Time for change: Delivering deforestation-free supply chains - Forest 500
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Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 2 Executive Summary 3 Introduction 5 Contents Report findings 10 Financial institutions failing 10 to act on deforestation Companies are still failing 15 to address deforestation across their supply chains Time for change 21 Defunding deforestation 21 Due diligence legislation 23 Getting the basics right 26 in 2021 Appendix: References 27 Appendix: The scores 28
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 3 There is no solution to the growing climate and nature crisis the world faces without a solution to deforestation. Currently, two Summary Executive thirds of tropical deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion to produce commodities such as soy, palm oil, timber, and beef1. Over the last decade leading companies, financial institutions and governments took Key findings on ambitious commitments to address 43% deforestation in their supply chains and of the Forest 500 financing by 2020. companies and financial institutions do not have any But by the start of 2020 – the year the deforestation commitments for any problem was to have been all but resolved of the forest-risk commodities they – even the leaders have fallen well short of are exposed to. their targets, and tropical primary forest loss had increased by 44%2 since the signing The finance sector is particularly of the landmark New York Declaration on lagging behind, 63% of the 150 Forests, announced by the Secretary General assessed by Forest 500 do not at the UN General Assembly in 2014. have any deforestation policies. And 81% (122/150) have not published Since that time, Forest 500 has annually a deforestation policy covering all assessed the 500 most influential four high-risk commodity groups. companies and financial institutions in key forest-risk supply chains on the strength and implementation of their voluntary $2.7 trillion commitments and policies to address of financing into the most influential deforestation, including their reporting high-risk companies comes from on progress. Forest 500 financial institutions with no deforestation policy.
Executive Summary | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 4 2021 can be a decisive year for action on Key findings continued market driven deforestation - despite the recent failure of the private sector to achieve While 66% of the 350 companies the high-profile 2020 global goals. assessed have at least one deforestation commitment, only The Forest 500 assessment finds that 25% have published a deforestation 43% of the 500 companies and financial institutions in forest-risk supply chains do commitment for all of the high-risk not have a commitment on deforestation. commodities they are exposed to. 43% There is momentum behind due diligence 34% of companies legislation to address market-driven with at least one deforestation in major markets. This is vital deforestation commitment have not and is in the interests of companies that reported on their progress towards have led the way through voluntary action the commitment in the last two years. as it creates a level playing field, raising the bar for the poorest performing companies. of companies and financial Financial institutions also have huge institutions do influence over the global supply chains not have deforestation driving deforestation. Yet the great majority commitments – including some who make high-profile claims to be leaders on climate change – have remained silent on this issue. $2.7 trillion of financing into the most influential high-risk companies comes from Forest 500 financial institutions with no deforestation policy.
Executive Summary | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 5 Global Canopy calls on: ● Exposed financial institutions and companies, as an absolute minimum to publish a strong deforestation policy or commitment covering all of their exposure to deforestation by the end of 2021. Those in the Forest 500 that position themselves as leaders on climate change at meetings like the forthcoming Climate Summit (COP26), cannot be taken seriously if they have no policy on deforestation. ● Those with policies already in place to focus on robust engagement with portfolio companies and suppliers, with the threat of divestment or exclusion for those not making progress. ● Consumer governments to introduce due diligence laws, recognising that existing proposals need to be strengthened and accelerated. Due diligence legislation needs to have clear requirements and sanctions; covering standardised reporting, conversion of all ecosystems, human rights, and the finance sector.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 6 Context Introduction 2020 was the year in which deforestation should have been eliminated from the production of agricultural commodities such as palm oil, soy, beef and paper, in line with a set of ambitious global deforestation goals. 2020 global deforestation goals behalf of their 400 members, Over the last decade, several major aimed to “achieve zero net collective commitments were made deforestation by 2020 in key by companies, financial institutions commodity sectors (soy, palm oil, and governments aiming to eliminate paper & pulp/timber and beef)”4. commodity driven deforestation by 2020. Many individual organisations ● The Amsterdam Declarations of followed suit and set their own goals seven countries aimed to support aiming for the same date. A few of the the “private-sector goal of zero key initiatives are: net deforestation and, in particular, the commitments expressed in the ● The New York Declaration on New York Declaration on Forests” Forests (NYDF) signed by over 200 to support “the private sector governments, companies, financial commitment for a fully sustainable institutions and NGOs includes ten palm oil supply chain by 2020”5. goals. Goal 2 aimed to “eliminat[e] deforestation from the production ● The Banking Environment Initiative’s of agricultural commodities such Soft Commodities Compact signed as palm oil, soy, paper, and beef by 12 global banks aimed to “help products by no later than 2020”3. transform soft commodity supply chains and help the banks’ clients ● The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) (companies) achieve zero net deforestation resolution, made on deforestation by 2020”6.
