**1. Introduction**

The Amazon contains about a third of all tropical forests in the world and forms a mosaic of ecosystems in an area of about 6 million km2 [1]. The extensive variety of species of flora and fauna spread out across widely differing landscape patterns, coupled with a hydrological system that is rich in biodiversity, makes this region the most biodiverse in the world.

The enormous biological diversity and territorial extension of the Amazon makes governance and sustainable management difficult considering the many different sources of anthropogenic pressure [2]. However, geological, hydrological, and climatic patterns of the Amazon, allied with its megadiversity favor sustainable use of its natural resources. Provision of inputs and raw materials for production of bioproducts and biofuels, energy generation, and phytotherapeutic products are examples of Amazonian bioeconomic potential.

Biodiversity is defined as the composition of all species of all forms of life and organizational levels present in ecosystems [3], a characteristic that is typical of the Amazon. The ecologic-economic interface at a large scale generally leads to persistent degradation of the natural environment and a loss of ecosystem services and biodiversity [4].

The value of ecosystem services is hotly debated due to the difficulty in establishing a monetary value for intangible goods [5, 6]. Studies have indicated that one of the largest gaps or deficits in knowledge of biodiversity is the real magnitude and quantity of microorganisms and species that have been formally described by science [7, 8]. However, the dynamics and multiple facets that characterize the tradeoff between development and sustainability presupposes the necessity to discuss the bioeconomic potential of the Amazon, focused on balancing the magnitude of consumption of natural resources with the capacity to replace them in nature.

Even without knowing the exact quantity of species present in nature, biodiversity has great biological importance for all forms of life [9], such as:


Besides the economic value and biological importance to human survival, biodiversity provides ecosystem services in the form of provision, regulation, and support, and is also important for its contribution to cultures around the world [10–13]. This results in tangible and intangible benefits based on the diversity and functioning of ecosystems.

The challenge presented by the global market is to satisfy the assumptions of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in productive sectors in the Amazon, since the expansion of certain industrial activities necessary to meet national and international market demand generally results in loss of biodiversity, and consequently compromises ecosystem services.

Among the diverse initiatives that utilize biodiversity, there is great preoccupation with the sustainability of production chains, and if these adhere to the Sustainable

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*Bioeconomic Potential of Sustainability Indicators in a Ceramic Production Center…*

inclusion (socially desirable), and equilibrium (ecologically prudent).

ness models that are compatible with the tools of the bioeconomy.

that incorporate innovation, technology, and sustainability.

Development Objectives (SDO), as adopted by the United Nations Organization (UNO). The conceptual approach of sustainable development as elaborated in its most recent version, incorporates the necessity of adoption of sustainability parameters that take into account aspects that include efficiency (economically sustained),

It is understood that the concept of sustainable development is complex, and it is often interpreted imprecisely, ambiguously, or in a contradictory manner based on a complex and dynamic perspective rooted in the relationship between societies and nature [14]. This concept has been gaining strength and political expression, especially during the last quarter century of the twentieth century, due to a worldwide

The trajectory of sustainability demands ethical compromises, ecological conscience, and social respect, and the demand for sustainable products has been intensifying [16]. Consumers now question how a product was made, if it is in compliance with the legislation of its country of origin, and what were the benefits generated for the agroextractivists and communities that obtained these products. These requirements impose the necessity of introducing technologies and busi-

The bioeconomy is organized around the concept of sustainable and innovative use of natural resources and biological knowledge in order to produce food, industrial products, bioenergy, and ecological services [17]. This concept arose as a new paradigm through the extension of new ideas and knowledge in the fields of biology, economics, and the environment in general, with the goal of providing solutions to complex problems. The concept of the bioeconomy integrates different fields of science, sectors of society, and market demands as a function of providing products that are sustainable, competitive and that adhere to policies of sustainability and applied biotechnology. Ceramic industries in the Amazon are examples of businesses that use biodiversity resources and promote local economic development. However, the manufacturing operations of these companies have been engaged in a growing effort to achieve a pattern of development that incorporates economic, social, and

