Altering Traditions | Ceramica Calvacante

Cerâmica Calvacante makes the switch to a sustainable business model

Cavalcante employee

For 27 years, Ceramica Calvacante - a small business producing ceramic tiles and bricks in Para, Brazil – had the tradition of sourcing native wood from the Amazon to generate fuel in its production process. Not only were the Ceramic’s operations contributing heavily to the already rapid deforestation rate of one of the world’s most renowned and endangered ecosystems, but the choice was also proving to be economically and environmentally unsustainable.

However, in 2004, the Ceramic changed its traditions and implemented an emission reduction project in partnership with Sustainable Carbon. Just a few short years later, the project would start to generate an environmental commodity called carbon credits, allowing the Ceramic to minimize it`s negative impact on the environment and invest in socially sustainable business and community initiatives.

Açaí berries

The project originally constituted replacing the use of native wood from the Amazon, with more sustainable and environmentally-friendly inputs. Having abundant access to three types of commonly used renewable biomass in Brazil, Calvacante incorporated pits from açai berries – a Brazilian fruit commonly used in desserts and natural juices- dendê fibre and sawdust from industrial wood residues, to generate fuel in its production process.

Dendee fiber

Dendê fibre, derived from an African specie that is cultivated in tropical areas with high level of humidity and heat , is particularly accessible in the Amazonian biome. It is particularly recommended for the production of biodiesel as it can be cultivated throughout the entire year; hence, providing a highly productive and low cost input for the ceramic production process.

Because of the option to use the mentioned biomass, the Ceramic completely ceased the use of native forest wood, and as a result directly impacted the reduced deforestation rate of the fragile Amazonian biome.

For decades, rampant deforestation from agricultural and industrial activity has led to the decline in both area and health of the forest. Although the rate of deforestation has seen a decrease somewhat in recent years due to protective measures being implemented in the area, the Amazon continues to suffer from numerous effects of climate change, with significant impact on both the Amazonian and global climate.

Calvacante employee preparing the ceramic bricks for the drying process

Not only does the use of renewable biomass decrease emissions of green house gases (GHG) responsible for dangerous climatic changes such as those occurring in the Amazon, but it also generates various other economic and environmental benefits. For instance, the diversity of existing biomass in Brazil allows businesses such as Ceramica Calvacante to search for the most accessible biomass in their region, ensuring the fuel-switching option is an economic one. Furthermore, sourcing biomass from locally available options ensures that fuel in production will be available throughout the entire year.

Besides this, the burning of biomass does not cause elevated emissions of pollutant atmospheric gases. The balance of gases produced is actually neutralized due to the absorption of CO2 during photosynthesis. Also, when reusing residues from the agricultural industry as a biomass in production, pressure is released on waste landfills which would have previously received the leftovers from industrial and agricultural operations.

Calvacante employee examining the clay before being molded into ceramic bricks

And the benefits do not stop there. Due to the growing concern for sustainable and social business in Brazil, using renewable biomass in production is rapidly becoming common practice among the Brazilian ceramic industry. In fact, since its inception in 2008, Sustainable Carbon has successfully partnered with over 50 ceramic businesses in Brazil to initialize the fuel-switch.

If you would like more information on how you can make the sustainable switch or contribute to this positive movement, please get in touch with our team at info@sustainablecarbon.com or visit our website for more information – www.sustainablecarbon.com

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