Sustainability

Guayusa is shade-grown under the canopy of the Amazon rainforest, and needs a diverse ecological habitat to grow. Guayusa production thus creates economic incentives for farmers to keep the rainforest intact. The market created by Runa and our community of guayusa drinkers helps us actively reforest thousands of acres of degraded lands in the Amazon. Buying guayusa at Fair Trade prices promotes organic agroforestry as an alternative and more sustainable agricultural practice to slash and burn agriculture and deforestation.

The latest data from the Global Climate Program indicates that deforestation accounts for 25% of global emissions of heat-trapping gases contributing to climate change, and slash and burn agriculture is the leading cause of tropical deforestation. Guayusa agroforestry helps maintain the natural integrity of the Amazon Rainforest.

Photo taken by ©Caroline Bennett