Ryan and Jeremy Black, Sambazon's Founders
Sambazon
My first taste of Amazonian acai was here in the States thanks to Sambazon juice. I spotted its sexy packaging in the refrigerator section of my food coop. Quickly, I became hooked on the superfood's energy-inducing, earthy-berry flavor found in Sambazon's frozen smoothie packs, freeze-dried powder, energy drinks and sorbet.
It wasn't however, until I found myself reporting smack in the middle of Brazil's threatened Amazon forest drinking an indigenous acai concoction, that I'd feel grateful for my stateside affair with Sambazon. It wasn't that the native's acai drink tasted worse (it was insanely delicious)--it was that I had recalled Sambazon's mission to save the very forest and its people that I found myself falling deeply in love with.
A true triple bottom line company, Sambazon stands for Sustainable Management of Brazil's Amazon. How it does so is simple; locals earn a higher living wage harvesting the berry than they do clear cutting the forest. My purchase and enjoyment of Sambazon products in essence, supports this.
Without further ado, let's turn to Sambazon's brilliant founders fuelling athletes, health nuts and acai-lovin' yogins like me: Jeremy and Ryan Black.
Planet Green: How did you get into this line of work?
Ryan Black: Local surfers introduced us to a bowl of açaí on a vacation to Brazil for the millennium. We were immediately hooked! During our last night in Brazil, we started working on a plan to share açaí with the world--that's when our company, Sambazon, was born.
PG: What was your "a-ha" moment?
Jeremy Black: When I had my first taste of açaí. I had already heard so much about it and its great health benefits. When I finally tasted how good it is, I knew it was sure to become a global phenomenon.
Who is your green hero?
RB: My modern day heroes are Paul Hawken and Ralph Nader.
JB: Frank Scura, founder of ASEC, the Action Sports Environmental Coalition. He's a passionate, selfless guy who challenges people to consider the impact they are having on our planet. He was responsible for "greening" the X games and he's been a positive force in the action sports community for many years. I've learned a lot from him.
PG: What is your ultimate green goal?
RB: By serving as an example of a hip, successful, triple bottom line organization, Sambazon can create a paradigm shift in how society and young people perceive the future of business.
PG: What is your motivation?
RB: I have a fire inside of me that burns for truth and transparency in business; it fuels my passion to seek social justice in life.
JB: I realize I've been given the opportunity to create a lot of positive change in this world; it's a blessing and a responsibility.
PG: What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?
JB: Showing the world that we can save the Amazon by making the trees too valuable to cut down.
PG: What is the most challenging part of your job?
RB: Anything you do that changes the norm is challenging. There are pitfalls and frustrations with people, with the system of the past, etc. As the saying goes, "Rome was not built in a day." It is a long and grueling process to be a change agent, but this is what "citizenship" is all about.
PG: What is the most rewarding?
RB: Sambazon is spurring economic and educational opportunities for families living in the Amazon. We are also promoting health and wellness from the Amazon rainforest to the everyday consumer, and spreading positivity, optimism and hope every day.
PG: Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?
RB: I admire Michael Besançon of Whole Foods, who has led an industry with his humble leadership; and Bill Drayton of Ashoka, who has amassed an army of social entrepreneurs.
JB: There has been a lot but I'll say Bob Burnquist, team Sambazon pro skateboarder and eco-warrior. Besides being one of the most amazing athletes on the planet, Bob doesn't take sponsorship dollars from companies when he can't support their products philosophically and ecologically, even when that means turning down six-figure contracts.
PG: What green thing do you do everyday?
RB: Teach people the importance of consuming products from sustainable sources.
JB: I eat as much organic food as possible.
PG: What do you wish you could do?
RB: Find a way to feed everyone in the world with healthy food every day.
JB: Reduce the amount of flying I do.
PG: What is your biggest eco-sin?
RB: Flying on airplanes.
JB: My Range Rover--but I only drive about 10 miles/day and keep it loaded with friends and surfboards.
PG: If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
RB: So many of today's problems can be traced to a lack of education. People fear the unknown. Fear is a main driver in inequality, greed and violence. If we strive to educate people, I believe we can stop the hate.
JB: End world hunger. We have to save the planet, but we have to save starving children first.
PG: What is your best green advice?
RB: Being green is easy. Be smart: leave things better than you found them. Follow "The Golden Rule:" Do unto others what you would like to be done to you. Sound familiar? Thank your mom.
JB: We can create so much change by voting with our dollars. People need to realize that everything they buy supports the company that produces that product, food, or service. Start with your major purchases and work your way down. If the companies you support don't have the same values as you do, look for alternatives. Triple bottom line companies are popping up everywhere and need your support.
Change Makers is series of interviews with people famous and obscure who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.
