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Dow completes critical milestone for Project Ybá in Brazil, a strategic sustainability project for balancing commercial growth with environmental conservation


SÃO PAULO, Brazil – WEBWIRE
  • 17 species of fruit trees in Dow’s preserved areas of the Amazon Rainforest are of commercial interest to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
  • Natura cosmetics brand will acquire the Andiroba plant extracted by the local community from Dow’s preserved forest for use in their product line.
  • The Vila Mamorana Farmers Association located in Pará state, was selected from among 25 communities to receive training to form a local cooperative focused on the commercialization of bioactives extracted through sustainable management.


Dow (NYSE: DOW) recently announced completion of the mapping stage of Project Ybá: Conservation that Transforms, a critical milestone towards full implementation of the project. Launched by Dow in May 2021, in collaboration with Peabiru Institute and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the project promotes the development of local communities through the commercialization of non-timber resources, while supporting conservation of the Amazon Rainforest. The mapping process focused on two key aspects of the project: the biodiversity in Dow’s preserved areas of the Amazon Rainforest, and the social structure of area communities.

During the mapping of local biodiversity, which was conducted in the 38,000 hectares of Dow’s preserved area of the Amazon Rainforest, the Peabiru Institute identified 17 plant species of commercial interest to the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Of the species identified, four are of interest to cosmetics brand Natura – part of the Natura & Co group, the world’s fourth largest personal care company and the project’s first commercial collaborator. After estimating the potential bioactive production, Natura will purchase Andiroba seeds to produce Andiroba oil used in their cosmetics, which will be extracted by the local cooperative from the Dow-preserved forest.

Natura also provided its expertise in the technical evaluation of the fruits and seeds and is assisting in the formation of a local cooperative to commercialize the bioactives. With an investment of R$ 1 million, Project Ybá will contribute to increasing family incomes in the community while conserving the rainforest.

“To ensure the conservation of the forest, it is necessary to offer the community a source of income generation, while at the same time increasing awareness of the value of the standing forest through sustainable management and extraction,” explains Matias Campodonico, Dow’s sustainability director for Latin America. “The Amazon has great potential to impact a flourishing bioeconomy. Project Ybá serves as an excellent example of creating value through conservation – by simultaneously honoring our natural resources, contributing to increased family incomes in the region and driving innovation.”

As a way to boost socioeconomic development, 25 communities in the Breu Branco region participated in social mapping for potential participation in Project Ybá. The Association of Farmers of Vila Mamorana, formed mostly by women, was selected to carry out the sustainable extraction of fruits and seeds from the forest. The bioactives will be sent to a partner cooperative that is already a Natura supplier for commercialization. In the second phase, with the support of Natura and guidance from Peabiru Institute, the association will be trained and structured – both in technical capabilities and processes – to supply bioactives directly to the market. When the commercial cooperative is fully trained and organized, it is estimated that up to 150 local families could benefit from Project Ybá’s sustainable commerce.

“Our Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) goals are the priority for our operations in Latin America,” says Flavia Venturoli, business commercial director for Dow Consumer Solutions in Latin America. “It is part of Dow’s purpose to invest in sustainable innovation in collaboration with our customers, partners and the community where we operate. Project Ybá demonstrates our philosophy in action.”

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth; asset integration and scale; focused innovation and materials science expertise; leading business positions; and environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership to achieve profitable growth and deliver a sustainable future. The Company’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Dow operates 104 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $55 billion in 2021. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.

About Natura

Established in 1969, Natura is a Brazilian multinational in the cosmetics and personal care segment. It has more than 2 million consultants in Latin America, being a leader in the direct selling sector in Brazil. It is part of Natura & Co, the result of the combination of the brands Avon, Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop. Natura was the first publicly-traded company in the world to receive a B Corp certification in December 2014, underscoring its transparent and sustainable social, environmental and economic performance. It is also the first Brazilian company to be awarded the “Leaping Bunny” certification, granted by the animal protection organization Cruelty Free International, which certifies a company’s commitment to not test its products or ingredients on animals. It has operations in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the US, France, Mexico, Peru and Malaysia. Products bearing the Natura brand can be purchased from Natura Beauty Consultants, through Natura’s e-commerce, the Natura App or in stores in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, New York, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Kuala Lumpur. For more information about the company, visit www.natura.com.br and its profiles on the following social networks: LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

About Peabiru Institute

The Peabiru Institute is a Pará Public Interest Civil Society Organization (OSCIP) from Pará, founded in 1998, whose mission is to promote the role of social groups in the Amazon to promote full access to their fundamental rights. Headquartered in Belém, it operates nationwide, especially in the Amazon biome, with an emphasis on Marajó, Northeast Paraense and the Metropolitan Region of Belém (PA). It operates in several stages of biodiversity value chains, such as stingless honey and açaí, and in supporting family farming for participatory territorial development.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries and territories: 38 by direct conservation impact and 34 through partners, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org 
 


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