Take advantage of Black Friday to meet sustainable companies and realize a conscious consumption

We are just a few weeks away from one of the most intense periods of consumption of the year: the Black Friday. The date, created in the United States, is always celebrated the day after Thanksgiving and aims at low prices in all sectors. Although many consumers take advantage of the period to make a planned purchase a long time ago, there are also many made on impulse, leading to unbridled consumerism. This attitude can be very bad for the pocket, the psychological, but also for the planet, especially when they are carried out with companies whose production is neither environmentally nor socially responsible and sustainable.

Contrary to this scenario, there are businesses that seek to reverse this logic and generate positive impacts from their activities, including helping to preserve biomes and support local traditional producers and communities in diverse and extremely relevant causes. “We believe that there is a need for a more conscious consumer all year round. The planet is finite, like our body, so we need to work on consuming more sustainable products that value this path of social and environmental commitment”, highlights Tainah Fagundes, counselor of the Association of Socio-Economy of the Amazon (WASTOBio), one of the main organizations that represents small and medium-sized entrepreneurs with the impact of the Brazilian Amazon.

Meet brands to maintain sustainable routine throughout the year

To incorporate conscious consumption into your daily life, the first step is to prioritize brands with socio-environmental commitment and that promote a positive impact, going beyond specific purchases. “Consuming is a political act. When we make the decision to buy from a company among so many options available, we are also helping to define what type of business should continue to exist. Therefore, more and more consumers are being concerned not only with what they buy, but about who they are buying”, highlights Daniel Cabrera, co-founder and executive director of Vivalá – Sustainable Tourism in Brazil, certified by System B with the highest score in the tourism sector in the country.

•  sustainable tourism

It is possible to be extremely conscious in your travels and experiences as well. By opting for a sustainable tourism trip, the traveler has the opportunity to immerse themselves in biomes, cultures and different and enhanced ways of life while contributing to the planet for the conservation of natural areas, carbon compensation, payment together with the network of suppliers involved, among many other actions . Vivalá is a reference in the sector, being a Carbon Zero company, certified by the B System and with 16 awards and recognitions from organizations such as the UN Environment, Ministry of Tourism and Embratur because of its positive socio-environmental approach. 

The expeditions take place within Brazilian conservation units, protected natural areas, contributing to the preservation of the biomes of the Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest and Pantanal, in partnership with traditional indigenous, riverside, caiçaras, quilombolas and sertanejas communities. At the same time, their cultures and ancestral knowledge are preserved and the opportunity for employment and income is generated when working with family inns, restaurants in the region, local guides, among others.  

Brazil has the greatest biodiversity in the world, an absolutely unique culture and a very large need for social development. During the realization of a Vivalá script, travelers are placed ahead of cultural differences, such as: changing the language, the way of dressing, the cooking, the practices and the dances. 

Throughout the month of November, Vivalá promotes the orange november, with discount coupons that reach R$ 1,280.

• Sustainable absorbent panties

A survey by the Akatu Institute revealed that a person who menstruates can spend up to 15,000 disposable pads – composed of about 90% of plastic – during their lifetime, the vast majority of which will end up in landfills. To reverse this situation, Pantys is a brand that sells absorbent panties and reusable collectors. According to the brand, in four years using the products, it is possible to reduce the waste produced by 27.3 kg, per person. 

for the founder and CEO of pantys, Emily Ewell, The arrival of the gift season is a great opportunity to make sustainable choices. “In these commercial moments of the year, especially Black Friday and the arrival of Christmas, we have to think about consuming more conscious products and brands that generate a greater impact for people and the planet. In our case, even make a large reduction of waste generated. If we think about gifts, the products are amazing, both for sharing and for thinking that our choices are more sustainable”, he highlights.

 The panties and menstrual cups From Pantys are from R$ 59 and reusable absorbents are made of R$ 52 fabric, which can last about 100 washes.

