An Alliance for the Amazon: Joining Together To Fight for Change

An Ecosystem in Need

The Amazon rainforest is one of the greatest natural wonders on this planet. It plays a vital role in regulating our global climate through absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into our atmosphere. Millions of native species and indigenous peoples call the Amazon their home and right now, their home is under threat. As a result of illegal deforestation, logging, mining and ranching, the Amazon is experiencing a huge surge in wildfires this year (many intentionally started). ⁠Billions of trees are cut down each year to the benefit of agribusiness and large corporations, with little concern for the impact on communities, species and the climate. We must work to end this.

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[caption="LULA SAMPAIO/AFP/Getty Images, August 2019", image="left"]

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It’s important, now more than ever, that we fight to end deforestation and protect our forests so they can continue to regulate our climate for generations to come. Planting new trees is one way we can help. Every year Alter Eco directly partners with PUR Projet to plant trees with farmers in the Peruvian Amazon who grow our cacao to offset our company’s full carbon footprint. As important as this is for the overall health of our planet’s delicate ecosystems, a primary rainforest is impossible to replace.

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An Alliance of Like-Minded Brands

That's why we're taking our conservation efforts another step further. Alter Eco is committing to protect one tree with EVERY product we sell for the entire month of September. That’s every chocolate bar, truffle box and coconut cluster. And we’re not alone. We’re joined by our friends at Thrive Market, Grove Collaborative, Gaia Herbs, the Town Kitchen, Bread SRSLY and All Good in these immediate conservation efforts. The goal of this alliance of brands is to protect over 4.5 million trees and 3,700 acres through this campaign.

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[caption="Our combined impact", image="right"]

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Together, we’re beginning a project to protect and restore trees within an ecosystem that is vital to the Amazon region: the Biocorredor Martin Sagrado primary rainforest in Peru. This project will protect the trees from illegal logging and gold mining – a practice called ‘avoided deforestation.’ Our forests need protection, now more than ever, so they can continue to support our global climate the way they always have.

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While this is just a small part of the world’s largest rainforest, we hope this inspires other businesses to think of ways they can have an impact as well. Business CAN be used as a force for good, and we encourage YOU to vote with your dollar by supporting companies fighting to protect our natural resources.

Strength in Numbers

While we’re only a few brands, we believe that there is more power in numbers. Through working together, we hope to raise awareness around this important message and reach a larger community of like-minded activists. We encourage everyone to help advocate for change by using their purchasing power to invest in companies with transparent, ethical supply chains and pressure companies who are knowingly contributing to deforestation to invest in rainforest-friendly policies. It’s true that each of us is just one small brand, but through collective action YOU can help us amplify our impact. Together we can preserve our forests, slow the pace of climate change, protect the homes of millions of people and save wildlife from extinction. Will you join us?

How you can join the fight

There are many small, but effective ways you can join the movement to preserve the Amazon.

1. Donate directly to an organization working on the frontline to support indigenous communities fighting to protect their land, such as Amazon Watch, Rainforest Trust, Earth Alliance or Rainforest Action Network.
2. Sign the Petition to stop the deforestation and exploitation of the Amazon.
3. Plant a tree in the Amazon through our partners at Pur Projet.
4. Put the pressure on your local elected officials. Let them know you want responsible climate action NOW.
5. Vote with your dollar and support companies with responsible, transparent supply chains. Avoid companies that are knowingly complicit in rainforest destruction. Ingredients like palm oil and soy are directly linked to rainforest destruction (reminder that many chocolate products use unnecessary non sustainable palm oil and soy lecithin). Make sure to avoid products sourced from Brazil, like beef and paper products. When buying wood products, look for a "Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)” seal to ensure it was sourced in a forest-friendly way.
6. Keep talking about this! It’s crucial that we don’t let this become yesterday’s news story. Stay informed and continue to educate others about what is happening. Unfortunately, there is a lot of disinformation circulating and corporate interest groups wish to downplay the severity of the problem. The more we can continue to speak about this tragedy, the better chance we have of ending this threat.