Companies Need to Put the Concept of Sustainability into Practice
*Thaís Hiramoto
With the consequences of global warming increasingly present in our daily lives, climate issues have ceased to be related solely to the environment and have become a major challenge in the realms of politics and the global economy – as well as, of course, involving society as a whole. Aware of this and seeking to keep the increase in the average global temperature below 2°C, nearly 200 countries signed the Paris Agreement in December 2015.
Among the signatories is Brazil, the seventh largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) on the planet, which has set a target to reduce its emissions by 37% by 2025. According to the survey “System of Estimates of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals (SEEG),” conducted by the Climate Observatory (OC), the Land Use and Forestry sector – represented mainly by wildfires and deforestation of biomes such as the Amazon and the Cerrado – accounts for 51% of GHG emissions in our country.
Now, the question remains: how can companies contribute to reversing this scenario? The answer is clear: it is essential that they put the concept of sustainability into practice. In other words, in a transversal manner, they need to make this issue a routine part of their business; engage employees, customers, and suppliers; align all internal processes, from raw materials through production and transportation to disposal – so that the impact is as minimal as possible; invest in technology and training; and finally, include the measurement of social and environmental results in their planning.
Beyond these internal measures, it is also important that the private sector establish partnerships with NGOs and institutes that can bring together different areas of expertise. Another valuable step is to seek certifications from competent entities capable of reliably attesting to the impacts of sustainability-related policies and actions, which are also very useful as management tools since they can systematize organizational processes.
All these aspects can be applied in companies across any sector. Now, I will address the food industry specifically, since the current food production model commonly practiced in Brazil also has negative consequences for biodiversity and the climate. In addition to deforestation, often deemed necessary for the sector’s growth, agricultural inputs applied improperly harm ecosystems, human health, and often compromise already scarce water resources.
To combat this reality, companies in the food industry need to encourage more efficient and organic production systems, fully utilize certain fruits—from pulp to seeds (which generate ingredients rich in flavor and nutrients), promote entrepreneurship in rural communities, and support systems that use forest products sustainably or even promote reforestation. In this way, it is possible to generate wealth in multiple dimensions and connect global needs with consumer demand.
* Thaís Hiramoto is a sustainability specialist at Concepta Ingredients, a Business Unit of the Sabará Group dedicated to developing natural and technological solutions focused on the food, beverage, animal nutrition, and veterinary pharmaceutical industries.
