The Natura cosmetics brand has been announced as the first commercial collaborator for Dow’s Project Ybá initiative in the Breu Branco area of the Amazon
The Natura cosmetics brand, which is part of Brazil’s Natura & Co., the fourth largest personal care company in the world, has been announced as the first commercial collaborator for Dow’s Project Ybá initiative in the Breu Branco area of the Amazon region. Dow launched this in May, with the Peabiru Institute, a local civil society body, and The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organisation.
Project Ybá’s stated aim is to develop a local cooperative with guidance from the Peabiru Institute, which will sell the bioactive products from seeds and fruit in Dow’s preserved areas of the Amazon rainforest. This should increase incomes in the community, while also conserving the rainforest. It is expected to be up and running in 2022, supporting up to 150 local families.
Natura will support the development of the local cooperative, structure the processes and technical capabilities needed to provide bioactives to the market and contribute its expertise in the technical evaluation of bioactives. The cooperative will sell seeds to Natura. Andiroba and Ucuuba seeds have already been identified as of interest to it
Natura currently uses 38 bio-ingredients, including oils, butters, essential oils, extracts and derivatives, from the Amazonian rainforest in the formulation of items for skin care, hair care and perfume. It has been active in the area for 20 years and claims to have contributed to the conservation of two million hectares of standing forest.
