Ambipar is awarded for the ‘Sustainable Biocapsules’ reforestation project

Ambipar, a pioneering Brazilian multinational in environmental management solutions, has just received yet another award for its reforestation project ‘Sustainable Biocapsules – Transforming Waste into Trees’.

It was based on demand from the pharmaceutical and cellulose sectors that Ambipar worked with collagen, which was discarded in landfills; gathered the composted biomass from the cellulose industries and developed capsules filled with seeds of native plants to launch them remotely, with the help of drones, in areas of difficult access.

The capsules protect the seeds against sun and insects; are quickly dissolved in contact with water and form nutrients and biological organisms that activate the seed, functioning as a “3 in 1”, causing a greater probability of germination, mainly in degraded soils, where there has been deforestation, burning, erosion or other action anthropic degenerative.

In the Amazon Biome, for example, seeds are collected by cooperatives of traditional peoples, thus fostering the economy of native peoples. To add to the cycle and enhance results, the biocapsules also receive Ecosolo®, which is a soil conditioner created and registered at the Ministry of Agriculture (Mapa) by Ambipar, capable of improving water retention in the earth, fostering development micro-organisms and to increase the productivity of plants, such as soy, corn and vegetables, encouraging regenerative agriculture.

Feasibility tests were carried out in strategic areas, such as degraded riparian forests around Serra da Cantareira, in Greater São Paulo. In all, there were about two years of tests, and today Ambipar has equipment for the production of the technology in series, of almost 30 thousand biocapsules per 8-hour shift, with autonomous drones, which can carry up to 20 thousand biocapsules per flight, which is equivalent to 1 hectare.

Environmental engineer, specialist in Innovation and director of Research, Development and Innovation at Ambipar Group, Gabriel Estevam Domingos, worked with the team throughout the development of the project and evaluates: “With Sustainable Biocapsules, we have already launched more than 1 .2 million seeds, with at least 60% productivity, according to monitoring of tree seedlings done with the drone itself, in addition to high-resolution images and temperature readings. Thus, we contemplate the three principles of the circular economy of processes, products and businesses: with Biocapsules and Ecosolo, we eliminate waste from the beginning, keep products and materials in use at their highest value and, of course, we collaborate with the regeneration of systems natural”, he summarizes.

Pioneering spirit

Sustainable Biocapsules attract the attention of ESG, Innovation, Technology and Agro professionals, among other sectors. On May 6th, in Düsseldorf, Germany, Gabriel Estevam represented Ambipar when he received the World Stars award, which recognized the Biocapsules project. The award aims to raise awareness of the importance of packaging for a better life, in addition to recognizing innovation, design, sustainability and technology in products. There were almost 500 entries from over 40 countries, which makes the achievement even more relevant.

In Miami, on April 24, Ambipar received the Green World Awards in the Sustainability categories and also in the main category, named Champions of all Champions, with the Biocapsules project. “The award, launched in 1994, is one of the most prestigious recognition campaigns in the world, and this was the first time that a Brazilian company emerged victorious. Each year, following the rite, the Green World Awards are held in a major city in the country of the most recent winner, as it was in London and Dubai. Now, the responsibility of hosting the award in 2024 is ours, it belongs to Brazil”, explains the head of Innovation, Gabriel Estevam.