Brazil: Green is the colour (in Brazil) - Gordon Miller, WhatGreenHome.com

Green is the colour (in Brazil)

Recent news that Brazil football team are to take to the pitch in this summer’s World Cup in kits made from recycled plastic bottles is a surreal play on jumpers for goalposts. But it underlines a serious approach to sustainability that is kicking off across the country of 190 million footie mad souls. Take, the construction industry. In Europe, we consider we have the most robust environmental and sustainability legislation. Maybe we do, but in Brazil it’s no walk in the park to be able to develop.

Each state has an environmental agency, known as IDEMA; a federal agency, IBAMA, which is the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, provides an umbrella function. IDEMA has the power to prohibit and stall development. Its specific remit is ecological protection, with an emphasis on ensuring the Atlantic rainforest, known as Mata Atlantica, and its creatures are not damaged by commercial development.

IDEMA approves development masterplans, inputs on building materials that may or not be used - for example in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, IDEMA checks that any timber used during construction has chain of custody certification. The process ensures unscrupulous developers do not use illegally forested wood. Ultimately IDEMA licenses development, granting the right or not to construct in an area, and follows up post-construction to ensure no unlicensed breaches have been made.

Trond Aavik, who is developing a boutique residential resort, called Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort, located an hour’s drive from Natal in the laid back beach resort of Sao Miguel do Gostoso, says gaining the required IDEMA licenses to begin construction has taken him two years. “Even though we are developing using eco-friendly building materials and construction methods, it’s still taken time to get the licenses in place. That’s no bad thing because we, and our buyers, can be confident everything is as it should be.”

Located on the beachfront – more than the required 83 metres behind the high tide mark – the ethos at Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort is to conserve natural resources, eliminate waste and remain ecologically in balance. To achieve the ambition, the development will focus on utilising sustainable materials and production methods. The timber used comes from sustainable forestry and only accredited sources. As many building materials as possible are purchased locally e.g all wooden doors and stairs.

All private bungalows in the development will have individual solar thermal and PV panels on the roof for water heating and for the production of energy for basic lightning. Water conservation will be practised through the installation of both air-flow taps and low-flush mechanisms on toilets. Rainwater is harvested and filtered for use in the swimming pools and for irrigation. Wastewater will be treated and recycled for irrigation. The respect for the environment is fitting in what is a beautiful corner of the world.

Sao Miguel do Gostoso is home to one of the best kite and wind-surfing beaches in the world. The low-rise town is laid back, like an under-populated Thai backpacker resort. Chill out bars and restaurants – pizza, sushi, you name it – are dotted around, seldom far from the beach. Amidst this verdant oasis, property for sale at Tropical D’Santo Cristo Beach Resort is priced from £39,739 for a studio; up to £169,780 for a three-bedroom detached bungalow.

Gordon Miller

Gordon is a journalist and founder of eco homes website whatgreenhome.com.