of the largest business groups in the country, whose combined revenue is equivalent to 47% of Brazil's GDP and which generate 1.1 million jobs. In Brazil, it represents the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) network, which has almost 60 national and regional councils in 36 countries and 22 industrial sectors, in addition to 200 business groups operating on all continents.
About the Business Movement for the Amazon
Created and led by CEBDS, the Business Movement for the Amazon (MEA) aims to mobilize companies and leaders to include the Amazon in their business strategies and help the country meet the climate commitments assumed under the Paris Agreement – among them, eliminating illegal deforestation by 2028 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The initiative aims to foster new business models with the forest based on the expertise of member companies, as there are vast opportunities in the areas of bioeconomy, infrastructure, connectivity, carbon credits and nature-based solutions.
