Celebrating the Amazon Day: Natura Reaffirms Its 2050 Vision
Every September 5, Brazil celebrates the Amazon Day, a date that transcends borders and reminds the world of the vital role this forest plays in global climate regulation. With almost 7 million km² of extension, it is considered by the UN as “the world’s great climate regulator“, thanks to its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and mitigate climate change.
Beyond its ecological dimension, the Amazon is home to 47 million people, including indigenous and traditional communities who have lived in harmony with the forest for centuries. Its preservation is crucial not only for current generations but also for future ones.
Natura’s Role in the Amazon
In this context, Natura has established its presence in the region as an example of how bioeconomy can generate economic value while conserving biodiversity. The company has been operating in the Amazon for over 25 years, connected with 46 sociobiodiversity communities, benefiting more than 10,000 families and contributing to the conservation of 2.2 million hectares of forest, with a goal to reach 3 million by 2030, as stated by Angela Pinhati, Natura’s Sustainability Director in an interview with El Economista.
Beyond Sustainability: Towards Regeneration
Pinhati emphasized, “Sustainability is no longer enough; we need to regenerate what has been degraded. Natura’s Vision 2050: Commitment to Life aims to address the climate crisis, protect biodiversity, ensure social inclusion, and transform our business model towards circularity and regeneration.”
Real Actions
Launched in 2011, the Natura Amazonia Program has been the vehicle for channeling socioenvironmental investments and fostering a fair trade network with local communities. Today, the company collaborates with 46 supplier communities and 21 agroindustries using 33 native species, supported by Natura’s digital platform Natura-GIS that enables traceability and real-time monitoring.
In the last five years, Natura has invested 230 million Brazilian reais (approximately 780 million Mexican pesos) in projects of technical assistance, land regularization, community strengthening, and agroindustries. The company even supported Aprocamp with a machine to improve the extraction of essential oils.
Pinhati explained that Natura’s commitments are reflected in clear goals: quadrupling Amazonian input purchases by 2030, doubling shared resources with supplier communities, fostering gender and racial equity, and increasing forest conservation by 50%.
Natura Ekos: A Model of Sustainable Innovation
In Belém do Pará, Brazil, Pinhati commented that the Natura Ekos line, which this year celebrates 25 years, exemplifies this vision. Its products—from recycled packaging castella concentrate to hydrating aluminum pulp—show how innovation and circular economy can transform the relationship between consumption and nature.
UEBT Certification: A Standard for Sustainable Biotrade
Pinhati highlighted that Ekos is one of only two brands worldwide with the international UEBT (Union for Ethical Biotrade) certification, which guarantees that natural ingredients are obtained respectfully to people and biodiversity, adhering to ethical trade principles that encompass biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource use, and fair benefit distribution.
Amazon Day: A Call for Collective Action
Pinhati stressed that the Amazon Day is more than a commemoration; it’s a call for collective action. The rainforest faces growing threats from deforestation, fires, and droughts that could push it to a tipping point. “The science warns that losing this balance would imply cascading impacts: reduced rainfall in South America, loss of biodiversity, and increased global warming.”
“For over two decades, we have worked alongside Amazonian communities to transform bioingredients into sustainable opportunities. Keeping the forest standing is not an ideal; it’s a tangible commitment to life and the future,” concluded Angela Pinhati.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of the Amazon Day? It’s a reminder of the Amazon’s crucial role in global climate regulation and a call for collective action to protect it from threats like deforestation, fires, and droughts.
- How is Natura contributing to the Amazon’s conservation? Natura operates in the Amazon for over 25 years, collaborating with 46 sociobiodiversity communities, investing in projects of technical assistance, land regularization, and agroindustries, and aiming to quadruple Amazonian input purchases by 2030.
- What is the UEBT certification, and why is it important? The UEBT (Union for Ethical Biotrade) certification ensures that natural ingredients are obtained respectfully to people and biodiversity, adhering to ethical trade principles. Natura’s Ekos line is one of only two brands worldwide with this certification.
