It’s easy for companies to claim they care about issues like sustainability and social equality. At Açaí Roots, these important matters rest at the heart of everything we do. Our triple bottom line philosophy is rooted in our passion to protect the Amazon and the people who live there.
It’s common knowledge that the Amazon is one of the most bio-diverse locations on the planet. The Amazon creates more than 20% of the earth’s oxygen and is home to roughly 10% of all plant and animal species known to earth—including 40,000 species of plants, 400+ mammals, 1300 bird species, and millions of insects. But what many don’t realize is the major role the Amazon plays in the battle against climate change. Research indicates that widespread removal of trees has contributed to a rise in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, consequently increasing the potential impact of climate change.
Deforestation is an issue we take very seriously at Açaí Roots. Studies show that in the last 40 years, the Brazilian Amazon has lost more than 18% of its rainforest—an area roughly the size of the state of California—to illegal logging, soy plantations, and cattle ranching. The Amazon’s resources are currently being extracted at an unsustainable rate, and we hope to bring awareness to this sobering reality. Absolutely no plants are destroyed when we harvest açaí berries.
About 30 million people currently live in the Amazon, with 1.6 million of those being indigenous. We buy our açaí from co-ops of the best regions in Brazil—and while this increases our costs, it guarantees that anyone involved in the harvesting of our açaí berries is fully compensated.
Sadly, a lot of workers in the Amazon are forced to work in cruel conditions with little or no pay. We take illegal labor and human exploitation very seriously.
In 2011, we partnered with sandal manufacturer Reef to help them make a sandal with açaí seeds on it. We donated 100% of the profits raised from this project to Rhythm of Hope, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of people in marginalized communities in Brazil. The project raised massive wareness about the importance of sustainability in the Amazon—and it benefited the local farmers and families who make a living by harvesting açaí berries, while also protecting their homeland.
Beyond the Amazon, we also work with several charity organizations in the states that align with our values to protect and cherish human life. One of our major partners is an organization called Save the Children. A portion of our monthly profits goes to Save the Children, which provides underprivileged kids with necessities for a healthy and successful start to their life. Our initiative with Save the Children focuses on the importance of nutrition in early childhood and adolescent development, as well as encouraging education and general health. We want to live in a world where every child on earth is free from exploitation and given the best opportunity to have a life filled with health, happiness, and love.
Here at Açaí Roots, we approach each day with a sense of gratitude and commitment to helping others cultivate a healthier and more rewarding lifestyle. We are thankful to Mother Nature for creating such a delicious and nutritious berry, and we devote our life to providing you and your entire family premium quality açaí. Açaí is good for you, for the people of the Amazon, and for the health of the planet.
We promise to never forget our roots.