Introduction | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 7 Yet two thirds of tropical deforestation is still There is some cause for optimism linked to forest-risk commodities. The past post-2020. two years of surging fires in the Brazilian Amazon have seized global attention. Many companies have made some Deforestation in the Amazon has now progress over the seven years of Forest reached a level not seen since 20087. 500 assessments. And a smaller group continue to lead the way by engaging The companies and financial institutions with their peers, suppliers and portfolio with the greatest influence on tropical companies like never before through new deforestation have shown that they are initiatives, like the Forest Positive Coalition9. 63% still either unable or unwilling to act with Leading companies are now even calling for the urgency required to halt commodity- mandatory due diligence laws to level the driven deforestation. playing field10. Nearly half, 43% (215/500), of the companies Leaders in the finance sector continue and financial institutions assessed by to build collective capacity and engage Forest 500 do not have a publicly available via initiatives under the UN Principles for of financial institutions with the deforestation commitment for any of the Responsible Investment11 and Ceres12. greatest influence on deforestation forest-risk commodities they are exposed Some have gone further, collectively have not published a to. Those that do have commitments engaging with the Brazilian government on deforestation policy. struggle to implement them, and progress concerns about the level of deforestation in is inconsistent and unclear. the Amazon, and forming an ambitious new Investors Policy Dialogue on Deforestation The finance sector in particular is lagging Initiative13. Others have supported moves behind. While some financial institutions to establish a Taskforce for Nature-related are becoming more vocal on this issue8, Financial Disclosure (TNFD), recognising the 63% (95/150) of those with the greatest material risk represented by the destruction influence on deforestation have not of nature. published a deforestation policy for their financing activities.
Introduction | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 8 The Taskforce on which is then planned to be tested and Nature-related Financial refined in year two, leading to launch and dissemination from mid-2023 onwards. Disclosures (TNFD) Building on the Task Force on Climate- Standardised reporting on nature-related related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the risks will improve transparency and initiative to bring together an equivalent accountability linked to deforestation, for nature – a TNFD14 – rapidly gained and both enable and incentivise financial interest in the second half of 2020. Its institutions to deliver on zero deforestation Informal Working Group has 73 members, commitments. Initially, aligning with the including over 40 financial institutions TNFD’s reporting framework is expected from across five continents. In its first to be voluntary, but over time reporting in year, the TNFD aims to develop a draft line with TNFD recommendations could framework for nature-related reporting, become mandatory. The transparency of notoriously complex Meanwhile the UK government has supply chains linked to deforestation is announced plans to introduce due diligence also improving. New tools like trase.finance, legislation in the forthcoming Environment which tracks over a trillion dollars in investment Bill15, and in the European Union, the and lending linked to deforestation, help to Commission is working towards regulatory increase accountability for financial flows. measures which may include mandatory Lack of access to data can no longer be an due diligence for companies exposed to excuse for inaction. deforestation in their supply chains. Going into 2021, political momentum Time for change in 2021 is strong. Deforestation is increasingly understood to be central to resolving both There is a real opportunity to make 2021 the climate and nature crises. As such, it a year of decisive progress. Global Canopy is high on the agenda for the UN Climate believes it would be unproductive to extend Summit (COP26) at the end of the year. the strategies that characterised the long
Introduction | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 9 run up to 2020. A purely voluntary approach year, aligned with the principles and guidance has failed. It is time for change. of the Accountability Framework17. The whole database, containing over a million data points Our analysis suggests that there are two spanning seven years of assessments, can be critical levers to accelerate progress: a move explored and downloaded at Forest500.org. from rhetoric to action by the finance sector, and mandatory due diligence legislation. Companies are expected to set and implement clear commitments on how they Both would help to force action by the many will address deforestation risks and social high-risk companies that have remained below and human rights issues in their supply the radar. This is essential if we are to move chains, while financial institutions’ policies beyond positive action by a small number should set out how they will address these of leaders towards the systemic change in their portfolios. Both are expected to necessary to help eliminate deforestation. include a clear timeframe and progress reporting for their commitments. Forest 500 assessments This report pulls out a snapshot of the entire database and highlights key findings from Forest 500 assesses companies and financial the latest assessments, as well as a series institutions on the strength and implementation of conclusions and recommendations for of their voluntary commitments and policies to the year ahead. address deforestation, including their reporting on progress. Global Canopy is now working closely with partners that conduct complementary Since 2014, Forest 500 has identified the assessments to align and connect our 350 most influential companies in forest risk datasets, resulting in even wider and deeper commodity supply chains and the 150 financial coverage of companies and financial institutions that provide the most finance to institutions. This unified dataset will be those companies, and annually assessed them aligned with the sector-leading guidance of on their publicly available14 commitments and the Accountability Framework Initiative18, and policies to tackle deforestation in their supply will be a resource that can be drawn upon chains or portfolios. They are assessed against to improve mainstream ESG ratings, which more than 20 indicators per commodity each remain weak on deforestation and biodiversity.