Surrounded by the waters of the Amazon River and accessible only by boat, the community of Ilha das Cinzas in the Marajó archipelago, Pará, now has a pioneering sustainable electricity generation initiative. A partnership between Natura, WEG, and the Association of Agro-Extractive Workers of Ilha das Cinzas (ATAIC) has launched an agro-industry powered by a photovoltaic system with battery energy storage, significantly reducing dependence on diesel generators and directly benefiting 470 agro-extractive families. Besides being more sustainable, the operation enables the Association to sell oils and butters instead of seeds and nuts, adding value to the community and increasing income by about 60%. This is the first time such a system is being used in an agro-industry in the Amazon floodplain, an area that is periodically flooded by rivers.

Angela Pinhati, Natura's Sustainability Director, emphasizes that the initiative aligns directly with the company's environmental commitments and its 25-year track record in the Amazon. It also serves as a practical demonstration of bioeconomy's potential as a climate change mitigation strategy, aligning with the discussions planned for COP30, to be held in Belém, Pará.

"The launch of this solar-powered agro-industry brings our strategy to life: driving low-impact businesses aligned with our net-zero carbon goals by 2030 and transforming all Natura operations into regenerative ones by 2050. It’s also a way to strengthen our sustainable industrialization plan for the Amazon and highlight the role of traditional communities in forest preservation”, says Angela.

The technology used consists of an off-grid photovoltaic system, with solar panels installed on the production unit to generate electricity. Surplus energy will be stored in batteries (BESS – Battery Energy Storage System), ensuring electricity availability even at night or on cloudy days. The BESS system allows continuous use of stored energy, drastically reducing reliance on diesel generators, which will now serve only as emergency backup.

“The implementation of this photovoltaic system in Ilha das Cinzas reaffirms our commitment to sustainability. With this project, WEG demonstrates how our solutions contribute to the energy transition, providing a replicable model for other Amazon regions and remote communities. Adding value and promoting the development of the local community makes this work even more meaningful to us”, says Daniel Marteleto Godinho, WEG’s Director of Sustainability and Institutional Relations.

A Unique Partnership

The unprecedented partnership between Natura and WEG highlights the importance of major Brazilian companies working together to promote businesses that strengthen the country’s socio-bioeconomy. Natura institutionally supported the agro-industry's development, facilitating partnerships and providing technical and operational support. WEG provided the photovoltaic system with energy storage, while infrastructure installation was carried out in collaboration with WEG’s partner, W-Energy, responsible for technical execution.

Technical training for local residents to operate the system was provided by Natura and WEG teams, giving the agro-industry autonomy and encouraging generational succession through youth engagement in agro-extractive activities.

For ATAIC, which has partnered with Natura for nine years by supplying raw materials such as murumuru, ucuuba, and patauá, the system installation strengthens a path already marked by sustainable technology adoption in key areas such as water treatment, waste management, and biogas generation. As a result, the association has significantly improved local infrastructure, enabling greater added value for sociobiodiversity products. “The complex functions as a social technology lab. It also directly empowers women in the community, increasing their role in productive activities and income generation. With this initiative, ATAIC reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development, strengthening traditional communities, and preserving the standing forest”, says Francisco Malheiros, ATAIC’s President.

With the new energy structure, ATAIC is expected to boost productivity sustainably, providing better economic and social conditions for local families and serving as a model for similar initiatives in the Amazon and beyond.

About Natura

Founded in 1969, Natura is a Brazilian multinational in hygiene and cosmetics. With 3.5 million Consultants across Latin America, it leads the direct sales sector in Brazil. In December 2014, it became the world’s first publicly traded company to receive B Corp certification, reinforcing its transparent and sustainable practices across social, environmental, and economic dimensions. Natura was also the first Brazilian company to earn the "Leaping Bunny" seal from Cruelty Free International in 2018, certifying its commitment to cruelty-free products and ingredients. Operating in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the United States, France, Mexico, Peru, and Malaysia, Natura products can be purchased through consultants, the e-commerce platform, the Natura app, its own stores, or franchise shops under “Aqui tem Natura”. For more information, visit www.natura.com.br or follow the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

About ATAIC

The Association of Agro-Extractive Workers of Ilha das Cinzas (ATAIC) is a community-based organization located on Ilha das Cinzas, a rural area in the municipality of Gurupá, in the Marajó region of Pará. Its enterprises are community-based, showcasing the replicability of this model across the Amazon and contributing to the development of a new economy rooted in the living forest. Over its 25-year history, the association has strengthened its organizational management, promoted gender equity, and structured value chains in sociobiodiversity by supplying Amazonian oilseeds such as patauá, murumuru, and ucuuba.