DR Flavors & Ingredients supports training on Brazil’s Recycling Incentive Law for farmers and the Petrolina community

Initiative led by the company’s Sustainability team aimed to expand knowledge about funding mechanisms for recycling projects and strengthen the supplier chain

Developing a supplier chain that is better prepared to address social and environmental challenges also involves sharing knowledge and creating training opportunities. With this in mind, DR Flavors & Ingredients, through its sustainability practices and social and environmental responsibility initiatives, supported a free training session on the Recycling Incentive Law. The training was held on September 16 at the Cooperativa Agrícola dos Produtores Irrigantes do Núcleo 04 (COOAPINC), in Petrolina, Pernambuco, and brought together approximately 25 participants, including farmers, representatives of cooperatives, social organizations, industry professionals and local institutions.

The initiative was led by DR’s Sustainability team with the aim of supporting the development of the supplier chain and strengthening the knowledge of local producers, cooperatives and organizations about mechanisms that can make social and environmental projects possible. Specialist Mariana Kadletz, from the Incentive de Verdade project, led the training and presented participants with the possibilities provided for under Brazilian legislation to finance projects focused on recycling and the circular economy, explaining how companies and organizations can allocate part of their income tax to initiatives of this kind.

Holding the activity in Petrolina is also related to the presence of DR Flavors & Ingredients in the region through its acerola supply chain. COOAPINC is part of this network and participates in the Acerola Verde Program, developed by DR, which currently brings together 184 producers and generates approximately BRL 17 million per year for the local economy, according to company data.

For DR, the training represents an opportunity to share knowledge and expand communities’ access to mechanisms that can make social and environmental projects possible. The initiative is part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the communities where it operates and encourage the development of local capabilities.

In addition to the training, DR’s agenda in Petrolina included visits to organic producers and local suppliers as part of the relationship-building and monitoring activities carried out by the company in the region.

The initiative adds to other ESG projects developed by DR, including initiatives related to the Acerola Program and biodiversity conservation among its açaí producers. In 2025, the company expanded its social and environmental impact projects, seeking to integrate these initiatives into the responsible management of its suppliers and its relationships with local communities.

Lasting lessons

For acerola producer Romualdo Cavalcante de Macedo, who has worked in the field for 25 years, the training reinforced the importance of raising awareness about recycling. “I really enjoyed the course. It’s very good for everyone to become more aware of recycling. We already separate materials on the farm and send them for collection, and now we’re going to think about how we can do everything even better,” he says. For him, the initiative can also benefit the entire region. “It’s very important for the municipality, for our region and for everyone. It’s really great.”

Artisan Gislaine da Cruz also highlighted the knowledge she gained during the activity. According to her, the course opened up new possibilities for properly disposing of materials used in her work, such as wood, boxes and paper. “You can never have too much knowledge. The course gave me a deeper understanding of the Recycling Law and has already given me some ideas for putting together a project in the future,” she says.