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 10 In 2020, 63% (95) of financial institutions had not published any deforestation policies for their financial portfolios, and 34% (120) of companies didn’t have a deforestation commitment, showing Findings Report very little progress since the 2019 Forest 500 assessments19. Financial institutions failing Financing policies to act on deforestation Of the 150 financial institutions assessed, The majority of banks, asset managers, 63% (95/150) have not published a pension funds, and insurance companies deforestation policy20 for any of the key that provide the most finance to companies forest-risk commodities for their financing in forest-risk supply chains have so far activities, including Bank of China, failed to act on the risks related to funding BlackRock, and Legal & General. deforestation. While 32% of financial institutions had at These financial institutions provide over least one commodity-specific policy in 2019, $5.5 trillion of finance to the 350 most in 2020 this had increased to only 37%. influential companies in forest risk supply chains – a powerful lever for change. As a minimum, financial institutions should By using their influence they could play publish commodity-specific policies that a transformational role in achieving cover at least the key forest-risk commodities: deforestation-free supply chains. palm oil, cattle products, soy and timber products. While some of the financial institutions have policies for individual commodities, the Forest 500 assessments found that 81% (122/150) have not published a deforestation policy covering all four high-risk commodity groups.
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 11 50% Financial institutions need to publish a policy to lay out their strategic commitment to removing deforestation from all of their 40% investments and lending. By establishing an overarching policy that covers all commodities, financial institutions ensure 30% that they are taking a systematic approach across their portfolios, and send a clear message to companies that deforestation 20% is not acceptable. Only 36 of the 150 financial institutions have 10% an overarching policy including Barclays, Credit Suisse, and Norges Bank Investment 0% Management. While this does not mean their financing activities are currently 32% 24% 20% 32% deforestation-free, it is a critical step in the right direction. In 2020, only one financial institution, Out of the four commodities assessed, Italian financial service group UniCredit, Graph 1: The percentage of financial financial institutions are least likely to have a published a new overarching deforestation institutions with deforestation policies for deforestation policy covering their investments policy that also specifically applies to all each high-risk commodity. in activities linked to cattle (20%) or soy (24%) four commodities, although it only applies – even though cattle ranching is the biggest to transactions which are directly linked to driver of tropical deforestation globally21. rainforests – not all transactions. Despite the overall slow progress, It is clear that the majority of the 150 22 financial institutions have published a financial institutions are not taking a new commodity-specific deforestation policy systematic approach and are putting policies since the last annual assessment. Most of in place on an opportunistic basis, looking these were for timber (14), followed by palm only at one commodity at a time, rather than oil (10) and soy (9), and cattle products (4). taking a holistic view of deforestation risk.
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 12 Implementing policies There is still a marked absence of policy coverage across the finance sector, and the 33% rate of progress does not match up to the urgency of the nature and climate crises. 36 Policies are also only the first step, policies need to be effectively implemented and 81% 63% progress transparently reported. 64 43 To make a meaningful difference, financial institutions must set about systematically implementing their policies. This includes embedding this policy in their products and processes, including loan and bond 57% covenants, Know Your Client procedures, and fund mandates. Similarly, financial 7 institutions need to monitor the companies in their portfolios for their strategies and to check progress towards deforestation-free commodities. This will provide essential information about compliance with the financial institution’s policy. Asia Pacific Financial institutions should set a process Map 1: The proportion of financial % financial institutions without for engaging with companies that have institutions headquartered in each region policies in region Europe not set or not achieved deforestation with no deforestation policies for any of the Total number commitments, and actively report on high-risk commodities. Latin America of financial outcomes of engagement and rates of institutions assessed North America compliance in their financial portfolios.
