Green Pages – NEWS
THINK GREEN, RESPONSABILITY & SUSTENTABILITY
HÄNDZ BRASIL HAND IN HAND WITH NATURE
By Leda Cavalcanti
Rodrigo Lacerda André, 39, has a degree in foreign trade and worked for a long time in multinational companies such as ExxonMobil, mainly in trade marketing. Thirteen years ago, he received an offer to change jobs and decided to buy a ticket to China. He became an entrepreneur based on his lifestyle, which is more connected to nature, which is reflected in his choice to practice outdoor sports, such as surfing and mountain biking. Five and a half years ago, he created Händz Brasil, headquartered in Curitiba (PR), with the goal of combining technology with sustainable practices.
Händz Brasil manufactures electronic products using natural raw materials such as bamboo, wood, coffee beans, cotton, wheat fibers and hemp, which is a derivative of the cannabis stem. It also uses PET bottles. Its more than 40 products are designed in Brazil and manufactured in several companies in China. Rodrigo Lacerda André, the company’s CEO, combined his profession – since he continues to work in foreign trade in a certain way – with his desire to contribute to a more sustainable world.
“The future of using natural materials on an industrial scale is promising, but it presents challenges that need to be overcome. The trend is for technology and innovation to continue to evolve, allowing the use of sustainable materials to become increasingly viable and efficient.”
Among the products that have been most well-received by Händz Brasil are cables, chargers, headphones and speakers. In addition to B2C and B2B sales, the brand also wants to establish itself in the sustainable gifts market. To this end, it produces customized versions for organizations that wish to give gifts to customers and partners. Among the companies served in this area are brands such as Coca-Cola and iFood.
Páginas Verdes (Green Pages) – Has the company focused on sustainability since its inception?
Rodrigo Lacerda André – Händz was created in 2017, but it only came to market in 2019. From the beginning, the company has focused on sustainability, combining technology with biodegradable and recyclable materials to create environmentally friendly electronic products. When I created the brand, I wanted to get away from the ordinary and use a branding focused on the lifestyle I am used to, which is sports and nature. I have always been very interested in the topic of sustainability. The creation of Händz was motivated by the desire to offer products that not only met the technological needs of consumers, but that also had a positive environmental impact.
PV – What is the company’s annual production?
RLA – Annual production, across all products, exceeds 100,000 items. Today, we work with more than 12 factories outside Brazil. In Brazil, our office has 10 people.
PV – What are Händz’s main products?
RLA – Today, our main products are cables made from PET bottles, headphones made from wheat fiber and chargers made from bamboo, among others. We are always innovating in the mobile device accessories market, offering products with bold designs and made from sustainable and biodegradable materials, such as bamboo, coffee beans, wheat fibers, PET bottles, recycled plastic and even hemp, which is the fiber of cannabis. We have always stood out for our innovation and our commitment to reducing electronic waste and promoting a circular economy. Each raw material comes from a different place and always with a traceability report.
PV – Does the speaker made from coffee beans, launched at the Eletrolar Show, have the same performance as the traditional product?
RLA – Our Händz Espresso speaker, made from coffee beans and cork, was a success. From the packaging to the sound quality, it is second to none when compared to any other speaker on the market, with a power of 10 W. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with over 2 billion cups consumed daily, generating millions of tons of waste. With what we do, no matter how small our share, we can reuse the coffee grounds and transform them into an extremely high-quality product with incredible sound.
“The creation of Händz was driven by the desire to offer products that not only met the technological needs of consumers but also had a positive environmental impact.”
PV – What are the biggest benefits that these products bring to the environment?
RLA – Händz products bring several benefits to the environment, mainly because they are made from sustainable and recyclable materials. They help reduce dependence on conventional plastics and other non-biodegradable materials, thus reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and the environment. The biggest benefits are waste reduction, lower greenhouse gas emissions, circular economy and low environmental impact.
PV – Is the packaging also made from sustainable materials?
RLA – It is made from recyclable and sustainable materials. The company takes care to ensure that the entire production process, including the packaging, is aligned with its sustainability principles. This includes using recycled materials for packaging and design, so that it can be easily recycled after use, further minimizing the environmental impact. These efforts show Händz’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future, not only through its products, but at every stage of its production chain.
PV – Is it more difficult to work with natural products?
RLA – Working with more natural and sustainable products presents unique challenges, but it also offers many opportunities. There are some challenges in ensuring that products made with natural materials have the same quality and durability as conventional products. Processing natural materials can require specialized techniques and equipment, which, in some cases, complicates the production line. However, all of our factories are prepared and, most importantly, certified to do this work.
PV – Do “greener” products tend to have higher prices?
RLA – Sustainable materials tend to be more expensive than conventional ones due to the more complex production, treatment and transportation processes. The use of green technologies and sustainable production practices can increase operational costs, which is reflected in the final price of the product. However, we can deliver a product at the same cost as another that does not use the same materials as us. Sustainable products often have an added value perceived by consumers, who are willing to pay a little more for items that respect the environment, but in our case, the price does not change in relation to what is available on the market.
PV – How much plastic was saved through Händz’s work?
RLA – We don’t have the exact amount, but in the five and a half years we’ve been in business, we estimate that we’ve saved seven tons of plastic, 15 tons of CO2 and 1 million liters of water.
PV – How does the company work on social and inclusion issues?
RLA – Händz is also involved in social and inclusion issues, in addition to its environmental activities. Today, we are working to complete the entire product cycle, from its creation to its disposal. We sponsor some nature preservation initiatives and social inclusion projects, such as the NGO Playing for Change.
PV – Will it be possible in the future to work on a large scale using only natural materials?
RLA – The future of using natural materials on an industrial scale is promising, but it presents challenges that need to be overcome. The trend is for technology and innovation to continue to evolve, allowing the use of sustainable materials to become increasingly viable and efficient. This requires continuous effort in research, development and innovation. With the right support and technological advances, it will be increasingly possible to work with natural materials in an efficient and sustainable way, contributing to a greener and more responsible future.
Source: Eletrolar News Magazine – Edition #162
