From Brazil's Cerrado to the world: Airswift’s pledge to a sustainable planet

November marked a pivotal moment on the global stage, as Brazil hosted the G20 Summit on the theme “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.”

Against the vibrant backdrop of Rio de Janeiro, world leaders gathered to address pressing issues such as economic growth, climate action, and food security—reinforcing Brazil's central role in shaping a sustainable future. Sharing this same vision, Airswift is proud to make Brazil the focus of our 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) actions.

With nearly 200 employees based in our Rio de Janeiro office and a strong local footprint, Airswift is thrilled to announce its partnership with the REDD+ Brazil Cerrado Project. This transformative initiative aims to tackle climate change, conserve biodiversity, and uplift local communities in one of the world's most threatened ecosystems.

Climate change: offsetting carbon and planting hope

Airswift is deeply committed to integrating global sustainability goals with local impact. Our strategy centres on reducing carbon emissions, reforestation, and empowering communities—key elements that align with the G20's call for action.

Airswift is taking bold steps to reduce its carbon footprint. Across our 60 global offices, we meticulously track energy consumption, emissions, and the environmental impact of corporate air travel. In Brazil, we’ve joined forces with the REDD+ Cerrado Project, purchasing Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) to offset emissions.

This commitment supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

• Climate Action (SDG 13): Combatting deforestation in the vital Cerrado region.

• Biodiversity Conservation (SDG 15): Safeguarding ecosystems that house rare species.

• Zero Hunger (SDG 2): Promoting sustainable agriculture.

• Quality Education (SDG 4): Providing environmental and skills training.

• Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8): Enhancing livelihoods.

• Life Below Water (SDG 14): Protecting water resources critical to the Cerrado’s survival.

Our global tree-planting programme, which has planted almost 73,000 trees and reduced 11,134 tonnes of carbon emissions through our partnership with Our Forest, will also expand to Brazil. For every contractor placed during the first six months of 2024, Airswift will plant a tree to contribute to reforestation. In total, we will plant 1,934 trees in addition to the REDD+ Cerrado Project. 

Beyond environmental goals: social development at the heart of Airswift? 

Social development was a key focus of Brazil’s G20 declaration, reflecting Airswift’s own mission to transform lives through the world of work. This ethos is why we’ve invested in programmes that promote health, education, and community wellbeing on a global scale.

Relay for Life: standing together against cancer

Every autumn, Airswift proudly participates in the Relay for Life movement to support cancer survivors, honour those we’ve lost, and stand with those still in the fight. Since 2016, our global team has raised over $600,000 for cancer organisations worldwide, coming together to raise awareness and champion wellness initiatives for cancer prevention.

World Environmental Week: inspiring action globally

Aligned with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Airswift commemorates World Environmental Week every June with a series of impactful activities. From June 3 to June 7, our global team organised:

• Earth Hours and sustainability-themed trivia sessions.
• The Green Glow Up challenge encourages sustainable practices.
• Volunteer events around the world, such as litter collections and tree planting.

In Rio de Janeiro, these efforts included the Seeds of Airswift initiative, where employees built a community garden for a local school, conducted a litter clean-up at Flamengo Beach and hosted a career fair to provide workshops for vulnerable youth.

Why the Cerrado matters

Known as the “inverted forest” due to its deep root systems, the Cerrado biome is Brazil's second-largest ecosystem and one of the most biodiverse savannahs on the planet. However, it is under siege. Since 1985, nearly 50% of the Cerrado's native vegetation has been lost to agriculture. 

This biome is far more than an ecological treasure. It serves as the birthplace of springs feeding major watersheds across Brazil and Latin America, including the Guarani Aquifer—the continent's largest. 

Alarmingly, the official deforestation rate in the Cerrado from August 2023 to July 2024 is 8,174 km², the lowest since 2019. This represents a drop of 25.8% compared to the same period—the first reduction in five years in the biome. The states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia are the most deforested.

With the Cerrado’s natural habitats disappearing 2.5 times faster than the Amazon, preserving the biome’s ecological integrity and supporting sustainable development is critical. Join us in our mission to create a just world and a sustainable planet. Together, we can build a future where people and nature thrive side by side.

Want to learn more? Read about Airswift’s ESG Policy.

About the Rio de Janeiro office

Established in 2006, Rio de Janeiro is home to one of Airswift’s strategic resource Delivery Centres. The office provides 24/7 volume recruitment, expatriate recruitment, and the development of emerging markets.