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## Recycling Material and Reshaping Lives 

The recycling cooperative Futura in São José dos Campos, Brazil, is a strong community of people otherwise invisible to society. Its members proudly do work that provides a service to the larger community and serves a significant purpose. “The work we do here is important because people outside learn about recycling through us,” says Iraci Leandro dos Santos. She proclaims the Futura mantra: “We recycle and the Earth benefits.” 

Iraci is a catador , one of many who collect and process 

waste material for recycling, living and working in cooperatives. The cooperatives create a purpose-filled way of life, providing a level of dignity for its members, who are poor and formally unemployed. In 2009 , Project Phoenix was started to help Futura and other cooperatives in Brazil responsibly foster their lifestyle and improve their livelihood. The catadores have operated largely on an unwritten social code of cooperation. Project Phoenix helps cooperatives improve their operational processes, 

document policies and develop a stronger social infrastructure. 

“Social and operational infrastructure will enable the cooperatives to grow responsibly, while documented policies will reduce risks, making the catadores more attractive to businesses,” says Michael Maggio, Vice President, Global Strategic Design Operations, Johnson & Johnson. “That’s important, because they provide valuable recycled content to suppliers and companies, like us, that are increasingly interested in using these materials.” 

Project Phoenix is modeled on SA 8000 , a global social accountability standard for ethical working conditions, developed by Social Accountability International. 

MEANINGFUL LIFE Iraci Leandro dos Santos finds purpose in the mantra “We recycle and the Earth benefits.” 

SA 8000  is based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child and various International Labour Organization conventions. It includes nine basic principles, such as documented policies on child labor, discrimination and health and safety. 

“We’re seeing great progress, especially from Futura, which has relationships with one of our suppliers, Suzano, which makes packaging for BAND-AID ®  Brand Adhesive Bandages,” says Maggio. “Ultimately we’d like to see the catadores achieve SA 8000 certification.” 

