Industries Invest in Sustainability at the COP30 Host City
- Maria Luiza Martins
- Sep 19
- 4 min read
Responsible for 31.8% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and directly employing 234,000 people, Pará’s industry stands out as one of the most powerful economic engines in the North region of Brazil. But faced with a global scenario that increasingly demands social and environmental responsibility, the sector has sought to transform its economic weight into concrete solutions for sustainable development.
COP30 emerges as a catalyst for this movement. Along with it come programs and policies such as the COP+ Journey, organized by the Federation of Industries of the State of Pará (FIEPA) and the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), and the New Industry Brazil (NIB), the federal government’s industrial policy launched in January 2024. Both share the goal of placing sustainability and innovation at the heart of decisions and investments.
The NIB provides for R$300 billion in financing through the More Production Plan by 2026 and has ambitious targets: a 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions per value added to industrial GDP and a 1% annual increase in the sustainable use of biodiversity by 2033. The idea is to make national industry—and, in the Amazon’s case, Pará’s industry—a driver of social and environmental development, enhancing local resources, creating skilled jobs, and strengthening the bioeconomy.
“Pará’s industry generates a great deal of wealth, but we still need to transform that extractive wealth into a real improvement in the quality of life of the people of Pará. COP30 is an opportunity to overcome bottlenecks and attract new businesses, adding value and ensuring that the wealth generated here remains in the state,” says Alex Carvalho, president of FIEPA.
Initiatives That Inspire
If COP30 is the time to showcase results, some companies already have solid practices aligned with the climate and sustainable development agenda. Different yet strategic sectors are emerging as examples of initiatives that inspire change and respect the social and environmental diversity of the Amazon region.
One such example is Fundo Vale, the strategic arm of Vale that has directed investments toward the recovery of degraded areas, forest protection, strengthening public policies, and encouraging sustainable businesses in the Amazon.
In 2024 alone, 240 enterprises were supported across Brazil, 104 of them in Pará, benefiting 18,000 people in more than 13 value chains. Priority products include cocoa, açaí, pirarucu fish, Brazil nuts, babassu, and vegetable oils.
Since 2019, Vale has maintained six sustainability targets aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda, including the Forest Goal of restoring 100,000 hectares and protecting another 400,000 hectares by 2030. Half of this has already been achieved, with 200,000 hectares protected and 18,443 hectares of forest restored between 2020 and 2024.
“Promoting the bioeconomy and entrepreneurship means investing in the Amazon’s future. We want to connect science and traditional knowledge to generate a positive impact,” says Patrícia Daros, Vale’s Director of Nature-Based Solutions.
Decarbonization in the Aluminum Chain
Operating in Barcarena, Norsk Hydro Brazil has been investing in emissions reduction and energy transition. Since 2022, it has participated in a R$12.6 billion program focused on sustainability across Brazil’s entire aluminum chain, with R$2.16 billion allocated specifically to decarbonization technologies.
Among the projects are the conversion of boilers and calciners to natural gas, with R$1.3 billion invested, and the implementation of electric boilers powered by renewable energy, which has already received R$360 million. The company is also contributing to R$11 billion in investments in clean energy generation for its bauxite, alumina, and primary aluminum operations.
“We are focused on reducing emissions and increasing the share of clean energy in our operations, connecting innovation, efficiency, and environmental commitment,” says Anderson Baranov, CEO of Norsk Hydro Brazil.
Sustainability in Açaí Production
Oakberry has established itself as a reference in social and environmental sustainability within Pará’s açaí production chain. The company goes beyond traditional certifications such as Organic and Fair for Life, developing policies to address critical Amazon challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and social vulnerabilities.
The work is carried out in direct partnership with producers, cooperatives, and riverside communities in the Lower Tocantins and Marajó regions. Through registration, monitoring, and training, the company ensures traceability, sustainable management, and the appreciation of traditional knowledge, strengthening the local economy.
In just two years, the initiative has already benefited more than 700 producers organized into 13 cooperatives, positively impacting around 5,000 people. Results include 3,500 hectares of native açaí groves under sustainable management, over 200 people trained, and tons of certified açaí purchased at fair prices from suppliers.
Beyond the environmental dimension, Oakberry combats child labor and slave-like labor through partnerships with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Ministry of Labor, and social organizations. The strategy combines science, management, and tradition, reflected in the company’s motto: producing with respect is protecting the territory.
“More than simply working with açaí, Oakberry works with the people who manage and depend on the forest. Understanding this dynamic and contributing to the region’s social and environmental development is essential to strengthening local collectives, such as cooperatives and associations, and to ensuring sustainable, high-quality açaí, purchased fairly with benefits shared throughout the entire production chain,” highlights Juliana Oler, Oakberry’s Sustainability Manager.
