AMAZONIAN
FAUNA AND CIRCULAR
FUTURES

Amazonian Fauna and Circular Futures

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The Amazon Basin is the largest drainage system on Earth, covering 7 million km2 across nine countries and 40% of South America. Its interconnected rivers – including the Amazon, Negro, Madeira, and Tapajós – carry one-fifth of the planet’s fresh water.

This area is a rich hub of biodiversity, being home to 16,000 tree species and countless forms of life. You can spot caimans, jaguars, tapirs, macaws, birds, turtles, and an extraordinary variety of ants.

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But it is beneath the surface that some of the most innovative materials are found. The pirarucu, known as the ‘giant of the Amazon’, is a fish that can grow up to three metres long. A vital source of food for Indigenous and riverside communities, its skin was once discarded. Today, it is repurposed as a soft, durable, and natural leather.

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Other fish species like tucunaré, corvina and tambaqui are also repurposed. Together with plant-based tanning techniques, these practices reduce environmental impact and reinforce forest-based economies. Nothing is taken without care, and every material is given a second life.