Preoccupation with depletion of natural resources has increased interest in biologically based products. Productive activities in the Amazon, especially those derived from biological resources, as is the case of ceramic industries, have created a positive perspective with respect to the implementation of developmentalist models

The advance of the "Fourth Industrial Revolution", or Industry 4.0, has integrated technology and sustainability and created new practices and standards for products and services which are based on concepts of a sustainable economy [19]. Market strategies that search for alternatives that can differentiate a product based on its quality and on attributes that respect the environment normally allow for access to new markets that have higher aggregated value and purchasing power. Cluster analysis shows the potential to track and identify the origin of products, thus aggregating value and confidence in products from the Amazon region. In this context, this research has as objective the analysis of the potential of the principal bioeconomic variables inherent to the production and marketing of ceramic products in the ceramic production center of Iranduba, state of Amazonas.

**2. Characterization of ceramic production in the western Amazon**

In the Amazon, the development of ceramic production techniques was a pioneering effort by indigenous people that was engaged in before agricultural

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94002*

environmental crisis [15].

environmental aspects [18].

#### *Bioeconomic Potential of Sustainability Indicators in a Ceramic Production Center… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94002*

Development Objectives (SDO), as adopted by the United Nations Organization (UNO). The conceptual approach of sustainable development as elaborated in its most recent version, incorporates the necessity of adoption of sustainability parameters that take into account aspects that include efficiency (economically sustained), inclusion (socially desirable), and equilibrium (ecologically prudent).

It is understood that the concept of sustainable development is complex, and it is often interpreted imprecisely, ambiguously, or in a contradictory manner based on a complex and dynamic perspective rooted in the relationship between societies and nature [14]. This concept has been gaining strength and political expression, especially during the last quarter century of the twentieth century, due to a worldwide environmental crisis [15].

The trajectory of sustainability demands ethical compromises, ecological conscience, and social respect, and the demand for sustainable products has been intensifying [16]. Consumers now question how a product was made, if it is in compliance with the legislation of its country of origin, and what were the benefits generated for the agroextractivists and communities that obtained these products.

These requirements impose the necessity of introducing technologies and business models that are compatible with the tools of the bioeconomy.

The bioeconomy is organized around the concept of sustainable and innovative use of natural resources and biological knowledge in order to produce food, industrial products, bioenergy, and ecological services [17]. This concept arose as a new paradigm through the extension of new ideas and knowledge in the fields of biology, economics, and the environment in general, with the goal of providing solutions to complex problems. The concept of the bioeconomy integrates different fields of science, sectors of society, and market demands as a function of providing products that are sustainable, competitive and that adhere to policies of sustainability and applied biotechnology.

Ceramic industries in the Amazon are examples of businesses that use biodiversity resources and promote local economic development. However, the manufacturing operations of these companies have been engaged in a growing effort to achieve a pattern of development that incorporates economic, social, and environmental aspects [18].

Preoccupation with depletion of natural resources has increased interest in biologically based products. Productive activities in the Amazon, especially those derived from biological resources, as is the case of ceramic industries, have created a positive perspective with respect to the implementation of developmentalist models that incorporate innovation, technology, and sustainability.

The advance of the "Fourth Industrial Revolution", or Industry 4.0, has integrated technology and sustainability and created new practices and standards for products and services which are based on concepts of a sustainable economy [19].

Market strategies that search for alternatives that can differentiate a product based on its quality and on attributes that respect the environment normally allow for access to new markets that have higher aggregated value and purchasing power. Cluster analysis shows the potential to track and identify the origin of products, thus aggregating value and confidence in products from the Amazon region.

In this context, this research has as objective the analysis of the potential of the principal bioeconomic variables inherent to the production and marketing of ceramic products in the ceramic production center of Iranduba, state of Amazonas.
