Today on our Brazil adventure, we journeyed to the beautiful headquarters of one of the highest-grossing companies in the country: Natura! Natura is a brand that sells cosmetics, fragrances, soaps, and other self-care products, all with an emphasis on sustainability and ethical business practices.
Now, as for first impressions – mine was that this headquarters was something straight out of the Hunger Games. It is absolutely beautifully built, with the aesthetically pleasing tall structures made of glass and cement. The bridge connecting two towers that stretched above the walkway, complete with its own koi fish-stocked river running alongside it, really sold the futuristic Capitol vibe. There were “secret passages” into rooms full of mirrors and mesmerizing lights, opulent tables full of fragrances and oils and their scented objects of origin, and a shop showcasing the large selection of products the company had to offer. Unfortunately, most businesses flash their money this way on architecture and the appearance of grandeur, while behind the scenes their business practices are underhanded and perpetuate socio-economic and climate issues. As I was to discover throughout the rest of the visit, however, this is not the case with Natura!
One of the ways Natura practices sustainability is through the intentional usage of Brazil’s natural resources in their products. In the fragrances most evidently, there is always some sort of plant or naturally occurring substance that is relied upon for the scent. There is even a certain soothing nighttime lotion Natura has that uses passionfruit, and that fruit is picked at 3 AM due to its fragrance and calming qualities being at their peak! This is a great example of intelligence and wealth being used together for good to fund these facilities.
Natura also puts its technology to good use in terms of testing cosmetics and fragrances. There is no testing done on animals – they actually use this machine on the right to create a very thin and delicate skin for product testing. It is much more delicate than human skin is, so if the products being tested do not irritate this synthetic skin, it will be great for any human to enjoy using!
The most beautiful showcase of sustainability and mindfulness about keeping the world clean in my opinion was an art piece in a grassy area of the headquarters. Hundreds of recycled fragrances bottles were arranged to look like a fetus in utero from above, and you can walk through them as well on a spiral path! This just reinforces Natura’s goal of utilizing the natural beauty present in the world around us to enhance the beauty of those living in it, as well as preserving the lovely world we have the privilege to dwell in. This was an incredible visit, and it was such an encouragement to see a business that is putting its customers first in every sense be so clearly successful!
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