Sustainable Practices Empower Small Businesses in Brazil Through Innovative Platforms

Small and micro businesses across Brazil are increasingly adopting sustainable practices, enhancing their competitiveness and unlocking new market and financing opportunities. This movement was spotlighted at the Assú + Sustentável 2026 event hosted by Sebrae Rio Grande do Norte, which gathered entrepreneurs and institutions to share tools and solutions for integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into business operations. A key initiative highlighted was the Sustainable Growth Platform, which offers businesses a diagnostic tool to identify sustainability improvements and incentives such as bronze to diamond level seals. Mona Nóbrega, manager of Impact Business at Sebrae RN, noted that about 500 entities have registered on the platform, a significant leap from the previous annual support of just 20 to 30 businesses.

Reinforcing this national trend, the Empreender Clima platform, launched in November 2025 by Sebrae in partnership with the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and the Organization of Ibero-American States, has amassed over 20,000 accesses. It provides training courses on sustainable entrepreneurship, business management, and access to green financing, including tools to pre-qualify projects for funding from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES). The platform also supports Brazil’s recyclable material collectors (catadores) with tailored content, aligning with public policies through the Pró-Catadores Project.

According to public policy analyst Cyntia Uchoa, Empreender Clima’s user-friendly design makes sustainability adoption accessible to smaller businesses often sidelined from climate finance. A report that identified more than 8,000 climate-impact entrepreneurs in Brazil found that while 75% of small businesses implement some sustainability practices, only 36.4% maintain structured initiatives. The platform bridges this gap by combining education, management tools, and financial guidance.

The success story of Ekooa, a local school awarded the Gold Seal on the Sustainable Growth Platform, exemplifies how businesses are embedding ESG principles practically. Fernando de Sá Leitão of Sebrae emphasized that bringing sustainability closer to small businesses is essential in contemporary business decision-making, fostering local economic growth through inclusive and responsible entrepreneurship.