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 13 Monitoring, engaging and reporting risk. Companies with commitments still need to be monitored by financial institutions to Of the 55 financial institutions with at least one ensure that they are effectively implementing deforestation policy, almost a fifth (16%) including and making progress, but companies that Goldman Sachs, Standard Life Aberdeen, and do not even have a commitment are clearly BTG Pactual have failed to publish a process lagging behind. describing how they identify and deal with non-compliance in their financial portfolios. HSBC, Santander, Deutsche Bank, and BNP Paribas all have some commodity-specific Monitoring their portfolios for compliance with deforestation policies for their financial their policies enables financial institutions to portfolios, but also provide the largest identify and engage companies which may amount of finance to Forest 500 companies be linked to deforestation, and encourage which have not published any deforestation them to make and implement deforestation commitments . commitments. In cases of repeated non- compliance, this process should lead to As these financial institutions do not report sanctions including divestment. on implementation, rates of compliance, or engagement and outcomes for all Of the 55 financial institutions with a companies and commodities covered by commodity-specific deforestation policy, their policies, it is unclear whether they 56% (31) reported on compliance within their have raised this issue with every exposed financial portfolios. But for the other 44% company, or whether they are simply failing (24) financial institutions, it is impossible for to implement their commitments. Financial external stakeholders to assess whether institutions need to engage all companies policies are being implemented. in their financial portfolios that have high exposure to deforestation risk – including Issues of non-implementation those with deforestation policies – to ensure they are acting on deforestation. Reporting Our data shows that some of the financial on all actions that they are taking is key in institutions with deforestation policies are demonstrating that they are systematically continuing to finance companies that have not implementing their policies across all exposed published deforestation commitments, leaving companies, and demonstrating the progress them exposed to financial and reputational they are making towards their policies.
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 14 Banks with policies financing companies exposed to deforestation Deutsche HSBC BNP Paribas Santander Bank ccommitment Commodity How much provided ? financing $54 $4.4 $505 $193 million billion million million Financed by which Fis? Company Name of China State Caramuru China Resources Construction Nine Dragons Pertamina TJX Bata Ltd. Cencosud Cresud S.A. Cyrela Brazil Japfa Ltd Alimentos National Corp. Engineering Paper Holdings Persero PT Companies Realty Corp. institution's policy by the financial exposed to that Commodities are covered 0 0.6 million 12.2 million 2.5 million 0.418 30 million 112.229 21.9 million
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 15 Companies are still failing And most of the companies with to address deforestation commitments are not addressing the risk of deforestation across all of their high-risk across their supply chains forest commodity supply chains for palm oil, soy, timber, pulp and paper, beef, and Deforestation commitments leather. A quarter of the 350 companies (87) have published a deforestation commitment At the end of 2020, our analysis finds that for all of the high-risk commodities they 120 (34%) of the most influential companies are exposed to - including Unilever, Marks in forest risk supply chains still do not have and Spencer, and Colgate-Palmolive. Of any deforestation commitments23 for any of those that have, less than half (41) are only the high-risk commodities they are exposed exposed to one of these commodities. to through their supply chains. This means that a third of the companies with the largest exposure to tropical deforestation are still failing to take the first step to achieve deforestation-free supply chains; including Groupe Savencia S.A. (which manufactures dairy products including St Agur, Coeur de Lion and the Brazilian snack cheese, Polenghi), Groupe Lactalis (owners of Président, Rachel's Organic and Parmalat), Capri Holdings (owner of Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors), and Yakult Honsha Ltd (which makes Yakult yoghurt drinks).
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 16 100% Overall, 33 companies have made at least one new deforestation commitment since 2019. Six companies (17%), including 80% Tyson Foods, RELX Group, and Brazilian beef company, Frialto, made a new commitment for all of the commodities 60% they are exposed to. Twenty companies introduced new policies 40% for at least one commodity, but are still exposed to other forest-risk commodities which are not covered by commitments. 20% For example, Starbucks introduced a new commitment for pulp and paper, but the 0% company has failed to make a commitment for soy, despite using millions of gallons of 71% 31% 28% 25% 66% 48% milk a year. Soy is a major component of the animal feed used in dairy production. Without having deforestation commitments for all of the forest-risk commodities they Companies are most likely to have are exposed to, companies cannot be Graph 2: The percentage of companies commitments for palm oil (71%) and timber reliably addressing all of the deforestation with deforestation commitments for each (66%), followed by paper (48%). Far fewer linked to their sourcing. Companies need high-risk commodity. companies have commitments for soy to systematically address their exposure to (31%), beef (28%), and leather (25%). tropical deforestation, starting by making commitments for all forest-risk commodities. Despite increased awareness of the influence But the majority have shown that they are of cattle products (beef and leather) and soy unwilling to do so on a voluntary basis. production on deforestation in recent years, action on these three commodities continues to lag behind – as it has done since the first Forest 500 assessment in 2014.
