Novo Nordisk & re.green's Amazon Reforestation Partnership

The restoration of degraded ecosystems is becoming an increasingly important strategy in the global fight against climate change. 

Companies, governments and environmental organisations are recognising the value of nature-based solutions that deliver both environmental and social benefits. 

In Brazil, a new partnership between ecological restoration company re.green, winner of the Earthshot Prize, and global healthcare leader Novo Nordisk demonstrates how collaboration can help scale impactful climate initiatives. 

The project highlights the growing role of forest restoration in supporting biodiversity, carbon removal and sustainable community development.

Restoring the Amazon through collaboration

Brazilian ecological restoration company re.green has entered into an agreement with Novo Nordisk to develop a large-scale forest restoration project in the Amazon region. 

The initiative is set to restore approximately 500 hectares of degraded land in the municipality of Paragominas, located in the state of Pará. 

Over the course of the 20-year agreement, the project is expected to generate around 87,000 carbon removal credits by capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it within restored forest ecosystems. 

Restoration activities will aim to focus on native Amazon tree species, combining natural regeneration with active planting techniques to accelerate recovery. 

The project will also aim to include the sustainable management of native timber across up to 30% of the restored area, creating a balanced approach that supports both conservation and economic value. 

“Large-scale restoration of our tropical forests depends on collaboration among stakeholders committed to the climate agenda and on initiatives capable of transforming degraded areas into functional ecosystems,” says Thiago Picolo, CEO at re.green.

“Our partnership with Novo Nordisk reinforces this movement and demonstrates how the private sector can make a tangible contribution to restoring landscapes in regions like the Amazon, one of the most important and threatened biomes in the world. 

“This brings benefits not only to biodiversity and the planet, but also supports the development of surrounding communities.” 

Long-term partnerships with rural landowners can ensure the permanence of restoration efforts through legally binding land-use agreements that extend beyond the financing period.

“The Amazon is one of the most important and most threatened ecosystems on the planet,” Thiago told Sustainability Magazine. 

“It plays a decisive role in global climate stability, water security, and biodiversity - not just for Brazil, but for the world. 

“When a global healthcare company like Novo Nordisk wants to make a credible, long-term contribution to nature, the Amazon is the obvious place to do it. You cannot talk seriously about planetary health and ignore it.”

Environmental and community benefits 

The project aims to deliver a wide range of environmental benefits that extend far beyond carbon sequestration.

By restoring ecological functionality across degraded landscapes, the initiative is set to help create suitable habitats for native wildlife and support the return of biodiversity in one of the world’s most important ecosystems. 

Improved vegetation cover is also expected to enhance water availability and contribute to the recovery of local water resources. 

Continuous monitoring using field assessments and advanced remote sensing technologies can track forest growth and measure environmental impacts throughout the project’s lifespan. 

The carbon credits generated are set to be certified under science-based methodologies and standards aligned with guidelines from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), with the first issuance expected in 2031. 

In addition, the project aims strengthen local supply chains for native seeds and seedlings while creating new economic opportunities for surrounding communities. 

“As we grow to serve more patients, reducing our environmental impact remains a core priority for Novo Nordisk,” says Dorethe Nielsen, Associate Vice President, Environmental Responsibility at Novo Nordisk.

“Brazil is deeply important to us - not only for the patients we serve here, but because the country is home to ecosystems like the Amazon that are vital for climate stability, water security and biodiversity. 

“This partnership reflects our ambition to address climate and nature impacts through credible, science‑based solutions and long‑term collaboration with trusted local partners.”

These combined environmental, social and economic outcomes demonstrate how restoration projects can support sustainable development while addressing climate challenges.

The Earthshot Prize

The partnership also highlights the impact of The Earthshot Prize, which recognised re.green as one of its 2025 winners for its innovative approach to ecological restoration. 

Founded by Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize seeks to identify, celebrate and scale solutions that can help repair the planet by 2030. 

“Winning the Earthshot Prize was almost surreal for us," Thiago says. "Our founder, Bernardo Strassburg, recalls watching Sir David Attenborough announce the creation of the Prize back in 2020, a moment that literally sparked the idea of starting re.green. In our very first planning session in 2022, we listed winning The Earthshot Prize as one of our very own "moonshots." The fact that we got there, in less than five years, says everything about the quality of our science and our team.

“The recognition has been transformative. It not only validated that what we do (large-scale ecological restoration with a real economic model) is not only credible and world-class, but it opened doors with global partners and investors looking for proof of concept and prestige.

“The partnership with Novo Nordisk is a direct reflection of that, and we continue to raise the bar: winning the concession of Bom Futuro National Forest, issuing our first carbon credits in 2026, and pushing toward our goal of one million restored hectares.

“The Prize was a milestone, not a finish line. It changed something not just for re.green, but for the sector as a whole. It showed that restoration at scale is real, and that the private sector can be part of the solution.”

The initiative focuses on five ambitious goals, known as Earthshots:

• Protect and Restore Nature
• Clean Our Air
• Revive Our Oceans
• Build a Waste-Free World
• Fix Our Climate. 

Each year, the organisation selects 15 finalists and awards five winners with £1m (US$1.3m) in funding to accelerate their work and expand their impact. 

Beyond the awards ceremony, The Earthshot Prize supports finalists through its global network of partners, helping them access funding, expertise and opportunities for growth. 

By connecting innovative solutions with the resources needed to scale, the prize is helping transform promising environmental initiatives into meaningful global action. 

The recognition of re.green demonstrates how nature-based solutions can contribute to climate resilience while delivering lasting benefits for people, ecosystems and future generations.