At the Dutch Business Community in Brazil, we are commited to embrace and ensure a better future for all through sustainable practices.
Sustainability is key to creating a responsible and future-focused business environment, which is why Sustainability is one of the categories in the Dutcham Inspire Awards.
This category highlights projects that contribute to agriculture, energy transition, carbon reduction, afforestation, and other impactful and inspiring initiatives that pave the way for a greener future.
Discover the projects submitted in the Sustainability category for the Dutcham Inspire Awards 2025 below:
AkzoNobel - Sustainable Product Portfolio Assessment (SPPA)
Sustainable Product Portfolio Assessment (SPPA) is an approach to drive our sustainable solutions, a tool to effectively manage our product portfolio, stay ahead of legislation and enhance the positive sustainability benefits of our products.
Arcadis - The Brazil Agroforestry Cocoa
The Brazil Agroforestry Cocoa Project aims to promote sustainable practices in cocoa production by integrating different levels of government and family producers. The project seeks to strengthen local governance and enhance collaboration among involved parties, utilizing a Stakeholder Engagement Plan developed by Arcadis. The expected impacts include the improvement of agricultural practices, increased environmental sustainability, and the strengthening of local communities. The initiative involves bimonthly meetings of the Council of Mayors, which facilitate dialogue between local governments and other interfederative spheres to ensure governance over the project territories.
These efforts involve the participation of subcommittee representatives, project management teams, IICA, and CEPLAC, fostering a collaborative environment that strengthens the initiative's effectiveness and sustainability.
Corbion - The Bulk Delivery Project
In its journey toward a more sustainable future, Corbion has been transforming the way it distributes one of its products, a liquid solution, to strategic customers. By replacing plastic packaging with bulk deliveries via tanker trucks and donating storage tanks, the company has not only optimized logistics but also taken a bold step toward protecting the planet. This initiative prevented the use of over 1 million plastic containers and reduced nearly 119 tons of carbon emissions — the equivalent of three truck trips around the globe.
More than just numbers, this project represents the strengthening of partnerships, the promotion of conscious practices, and a direct alignment with Corbion’s ESG commitments. It’s proof that with innovation and purpose, we can build a cleaner, more efficient, and responsible tomorrow. Because caring for the planet is what truly matters.
De Heus - WOW! Project.
Inspired by the work of the Black Jaguar Foundation, which maintains nurseries in Santana do Araguaia (PA) to reforest the world’s largest biodiversity corridor — connecting the Amazon and the Cerrado — and of which we are proud supporters, we launched the Respira 2024 – WOW! Project. To bring this initiative to life, we built nurseries inside our factories, where employees cultivated seedlings and monitored their growth from the very beginning. Later, each employee was responsible for planting the seedlings in locations of their own choice — such as public squares, community areas, and even their homes — generating a direct positive impact on the communities where we operate.
More than 330 students from local schools and institutions also took part in the project, visiting our units, learning about the nurseries, and receiving guidance on reforestation, environmental preservation, and the role of animal nutrition in the sustainable production of high-quality proteins.
DutchWaffle - Zero Waste
At Dutchwaffle, we follow a true zero waste philosophy. Each stroopwafel starts as a carefully shaped piece of dough. After baking, every cookie is perfectly cut into a round shape — 8.5 cm in diameter and 32.5 grams in weight.
But what happens to the leftover edges we cut off? We don’t throw them away!
These crispy caramel-free pieces are collected and transformed into a delicious and versatile product. Perfect for: cheesecake or pie bases, topping for ice cream or desserts, mixing into yogurt or smoothie bowls, or simply enjoying as a crunchy snack. This way, we reduce waste and create even more tasty moments. Sustainable, smart, and seriously delicious!
Fugro - USV Brazil Project
Between February 28 and August 21, 2025 (175 days of operation), the USV Brazil Project replaced a conventional crewed vessel (RSV/SDSV) with an Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV), remotely controlled from the ROC. A total of 27 work orders (OSs) have been successfully executed, covering: UWILD inspections of jackets and FPSOs, christmas Tree Inspections, wellhead inspections, electrochemical potential measurements.
The comparison highlights a significant environmental transformation: traditional scenario: Average consumption of 5,000 L/day, resulting in ~2,377 tCO₂ emitted by Aug 21 and ~3,124 tCO₂ projected by Oct 15. New USV scenario: Average consumption of only 150 L/day, resulting in ~71 tCO₂ by Aug 21 and ~94 tCO₂ by Oct 15. ~97% reduction in direct CO₂ emissions, equivalent to ~2,306 tCO₂ avoided by Aug 21 and ~3,030 tCO₂ by Oct 15. The USV Brazil Project demonstrates that remote operations decisively support the decarbonization of the offshore sector, combining operational safety with sustainability.
Rabobank - Rabobank & Terra Viva
In 1959, Mr. Klaas and Mrs. Gemma, founders of Grupo Terra Viva, left the Netherlands for Brazil with their 11 children in search of a better life. They settled in Holambra, the City of Flowers, and started their activities with 47 hectares. Currently, 65 years after the family’s arrival, the Group is in the fourth generation, with succession established. Being one of the largest flower producers in the country, Grupo Terra Viva has a total area of 8,800 hectares, of which 2,500 hectares are environmental reserves. In the agricultural year, they cultivate approximately 9,000 hectares, distributed among flowers, grains, potatoes, oranges, and eucalyptus, in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais.
The relationship between Grupo Terra Viva and Rabobank began in 2008. In 2025, through a partnership between Rabobank and the AGRI3 Fund, an operation in the amount of EUR 12 million was structured, with the following objectives: Implement a project for the planting of 1,000 hectares of oranges with regenerative agriculture practices, commitment to preserve and protect 1,582 hectares of forests, increase the use of biological inputs, maintain the ratio of 50% women in the workforce and 40% in leadership positions.
SBM Offshore - Circular Economy Project
The Circular Economy Project focuses on minimizing waste generation and landfill disposal by identifying gaps in waste generation processes and implementing circular approaches.
Vopak - Nexus Eco-Tank
Our operation in the port area of Santos, near several communities, makes reducing emissions a responsibility that goes beyond the company, directly impacting the city's well-being. In order to address this critical issue, we developed the Nexus Eco-Tank initiative, our strategic program designed to reduce our environmental footprint and contribute positively to the health and well-being of the communities where we operate.
