In the early 1980s, the term ‘sustainability’ began to gain international prominence. More precisely in 1983, the United Nations (UN) created the World Commission on Environment and Development to develop strategies that enable sustainable development around the world.
Since then, several global initiatives with this focus have emerged over the years, such as ECO-92 (1992), the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015), among others. However, there is still much to be done so that the concept of sustainability is actually understood and applied in the daily lives of people and companies in general.
Next, you will find more information about the pillars, types and examples of sustainability, as well as know some Brazilian companies that are already references on the subject.
Definition
The concept of sustainability, as we used today, was introduced by the Brundtland report, published in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development of the UN, during an event promoted by the organization.
According to the document, ‘sustainable development is one that satisfies the present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’
In other words, the proposed challenge is to find a balance between current needs to live in society and the use of the planet’s natural resources, so that next generations do not face scarcity or inadequate life conditions.
Continues after advertising
For this to be achieved, according to the UN, it is essential to meet the basic needs of people, such as food, health, housing and education. This is the objective of the various conferences that the entity promotes over the years on the subject.
Sustainability tripod
There are three main pillars on which sustainability is based: environmental, social and economic. These pillars represent the three spheres that must interact harmoniously so that sustainable development is achieved.
Environmental
In the environmental sphere, the objective is the preservation of the environment. The main concern here is the way society uses the planet’s natural resources.
Social
In the social sphere, the population’s living conditions in relation to basic survival resources, developmental opportunities and the elaboration of social policies are evaluated, among other aspects. In addition, we seek to stimulate people’s participation in actions aimed at the theme.
Economic
Finally, in the economic sphere, it is essential to consider the social and environmental aspects to develop a sustainable economic model. This means creating a format that balances the use of natural resources and meeting the needs of the population without compromising economic development.
Sustainability Examples
There are numerous ways to promote sustainability in all spheres, which include individual, collective and global actions.
Continues after advertising
See some examples:
| Individual actions | Collective actions | Global actions |
| – Separate the garbage for selective collection; – Reuse and recycle materials whenever possible; – Control water and light consumption; – Give preference for travel on foot, whenever possible; – When consuming, give preference to local producers and brands committed to sustainability. |
– Make collective gardens; – Use public transport or rides; – Take care of the reforestation of community places (take care of a square or park, for example); – When building schools, malls or other public places, enjoy sunlight well. |
– incentive to; – Preservation of the biodiversity of ecosystems; – Food security policies; – Creation and development of preservation areas; – Development of sustainable agricultural practices. |
Sustainability in companies
Free spreadsheets, courses and ebooks
Access the best of the largest vehicle of economics, investments and businesses in Brazil.
Access now
In Brazil, there are several companies that stand out for sustainability practices. See some examples:
Klabin
In addition to being the largest exporter of national roles and packaging, Klabin is also a world reference in sustainable development.
Historically, the company has a strong commitment to the environment, which already starts in forest management. About 40% of its forests are intended for the conservation of native vegetation and biodiversity.
The company also constantly invests in technology and improves its processes to minimize the environmental impact of its production.
Continues after advertising
Nature
Since its foundation in 1969, Natura has always associated its image a. However, by 2020, the company decided to strengthen its engagement by launching ‘Vision 2030’, a project that addresses various aspects related to sustainability.
The details of actions can be found on the Natura’s own website. Among the points contemplated by the project are the reduction of greenhouse gases, the increase in biodegradable production, the expansion of purchases of inputs in the Amazon region and the intensification of a series of affirmative policies that are already in place in the company.
Boticário Group
In 1990, the Boticário group created a foundation dedicated to environmental preservation. Subsequently, it launched actions aimed at sustainability, one of the best known the ‘Boti Recicla’ project, which aims at recycling waste in some of its stores.
Some products from the company are sold in Refis, and there is also a vegan line that covers about 500 items.
Banco do Brasil
In January 2025, Banco do Brasil (BB) was elected, for the sixth consecutive year, the world’s most sustainable bank for the Global 100 ranking of Canadian Corporate Knights Research.
Continues after advertising
According to the company, the bank’s highlight was the sustainable business portfolio, which finances projects aimed at social and environmental return. On the date of the award, the balance of this portfolio was R $ 370 billion, representing 30% of BB’s total credit. The bank’s goal is to reach $ 500 billion in this type of financing by 2030.
Raízen
Another Brazilian company that has become a global reference in sustainable development is Raízen, especially in the areas of Bioenergy and Energy Transition.
One of the company’s actions is the Reduza program, which started in 2015, with the objective of reuse water in the production process. With this measure, Raízen was able to save two billion liters of water, equivalent to 870 Olympic pools, in the sugarcane crop 2023/2024.
Renner Stores
In 2008, Renner created a specific committee to discuss sustainability issues in its operations. In the same year, he founded the Renner Lojas Institute, an entity that brings together all the initiatives of the group focused on the theme.
Since then, several actions have been implemented in search of sustainable development. In 2011, the Reverse Logistics Program Ecoestilo began, and two years later, the area of sustainability in the company was created, which propelled the initiatives in the following years.
Continues after advertising
In an interview with That money From October 2024, Renner CEO Fabio Faccio stressed the importance of being a reference in responsible fashion, considering that the sector is the second most polluting in the world. Among the main practices adopted by the company are the reduction of CO2 emissions, the increase in sustainable clothing production and the promotion of diversity in leadership positions.
