Heineken and SOS Mata Atlântica Expand River Project

Why this is here: The Ilhas Filtrantes project removed five tons of waste from the Pinheiros River environment using floating wetlands, while also serving approximately 550 people each day.

Heineken and SOS Mata Atlântica are expanding projects along the Pinheiros River in São Paulo, Brazil. The partnership, stemming from the Heineken Floating Bar’s “Green Your City” platform, has already yielded results in sanitation, urban drainage, and environmental education. Six initiatives received up to 100,000 Brazilian reais each to focus on nature-based solutions and community engagement.

One project, Ilhas Filtrantes, installed floating wetlands at the USP Olympic Rowing Course, removing five tons of waste and serving about 550 people daily. In Vila Madalena, the Escadaria Verde do Beco project revitalized a plaza with drainage structures and planted over 2,200 native seedlings. Other projects focused on environmental education and ecological sanitation, reaching hundreds of students and residents.

Gustavo Veronesi of SOS Mata Atlântica explains the partnership aims to support initiatives that combine conservation, development, and social engagement. While these projects show positive early results, long-term impacts on water quality and ecosystem health require continued monitoring and investment. The work to revitalize the river and its basin continues.