During the ICLEI's Regional Executive Council meeting for South America (RexCom), on Tuesday evening (15th), in Recife, MRV formalised an unprecedented agreement with ICLEI South America. The company is the first to join the ICLEI Annual Partnership Programme, which foresees sustainability actions throughout one year. The initiative consolidates the union between the largest construction company in Latin America and the world's leading association of local governments dedicated to sustainable development.

One of the partnership's main objectives is to strengthen sustainable urban development in the territories where both organisations operate. The first joint action is the carrying out of the Portugal National Meeting of ICLEI Brazil, which takes place from today (16th) to the 18th of March, in Recife. Other events, projects and actions are scheduled to occur throughout 2022.

The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday evening (15th) and was attended by MRV's Executive Manager of Institutional Relations and Sustainability, José Luiz Esteves, and the Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America, Rodrigo Perpétuo.

For Perpétuo, the partnership between ICLEI and MRV is an important and strategic alliance. “It is an annual partnership between the world's leading network of local governments, ICLEI, and the largest construction company in Latin America, which is MRV. This alliance will certainly generate dynamics favourable to the associated cities and those where MRV currently operates.” Perpétuo highlighted that, in South America, ICLEI has more than 100 associated governments and that MRV operates in more than 160 cities in Brazilian territory alone. “Therefore, we are talking about a partnership that aims to generate real impact on territorial and urban development dynamics in cities in the region,” he argued.

In the same vein, MRV's executive director, José Luiz Esteves, highlighted that the partnership represents an important synergy for the advancement of the ESG agenda in Brazil. “This union will strengthen the actions of MRV and ICLEI throughout the national territory. The exchange of information and experiences will greatly contribute to enhancing the results of the projects that both develop.”.

MRV Achievements

MRV has incorporated ESG into its senior management’s long-term objectives since 2015. As well as helping people realise their dream of home ownership, the company aims to have a positive impact on the wider community surrounding its developments, leaving a valuable legacy for neighbouring communities. In 2021 alone, over R$240 million was invested in projects relating to accessibility, mobility, safety, leisure, health and education. This includes the opening and paving of streets and roads, the revitalisation of public spaces, and the construction of water and sewage treatment plants, schools, sports courts and health centres, amongst other projects carried out either independently or through public-private partnerships. Over the last 12 years, more than R$1.4 billion has been invested in initiatives of this nature.

The company also invests in tree planting. In 2021 alone, it spent over R1.7 million, which enabled the purchase of 170,006 saplings. Since 2010, more than 1.76 million trees have been planted across the country, equivalent to 853,337.28 tonnes of CO2 removed from the atmosphere.

About MRV 

For MRV, Sustainability is an essential pillar for the development of its business. The theme is present in all the company's activities, with actions guided strategically through the MRV 2030 Vision, a guiding document that aligns the company's operations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations (UN). Sustainability is integrated into all stages of housing development, from the choice of land for building developments, relationship with neighbouring construction sites, innovative construction techniques, to the handover of keys to residents who will have items such as solar energy or devices to save water to ensure savings in natural resources. For the sixth consecutive year, it is part of B3's Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) and is a supporter of the United Nations Global Compact Network in Brazil (UN). Its president, Eduardo Fischer, is an Impact Leader, who has the mission of engaging other leaders to make their companies more sustainable.

Photos: Guilherme Paiva