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 17 Spotlight: indirect soy 130 companies in the Forest 500 are exposed to deforestation-risk through their use of animal products that contain hidden soy. Soy is a common ingredient in animal feed, and so soy is embedded in the 130 production of meat, fish, dairy and egg products. Some of these companies may also use soy directly as an ingredient in products like chocolate and biscuits, but the volumes are relatively small in comparison to the use of indirect soy. Therefore we assess companies companies in the Forest 500 on whether their deforestation are exposed to deforestation- commitments apply to all soy in their risk through their use of animal supply chains. products that contain This means that 103 companies, hidden soy. Only 27 (21%) of the companies including Dunkin’ Brands (owner of indirectly exposed to soy through their Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins), purchase of dairy or meat products Yildiz Holding (owner of McVities biscuit had a deforestation commitment manufacturer, United) and Kraft Heinz which explicitly includes indirect soy, (manufacturer of salad cream, ketchup including Aldi Group, Restaurant Brands and tinned foods), are not recognising International (owners of Burger King), their links to deforestation through soy and Nestle. used in animal feed.
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 18 Social commitments Our assessment shows that the majority of companies do not have public Companies in forest-risk commodity supply commitments to address human rights chains also face the risk that their supplies issues in their forest-risk supply chains, may be linked to human rights abuses, with 99% of companies failing to make which often occur alongside deforestation. comprehensive commitments across all commodities and all issues. Because of these related risks, Forest 500 also assesses companies on their Companies including Samsonite 1% commitments to address and protect International S.A., Yakult Honsha Co. human rights in their supply chains. Ltd., and Domino’s Pizza Inc. haven’t made any commitments on social issues. The assessment criteria focus specifically on labour rights, gender Of the 350 companies assessed, only rights, the Free, Prior and Informed 23 (7%) scored for all of the criteria for Consent (FPIC) of local communities at least one of the commodities they are of companies have affected by agricultural expansion, exposed to. commitments for all criteria the inclusion of smallholders in across commodities. supply chains, and whether or not Just three companies (1%) had the company commits to provide commitments covering the five issues for remediation for any harms associated all of their commodities – though all are with deforestation. assessed for only one commodity. Commitment implementation Monitoring compliance and reporting Monitoring to check compliance with Deforestation commitments must be their deforestation commitments enables implemented if they are to drive progress companies to ensure that their commitments towards deforestation-free supply chains. are achieved.
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 19 While upstream companies (producers Only 68% (150) of the 221 downstream and processors) need to monitor their companies with at least one deforestation own operations, plantations, or processing commitment described a process to facilities for compliance with their monitor their suppliers for compliance commitments, downstream companies across the relevant commodities. This (traders, manufacturers, retailers) need means 71 of the companies with the to monitor the control systems of their greatest exposure to tropical deforestation suppliers for assurance that their sourcing in do not commit to check whether their turn is in line with the buyer’s commitments. suppliers are operating in line with all of their commitments, including Adidas Group for leather, Kraft Heinz for palm oil, and Yum! Brands Inc. for soy. Graph 3: The percentage of downstream companies (traders, manufacturers, and retailers) with deforestation commitments which monitor their suppliers for compliance, broken down by high-risk commodity. 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 74% 65% 95% 61% 74% 63%
Report Findings | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 20 Reporting on commitments While it is promising that two thirds of companies with a deforestation commitment Transparency on whether a company are voluntarily reporting, 34% (78) of is making progress in delivering on its companies with commitments are failing to commitments allows downstream companies be transparent about their progress towards in the same supply chain, investors and any of their commitments. lenders, and other stakeholders such as civil society to hold companies to account for their Those which are reporting do not do so commitments. It also allows customers and uniformly. It is not always clear how close Only financial institutions to monitor and implement a company is to achieving its commitment, 46% their own commitments and policies. or possible to compare progress between companies or commodities. Standardised We found that only 66% (152/230) of and publicly available information on companies with a deforestation commitment progress across companies is vital for had reported on their progress towards all downstream companies and financial of their deforestation commitments in the institutions which need to use company last two years. reporting to understand their own exposure, reported on their implementation and progress. progress for Reporting rates were lower for beef and deforestation-free leather. Only 26% (5/19) of companies with beef commitments reported on their progress to deforestation-free leather, and only 46% (11/24) did so for beef. In comparison 91% (128/140) of companies reported on their progress for palm oil. Just over half of companies (129/230) verified their reporting through an internal traceability mechanism, certification scheme, or third-party audit, for all of their deforestation commitments. Verification was particularly low for beef, leather, and soy.