Environmental impact, product transparency, and sustainability are becoming a key focus for the beauty industry. Brands like Natura have been committed to sustainability, transparency, and conscience of their environmental impact from day one. Founded by Luiz Sebra in 1969, Natura’s first store was opened in Brazil and has now become an international top beauty brand.
On a Tuesday, June 4th, Natura hosted a Garden Party at the New York Botanical Garden. As guests entered the event, we were treated to Caipirinha’s, the national drink of Brazil. Walking into the event space was like walking into an Amazonian forest. With the sun shining down on the garden, guests were handed parasols and seated for a vegan lunch surrounded by nature. Guests were also asked to write what sustainable beauty meant to them on a paper ornament and tie it to a small tree.
The greenery and sounds of nature made the New York Botanical Garden the ideal place to hold this discussion with Natura’s very own Chief Marketing, Innovation, and Sustainability Officer, Andrea Alvarez. “If you boil the idea of sustainability down to one word: interdependence. The idea that everything is interconnected. The idea that what I do has an impact on my surroundings, in the world that we operate in…it doesn’t help if we are a sustainable company in an unsustainable system. The system will have to change.” shared Alvarez during ‘The Past, Present, and Future of Sustainability’ panel discussion. Sarah Jacoby, Senior Health and Beauty Editor at SELF magazine and Stephan Kanlian FIT professor, and Chairperson were also panelists contributing to the conversation. Jacoby shared, “Sit and think about what your personal definition of sustainable really is, and underneath that, prioritize and really commit to whether that is gluten-free or fair trade or any of these things. The #1 most important thing you can do as an individual to improve sustainability is to VOTE for candidates that support green policies.” With sustainability and environmental impact making its way to the forefront of the beauty industry, Natura sets the bar high for what beauty companies can and should be doing to promote sustainability.
After lunch and ‘The Past, Present, and Future of Sustainability’ discussion, guests were 
trollied over to ‘Brazilian Modern: The Living Art of Roberto Burle Max’ exhibition. The Garden-wide exhibition is the New York Botanical Garden’s largest exhibition to date. The new exhibit celebrates Roberto Burle Max as one of Brazils most significant artists of the 20th Century. ‘Brazilian Modern: The Living Art of Roberto Burle Max’ exhibition is open for viewing from now until September 29th,2019. Also gifted to all attendees were goodie bags filled with full-size Natura products for us to see the quality for ourselves. More information on how Natura keeps their commitment to sustainability, transparency, and well-being go to www.nautrabrasil.com, where Natura products can also be purchased.
