We went behind the scenes and into the Amazon rainforest to see the inner workings of Natura, Brazil’s largest beauty brand, which is widely distributed in the United States.
Provided by Natura
From the Amazon rainforest…
I’ve never been more grateful for skin care products than when I looked up 40 feet in the air and watched a man carefully snip an acai branch, knowing that it would be incorporated into the formula after a long journey. There is no such thing. “It all starts with identifying raw materials in Amazon,” says Maria Eduarda Vasconcelos de Sa Cavalcanti, head of new business and open innovation at Natura. “We start by mapping potential species in the area, researching traditional heritage information and understanding the natural properties of the raw materials.”
Once the benefits of the ingredients are confirmed, the brand works with local small-scale producers and agro-extractive communities to jointly develop production chains and best practices to sustainably harvest and collect these ingredients. I will. “These communities are the real protagonists of this process, and everything is done with respect for natural time and local culture,” Vasconcelos explains. Natura supports these communities through equipment, field courses, and workshops. After the various fruits such as tucuman, maracuja, andiroba, and castaña are harvested, they are sent to local community organizations to be processed into the butters and oils that our skins love.
Provided by Natura
To the laboratory…
Before these naturally derived ingredients are incorporated into our products and finally launched, they are analyzed in Natura’s state-of-the-art laboratory to identify their benefits for skin and hair. “We turn these raw materials into finished cosmetics through high quality standards and sustainability,” says Vasconcelos. Raw butter and oils are sent to the Natura factory where they are formed into final products.
Provided by Natura
and in your hands
After making their way to the United States via Brazil, these precious Amazonian fruits bathe in our showers, nourishing our hair and bodies as deeply connected to the earth. The products are then “in the hands of consumers, who can reap the benefits of sustainably sourced, high-quality cosmetics,” says Vasconcelos.
Provided by Natura
influence
“Natura has had a major impact on the Amazon rainforest for more than 20 years,” Vasconcelos says. “Since launching the Ecos brand in 2000, we have built strong relationships with local communities, focusing on sustainable economic models that benefit everyone involved. , where standing trees have greater economic value than felled trees. Our sustainable practices cover 5.4 million acres, an area larger than the state of Alaska. contributed to the protection of forests.”
Natura partners with 44 communities across the Pan-Amazon region, positively impacting more than 10,000 families and 40,700 people. “These communities have lived in the Amazon for generations and are the true guardians of the forest. They have valuable knowledge and a deep connection to the land,” Vasconcelos said. Masu. During my visit, I mainly met women who were able to achieve financial freedom, buy their first home, and send their children to school. I could feel the pride in their work as they invited me into their home to explain the process.