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 21 Defunding deforestation The finance sector is waking up to climate risks24, but there is no Time for solution to climate change which does not include eliminating change deforestation. With greater transparency on financial flows as well as supply chain links, lack of data is no longer an excuse for inaction. In this context, having a strong policy on deforestation is a minimum requirement for financial institutions to begin tackling this issue and to be taken seriously on the climate and nature crisis. Yet the majority of financial institutions They are not alone. Of the 150 financial are silent on this issue. Four of the world’s institutions with the greatest influence on five biggest asset managers – BlackRock, tropical deforestation, 95 are still without Vanguard, State Street and Fidelity a single deforestation policy. Of the 235 Investments – which provide US$1.1 trillion to investors that signed a strongly-worded the most influential companies in forest risk call to action after the dramatic Amazon supply chains – still have no policy in place fires of 2019, 202 have still not published to tackle this problem in their portfolios25. any deforestation policies26. To avoid greenwashing, these investors need to rapidly put in place policies and report on the action and engagement they are taking on deforestation.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 22 The need for strong deforestation policies The top 10 financiers without deforestation policies Deforestation policies from financial The top 10 financial institutions without deforestation policies that provide the most institutions are important because they: financing to the 350 most influential companies in forest-risk supply chains. ● Send a clear signal to the market and Financial institutions without HQ Country Total amount of funding given to companies that the financial institution deforestation policies to 350 companies is committed to action on deforestation as a strategic priority. Vanguard USA US$ 417.7 billion BlackRock USA US$ 394.1 billion ● Encourage a systematic approach to engagement and risk assessment across State Street USA US$ 209.5 billion their entire portfolio – not just focusing on Wells Fargo USA US$ 148.7 billion a few high-profile companies or regions. Capital Group USA US$ 111.6 billion ● Provide clarity on their expectations Fidelity Investments USA US$ 106.7 billion of companies and their approach to engagement. Royal Bank of Canada Canada US$ 77.0 billion T. Rowe Price USA US$ 72.9 billion Financial institutions must then implement their deforestation policies throughout their Northern Trust USA US$ 67.8 billion portfolios, including by: Geode Capital Holdings USA US$ 65.8 billion ● Monitoring companies in their financial portfolios for compliance and progress Together, the 95 financial institutions ● Engaging with the companies taking without any public policies on deforestation too little action, or taking action too provide $2.7 trillion dollars in financing to slowly, and the world’s most influential companies in forest-risk supply chains. A great majority ● Divesting from non-compliant companies of the world’s largest financial institutions who have failed to take action following are ignoring this critical issue. engagement.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 23 Policies are not sufficient without effective Due diligence legislation implementation throughout portfolios. But they are a necessary statement of strategic While some leading companies continue intent – not only to those they invest in to make progress towards voluntary and lend to, but also to governments in commitments, seven years of Forest 500 countries where rates of deforestation assessments have shown that legislation are accelerating. is now an essential next step to achieve systemic change. One fifth of the financial institutions with the greatest influence on tropical Some consumer governments are deforestation, including Rabobank and already starting to look at how they can UBS, have set policies for all of the key use legislation to reduce their impact on forest-risk commodities. deforestation overseas. In the European Union, the Commission is working towards Once strong policies have been adopted, regulatory measures for companies they must be implemented. Financial exposed to deforestation in their supply institutions can use their unique leverage chains, and the UK government has to influence companies to improve announced plans to introduce due practices and eliminate commodity-driven diligence legislation in the forthcoming deforestation – this includes due diligence Environment Bill. and onboarding of new clients and engaging with existing portfolio companies. Such measures would mean that companies operating in the UK and potentially the EU would need to monitor, mitigate and report on the risks that they are sourcing commodities linked to deforestation.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 24 The Forest 500 assessment of voluntary They should also join calls for legislation policies and commitments has shown that to cover the finance sector. Due diligence the devil will be in the detail. legislation is needed to drive sector-wide change, and bring those financial institutions without any policies up to a common To be effective baseline, levelling the playing field across legislation needs to: the financial sector. 1. Require standardised reporting But to drive change across all sectors, 2. Include all forms of deforestation other markets also need to act. While the 3. Include human rights EU market is important (the EU is the second 4. Apply to financial institutions biggest market for forest-risk commodities 5. Have sanctions for non-compliance from tropical countries), the agricultural commodity trade is global. For the poorest performers, due diligence Of the companies headquartered in the legislation would force them to identify their EU and UK, 85% (69/81) had a deforestation exposure to deforestation, and to take the commitment for at least one of their first steps to address this. commodities, while only 23% (6/26) of those headquartered in China, the largest For the leaders, there is an opportunity market for forest-risk commodities, had a to advocate for change. Many will already deforestation commitment. be taking the steps that mandatory due diligence will require, and legislation will ensure that their peers are required to follow suit, beginning to level the playing field. Leading financial institutions should add their voices to growing calls for mandatory due diligence. Legislation for companies would ensure greater access to data for financial institutions trying to implement and monitor their own policies.