The climate crisis, and why we must protect the Amazon

Exactly a year ago, in the middle of a global pandemic, we launched our Commitment To Life. This bold sustainability vision was Natura &Co's response to some of the world's most challenging issues, and our approach to achieving change over the next decade. Prime among these was the climate crisis and our continued conservation work in the Amazon – because without the Amazon, humanity would perish, and so too would business.?

In June 2021, one year on from that launch, we hosted a live event featuring guest speakers from across our organisation and beyond. In a series of inspirational talks, each speaker provided an update on the progress made over the past 12 months, as well as some of the challenges we have faced.

Roberto Marques, our Executive Chairman and Group CEO, set the tone for the day's events in his opening comments:

"The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time, and it will be incumbent upon the private sector to step up and push for change," he boldly affirmed.

Roberto outlined how over the past year, we have connected with business leaders, governments and civil society to create a fairer, more sustainable world for everyone. As part of our Sustainability Vision, we are committed to becoming Net Zero across our entire supply chain by 2030, 20 years ahead of the UN pledge.

The other issue close to our hearts, of course, is the Amazon Rainforest, the world's most diverse biome. In the past year we have seen the devastating effects of man-made forest fires in the region, while deforestation in the Amazon continues to beat historical records, making the need to act fast and decisively more urgent than ever.

"When it comes to the Amazon, we have developed a unique business model over the last 20 years and will expand it," affirmed Keyvan Macedo, our Sustainability Director. "Our future will be a reflection of the Rainforest’s destiny. Without it and the extraordinary carbon function it has, we will not be able to limit global warming to 1.5oC degrees."

Our sustainability efforts in the Amazon over the past decade were introduced by Andrea Alvares, Chief Brand, Innovation, International and Sustainability Officer:?

"Since 2010, we have invested more than $400 million in the region, as we established relationships with 34 communities and over 7,300 families. Innovation is a key driver of our presence in the Amazon region, either by helping us turn biodiversity ingredients into amazing products or by developing new agricultural solutions, such as the agroforestry system for the production of palm oil."

We then heard from Brazilian environmentalist and social entrepreneur Tasso Azevedo. Tasso is the brains behind the PlenaMata portal, a partnership between Natura, MapBiomas and InfoAmaz?nia, which will gather data and indicators of deforestation and initiatives for the conservation and regeneration of Amazon biome.

Tasso noted the alarming rate at which deforestation is happening within protected areas and indigenous lands compared to other places. Only with the help of everyone will we be able to tackle this ongoing problem, he stressed.

Finally, our co-founder, Guilherme Leal spoke about Concerta??o for the Amazon, a network of more than 200 leaders who are engaged in creating a democratic space where dozens of individuals interested in defending the Amazon are able to meet, foster dialogue, increase their impact and generate new initiatives in favour of the forest and local communities.

We are taking nothing for granted. We know that the climate challenge will require collective efforts on a global scale, which is why we are working with international organisations such as the United Nations. But there are reasons to be hopeful. We only have to look at the Amazon’s capacity for rebirth and regeneration. Take the Tukum? palm, which grows back even after fires, regenerating the forest, its soil and the lives that depend on it. Nature never ceases to amaze us.