ExpoSustentat: Sustainability in practice

Sustainability has been discussed throughout the world for years. Politics and industry has been aware of the necessity for combining economy, ecology and social responsibility at least since the Agenda 21 Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The 179 signatory states have, however, rather lost sight of the process of realizing the ambitious targets, although the necessities are constantly confirmed by dramatic occurrences like the climate change.

Picture: Exhibitor of the project Sala Amazônia

From 25-27 October 2006, the showcase for sustainability in practice was São Paulo in Brazil, where the sustainability exhibition ExpoSustentat took place. Nürnberg Global Fairs established this new platform for sustainable products and services parallel to BioFach América Latina last year. “We have accepted the challenge of opening a marketplace for the many sustainable projects here in Latin America”, says Herta Krausmann, Managing Director of Nürnberg Global Fairs. She was there at the exhibition again this year to observe the successful development of the project and cultivate personal contact with the many representatives from politics, industry, associations and exhibitors, who used the opportunity to source information during the three-day event.

Sala Amazônia is an exemplary concept that represents the co-operation between various partners as part of ExpoSustentat. This project has been realized through a private-public partnership in co-operation with the “Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft DEG”. Some 20 small-farmer initiatives from the Amazon region were bundled on the originally designed exhibition stand and presented products ranging from honey and cosmetics to arts & crafts. Peter Peters, who is responsible at DEG for funding the programmes, could see the successful presence of the Sala Amazônia project for himself in São Paulo: “Nürnberg Global Fairs and its partners have succeeded in reflecting the organic, fairtrade and sustainability issues at the two parallel exhibitions BioFach América Latina and ExpoSustentat. DEG will continue to vigorously support this matter.”

Responsible for Sala Amazônia is the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit GTZ”, which has managed projects for preserving the tropical rainforests since 1995. The pilot project Sala Amazônia (picture) celebrated its première at the 1st ExpoSustentat in Rio last year. GTZ expert Monika Grossmann is extremely satisfied with the development of the initiative: “Sala Amazônia acts as our showcase. Here the small-farmer projects from the Amazonas have the first opportunity to present their products to a broader public and to start trading some of them. We can combine protection and sustainable use of the rainforest with the creation of a source of income for the families.” Other initiatives, projects, official and non-official programmes were represented on stands at ExpoSustentat.

Another highlight at ExpoSustentat was the 1st Sustainability Leadership Forum. Corporate consultant Ingo Plöger, initiator and organizer of the forum, succeeded in gaining many big names from international industry for the three-day event. Banco do Brasil, Bosch, Bunge, Henkel und ThyssenKrupp are names that appear on the list of sponsors and panel participants. The former Minister of Agriculture Roberto Rodrigues, who personally supports more sustainability, was also a panel guest. The discussion rounds covered the classic Agenda 21 issues – economy, ecology and social aspects, but filled with topical contents and enriched with best practice examples. For example, the major issue of biofuels, where Brazil is a worldwide forerunner for development. “We want the Sustainability Leadership Forum to create a nucleus. This initiative will develop and continue working on these issues”, emphasizes Ingo Plöger. The Sustainability Leadership Forum does not stop at the end of ExpoSustentat on 27 October. “We will process and realize the suggestions and ideas inspired during the three days of intensive exchange.” Plöger is planning a second edition of the Sustainability Leadership Forum at next year’s ExpoSustentat, which takes place together with BioFach América Latina in São Paulo from 16-18 October 2007.