Biodiversa

Biodiversa markets products that support the protection of biodiversity in Colombia.

Market Opportunity:

• One barrier to biodiversity conservation is accessing the local communities at the the base of the pyramid that play a vital role in protecting their immediate environment. Small communities that live in areas of high biodiversity require help with accessing the larger markets to sell their products, including sustainably made products.

• Biodiversa recognized the opportunity to provide marketing services to low-income communities in areas of high biodiversity. These low-income communities mine valuable minerals and metals and produce handicrafts from them.

Unique Business Solution:

• Business Model: Biodiversa commercializes and markets gold and platinum that was extracted in a responsible and artisanal manner in a vulnerable area of high biodiversity.

• Competitive Advantage:

  • The gold and platinum that Biodiversa commercializes is certified by Fairtrade and Fairmined, making the products more easily marketable.

Environmental & Social Impacts:

• Biodiversa rewards sustainable practices and therefore protects Colombian biodiversity.

• These miners are often also craftsmen who use the gold and platinum to create their products but do not have the same market access as Biodiversa.

• Provides low income communities easier market access.

Successes:

• Biodiversa has ensured that 114 families that produce gold and platinum now do so without using mercury or cyanide.

• The company protects 4,500 hectares of tropical forest.

• Biodiversa was the first trader to be certified by Fairtrade and Fairmined in Colombia.

• Receive the SEED Award in 2009 for their innovative incentives incorporated in their business model.

Financial information on this company has not been included for confidentiality reasons. Please click here to learn how you can receive more information about this company.

Profile Updated: September 2011