It’s easy for companies to claim they care about issues like sustainability and social equality. At Acai Roots, it’s 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, is home to roughly 10 percent of all plant and animal species known to earth with 40,000 species of plants, 400+ mammals, 1300 bird species, and millions of insects. But what many don’t know is the major role the Amazon plays in the battle with climate change. Researches say widespread removal of trees has contributed to a rise in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, increasing the potential impact of climate change.
DeforestationGiving Back
Deforestation is an issue we take very seriously at Acai 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 Amazons’ resources are currently being extracted at an unsustainable rate and we hope to bring awareness to this very serious issue. Absolutely no plants are destroyed when we harvest acai berries.
Giving Back
About 30 million people currently live in the Amazon with 1.6 million of those being indigenous. We buy our acai from co-ops of the best regions in Brazil. While this increases our costs, this guarantees that anyone involved in the harvesting of our acai berries are 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 acai seeds on them. 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 awareness about the importance of sustainability in the Amazon, and benefited the local farmers and families who make a living harvesting acai berries while also protecting their homeland.
Beyond the Amazon we also work with several charity organizations in the states that align with our values on protecting and cherishing human life. One of our major partners is an organization called Save the Children. A portion of our monthly profits go 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, education, and general health. We want to live in a world where every child on earth is free from exploitation and to give them the best opportunity to have a life filled with health, happiness, and love.
We approach every day with a sense of gratitude and commitment to helping others create a healthier and more rewarding lifestyle. We are thankful to mother nature for creating such a delicious and healthy berry, and devote our life to provide you and your entire family premium quality acai. Acai is good for you, the people of the Amazon, and the health of the planet.
We promise to never forget our roots.