Woolworths has updated its sustainability and deforestation initiatives, moving to reduce the environmental impact of its primary deforestation-linked commodities like fresh beef, palm oil, paper and pulp, soy and cocoa products.
A new sustainability framework better aligns Woolworths with the international UN standard of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and specifically the Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) Guidance.
Woolworths aims to achieve no-deforestation across its deforestation-linked commodities, including fresh beef, by December 31, 2025.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has lauded the move, describing it as an important step to offering comprehensive sustainable food options for consumers.
Enabling sustainable food choices
“No one sells more beef to Australians than Woolworths, so this commitment has enormous implications for nature and for people who want to make sustainable food choices,” ACF nature and business lead Nathaniel Pelle said.
“Australia is an international deforestation hotspot but that problem is being driven by a small number of operators.
“While most graziers are not engaged in broadscale bulldozing of bushland, Australians can’t choose deforestation-free beef because supermarkets don’t differentiate.
“With this commitment, which follows a similar commitment from Aldi, that is changing.
“Australian consumers will soon be able to buy beef knowing they are supporting farmers who protect forests and woodland on their properties.”
The Australian red meat industry accounted for $75.4 billion in turnover in the 2021-22 financial year, with Queensland accounting for the largest share of production at 49%.
Research by Roy Morgan highlights a fresh meat market with little market competition – Woolworths holds a 27.5% share as the largest retailer, followed by Coles at 22.6%, specialist butchers at 20.9% and Aldi at 10.6%.
All in all, 60.7% of the Australian fresh meat market is cornered by just three companies, meaning their choices have an out-sized impact on Australian consumers.
Coles “dragging the chain”
While Aldi and Woolworths have already made commitments to sourcing beef that does not contribute to deforestation, Coles has made no such assertions.
“It is disappointing Coles is dragging the chain on this and will continue to turn a blind eye to nature destruction linked to its supply chains,” Pelle said.
“A completely deforestation-free Australian beef industry is entirely possible but it requires all the big players to take action.”
Aldi’s commitment goes beyond deforestation to “conversion-free” meat, meaning the supermarket will also attempt to limit its impact on all ecosystems, including native bushland and not just forests.
The ACF, in collaboration with Greenpeace and the Wilderness Society, has laid out a pathway to achieving sustainable commitments to deforestation, with steps including:
- Enabling geolocation of its value chains for deforestation and conversion-risk commodities, including beef.
- Publishing a supplier list.
- Establishing a robust ‘farm-to-fork’ or ‘whole-of-life cycle’ commodity movement traceability system for its beef value chain.
- Regular monitoring for deforestation and land use change across the value chain or third-party verification through its entire value chain.
- Disclosing of deforestation and conversion-related impacts, dependencies and risks.
- Creating a transparent process in place to ensure suppliers are delivering against targets.