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 25 Due diligence Include all forms of deforestation Apply to financial institutions recommendations While the UK proposal currently only covers Requiring financial institutions to identify Require standardised reporting illegal deforestation, it is vital that this is and address their exposure to deforestation- extended to include all deforestation - and risk through the companies they finance Due diligence should require companies ideally conversion of all ecosystems. Forest would place further pressure on companies to transparently report on their exposure 500 data shows that 85% of companies to ensure their supply chains are not to deforestation through their supply operating in both the UK and EU markets contributing to tropical deforestation. chains, and set requirements to have already made commitments on ensure that reporting is standardised. deforestation or conversion, going beyond Forest 500 found that only 37% of the Standardised public reporting ensures illegal deforestation. But only 23% have financial institutions providing $5.5 trillion to that information on progress is made at least one commitment to zero- the companies with the greatest exposure comparable across companies and net or zero-gross conversion, extending to deforestation have policies to limit can be used by downstream companies beyond only key forest types. deforestation in their financial portfolios - and financial institutions to identify due diligence on deforestation needs high-risk companies, implement and Include human rights to extend to financial institutions too. monitor progress against their own commitments. It also allows civil society Any efforts to remove deforestation from Have sanctions for non-compliance to effectively hold companies and supply chains must also address human financial institutions accountable. rights and social justice issues. Significant sanctions should be put in place for those who fail to act to address Currently a third of the Forest 500 Forest 500 found that currently only three the deforestation-risk in their supply companies with a commitment are not of the 350 companies with the greatest chains, going beyond fines that simply get reporting their progress. To be effective, influence on tropical deforestation have factored into the cost of doing business companies need to report on their progress policies on labour and gender rights, by companies and financial institutions at least annually, regardless of how much Free, Prior and Informed Consent, unwilling to take action. or how little progress has been made. This inclusion of smallholder producers in should be quantitative, clearly indicating supply chains, and to remediate any the proportion of their volumes which are harms associated with deforestation. compliant with their commitments, and All three companies are only exposed should be independently verified. to one high-risk forest commodity.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 26 Getting the basics right in 2021 As we enter 2021, momentum to decisively tackle market- driven deforestation is strong. The European Commission and UK government are working towards regulatory measures for companies, and the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) will be formally established to develop a reporting framework for nature related risks. This year, world leaders will turn their for the best part of a decade. Yet while For companies, the path forward is clearly attention to the growing environmental deforestation continues to rise in many defined by the Accountability Framework emergency at the UN Biodiversity Summit regions with devastating impacts four of Initiative (AFI). (CBD COP15) in China, and the UN Climate the world’s five biggest investors have Summit (COP26) in the UK. At these no policy on deforestation. Even those financial institutions and meetings, many of the world’s most influential companies which are taking action on this companies and financial institutions will seek issue are not yet free from deforestation to position themselves as leaders in the fight First things first and need to do more. They are, however, to tackle climate change and the systematic sending a clear message to the companies destruction of nature. For those currently without deforestation that they are supplied by or finance, policies or commitments, putting one demonstrating that they recognise and But those with high exposure to deforestation in place for all high-risk commodities will act on the vital role of deforestation – which includes whole business sectors, and is just the basic first step. Beyond this in tackling the climate and nature crises. the world’s biggest investors – and who still minimum, financial institutions and do not have a basic policy in place to address companies need to ensure that their But for the great majority who are lagging these risks should no longer be taken policies are implemented effectively. behind, we have laid out what we believe seriously, and should be called out. Financial institutions need to monitor is the absolute minimum to be achieved the companies in their financial portfolios, this year. Seven years have passed since the New and engage with them to support York Declaration codified the 2020 global continuous improvement, with a clear There is no more time for silence or goals on deforestation. This issue has been threat of divestment for those making greenwashing. in the political and business mainstream too little progress.