THE WHAT? Dow has announced that Natura is the first commercial collaborator for strategic sustainability initiative, Project Yba: Conservation that Transforms.

THE DETAILS Launched in May this year, Project Yba is designed to balance commercial growth of a local community with environmental preservation in Breu Branco, Para. It aims to develop a local cooperative, which will sell the bioactive products from Dow’s preserved areas of the Amazon Rainforest and increase family incomes in the community while preserving the rainforest.

As the first commercial collaborator, the Natura &Co-owned brand will support the development of the local cooperative and contribute its expertise in the technical evaluation of the bioactives.

“We’re proud to have Natura as our first commercial collaborator for Project Ybá. Natura’s technical expertise is essential, as its dissemination of knowledge about sustainable extraction of renewable bioactives, such as seeds and fruits, will help foster commercial growth and local economic development while preventing further deforestation of the rainforest,” said Eric Peeters, Global Director of Sustainability for Performance Materials & Coatings at Dow. “The collaboration with Natura reinforces our commitment to the environment, social equity, sustainable economic development, and to working with diverse partners and communities to help build a better, more prosperous world.”

THE WHY? João Moura, Vice President of Supply Chain at Natura &Co, explains, “Natura has a historic commitment to sustainability, one of its pillars of action. In order to expand the impact of our business model, we believe it is essential to establish partnerships with other companies and organizations. With more than 20 years of presence in the Amazon, we have contributed to conserve two million hectares of standing forest, alongside partners and through relationships with 34 agro-extractivist communities in the region, covering more than 7,000 families.”