• social t-shirts

Another company focused on sustainability and which can be a way of gifting or using products, is the king chico, which sells t-shirts and accessories with a socio-environmental impact. “At Chico Rei, we understand conscious purchase as a nice exchange between the parties involved, especially the team, the community and the environment. We dedicate full attention to policies that generate the least possible impact on the environment, such as the zero use of plastic in sending orders to our customers, the zero waste policy in our factories, suppliers with traceable and certified inputs, and the manufacture of vegan products”, explains Bruno Imbrizi, CEO of Chico Rei.

The brand has, in addition to the environmental impact, the social, as a large part of the production takes place within the prison system, in a men's penitentiary, where sewing crafts are taught and the detainees hired. “When in a semi-open regime, we hire these professionals to our factory, and in freedom, we complete a complete cycle of teaching and resocialization. In addition, we support several socio-environmental projects”, emphasizes Bruno. On the Chico Rei website there is a specific page to explain the movement.

every t-shirts, with Geeks, Cinema, Brazilian Prints, among others, are R$ 37.90 and the entire website is on sale.

• natural ingredients

In the area of food there are also social products that can be inserted in everyday life. it manioca It is a food brand that manufactures spices and ingredients for meals and has as a source of inspiration the culture and sociobiodiversity of the Amazon. “All our products are produced using a production chain of their sub-diversity and having the work with the most vulnerable populations, which are the only ones that traditionally and culturally maintain the cultivation of the ingredients we use in our work”, quotes Paulo dos Reis, managing partner of Manioca.

Paulo also highlights that where products are sold, either on the internet or in person, is not as important as the way they are produced and the impact they make on their chains. “ Our product can contribute to the preservation of a forest area, support vulnerable families in the Amazon and their traditional ways of life and impact on the preservation of the forest. So, supporting the Amazonian sociobiodiversity production chains also means supporting populations that, in turn, support the maintenance of the forest standing”. 

products between farofas, sauces and grains, cost from R$ 16.90. Tucupi, vegetable broth, is made from cassava, which is native to the Amazon and fermented – a technique that the indigenous people used.

Support Brazilian microentrepreneurs

In addition to the big brands with impact and that sell their items on the internet, there are micro-entrepreneurs who sell products, for the most part, handmade and made naturally. In the riverside community of Santo Antônio do Tiririca, in Acajatuba (AM), the micro-entrepreneur Sueula Andrade, founder of Scent of the forest, Performs the sale of natural cosmetics produced by herself. “With the sustainable tourism expeditions, sales are good, but I work with everyone who does tourism here at the place. I believe that those who buy my products participate in sustainability and make income spin in our region. Today I can give a better way of education for my children and also opportunities that I didn't have before”, he highlights.

In the same community, there is a sweets workshop made with natural fruits from the region, free of preservatives. “I sell the products I produce and handicrafts made by my family. The fair has existed for six years and came about through the mentorships of the Vivalá. When someone buys a product from Amazon sweet, will be helping the local economy of us riverside people and, automatically, contributing to my family and improving the space of the workshops”, says Alessandra Vaz Ferreira, an entrepreneur. 

Another initiative supported by the social business and that sells items that positively impact the environment is the Living Biojewels of Maguary, located in the Tapajós National Forest, Belterra municipality (PA). The micro-entrepreneur Darliane Pedroso says that she manages a handicraft workshop that takes place once a month. During the activity, it is explained how the seeds are collected and the preparation is carried out. At the end, participants can make their own biojewels. 

“We produce and sell bracelets, earrings, rings, necklaces, key chains and eyeglasses support. All are made with natural seeds produced with incinerated lines, rings, hooks and silicone lines. The workshop has been taking place for two years and we are a group of five women and three men. With sales, we can manage the purchases of more craft materials and also help to expand our little shop, in addition to supporting the income of homes”, describes the micro-entrepreneur. 

According to Tainah, a counselor at Assobio, purchasing a local production item directly benefits the region. “When you buy a jewel, you are not just carrying a necklace, a ring or an earring, you are directly contributing to the Amazon sub-economy, with extractive communities and with groups of women or other producers. Within such a consumerist date, acquiring more conscious and sustainable products, reinforces and takes us on a path with more purpose”.