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 27 1 https://science.sciencemag.org/content/361/6407/1108 17 https://accountability-framework.org/ 2 https://www.climatefocus.com/sites/default/ 18 https://accountability-framework.org/ References files/2019NYDFReport.pdf Appendix: 19 https://forest500.org/sites/default/files/forest500_ 3 New York Declaration on Forests, Goal 2 annualreport2019_final_0.pdf 4 https://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/press_releases/ 20 For financial institutions a deforestation policy is defined as consumer-goods-industry-announces-initiatives-on-climate- a commodity-specific policy focused on forest protection, or protection/ a policy to protect primary, intact or high conservation value forests, or commits to a credible certification scheme that 5 https://ad-partnership.org/about/ protects these. 6 https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/business-action/sustainable- 21 https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/summer-2018/ finance/banking-environment-initiative/programme/restore- articles/what-are-the-biggest-drivers-of-tropical-deforestation nature/soft-commodities 22 Based on active financing data from Profundo, including 7 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-55130304 financing provided to Forest 500 companies between March 8 In 2019, 235 investors demanded action from companies 2015 and October 2020. linked to deforestation following the catastrophic fires in the 23 For companies, a deforestation commitment is one that Amazon. Since then a smaller group has continued to engage commits to zero-gross/zero-net deforestation or zero-gross/ with companies and the Brazilian government over continued zero-net conversion, or at least protects priority forest types deforestation. including high conservation value forests or commits to a 9 https://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/environmental- credible certification scheme that protects these. sustainability/forest-positive/ 24 https://www.unepfi.org/banking/bankingprinciples/ 10 https://www.retailsoygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ collective-commitment/ Letter-on-due-diligence-consultation_final.pdf 25 UBS is the third largest asset manager in the world, and has 11 https://www.unpri.org/ deforestation policies for all four commodities; palm oil, soy, cattle products, and timber products. 12 https://www.ceres.org/ 26 https://forest500.org/publications/fuelling-fires-why-investors- 13 https://www.tropicalforestalliance.org/en/ need-do-more-protect-amazon collective-action-agenda/investors-policy-dialogue-on- deforestation-ipdd-initiative/ 27 https://accountability-framework.org/ 14 The TNFD is being catalysed through a partnership between 28 https://accountability-framework.org/ Global Canopy, the United Nations Development Programme 29 https://forest500.org/publications/scoring-methodologies-2020 (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). 15 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out- world-leading-new-measures-to-protect-rainforests 16 Companies and financial institutions must be transparent on their actions on deforestation, as it sends a clear signal to their suppliers, customers and to competitors that deforestation is no longer acceptable in supply chains and financial portfolios, as well as enabling others to hold them accountable for their action on deforestation.
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 28 Methodology changes The scores Appendix: Two methodologies are used: one for The financial institution methodology has companies and one for financial institutions, remained largely the same since 2019, reflecting their different roles in the bar the addition of an indicator on anti- deforestation economy. corruption policies. This year we strengthened the company Financial Institutions are scored on: MAXIMUM assessment methodology, aligning with the POINTS Accountability Framework Initiative (AFI) Overall approach Out of 16 Common Methodology . Sixteen indicators Commitment strength Out of 42 were either added or adjusted compared to Social considerations Out of 22 the 2019 methodology with greater emphasis Reporting and Implementation Out of 20 on how companies report and implement TOTAL 100 their deforestation commitments. More detail on the updated company and Companies are scored on: MAXIMUM financial institution methodologies can be POINTS found in the 2020 methodologies29. Overall approach Out of 16 Content of Commitments Out of 30 Reporting and Implementation Out of 36 Social considerations Out of 18 TOTAL 100
Appendix: The scores | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 29 Financial institutions (FI) FI name FI HQ Score FI name FI HQ Score Employees Provident Fund IND National Australia Bank AUS with with no policies Equitable Holdings USA Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. USA FI name FI HQ Score Export Import Bank of Thailand THA New York Life Insurance Co. USA 3G Capital USA Farm Credit Services USA Northern Trust USA ABP NLD Fidelity Investments USA Northwestern Mutual Life USA Insurance Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. USA Fifth Third Bancorp USA PNC Financial Services USA Allstate USA Franklin Resources USA Power Corp. of Canada CAN American Century Investments USA Geode Capital Management USA Prudential Financial (US) USA American Equity Investment Life USA GIC SGP Holding Co. Prudential (UK) USA Government Savings bank THA American International Group, Inc. USA Public Bank Bhd. MLY Guggenheim Capital USA Ameriprise Financial, Inc. USA Royal Bank of Canada CAN ICICI Bank IND AMMB Holdings Bhd. MYS Safra Group BRA Indonesia Eximbank IND AQR Capital Management LLC USA Schroders GBR Industrial & Commercial Bank CHN Atmos Capital Gestão de BRA of China Ltd Schweizerische Nationalbank CHE Recursos Ltda Intesa Sanpaolo ITA Scotiabank CAN Baillie Gifford GBR Invesco Ltd. USA Siam Commercial Bank THA Bangkok Bank THA Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. BRA State Bank of India IND Bank of China CHN Janus Henderson GBR State Farm USA Bank of Communications CHN Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. USA State Street USA Bank of New York Mellon USA Kasikornbank THA Sun Life Financial CAN Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. USA KKR USA Temasek Holdings SGP BlackRock USA Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. IND Toronto-Dominion Bank CAN BPCE Group FRA Krung Thai Bank THA Travelers USA Bradesco BRA Kumpulan Wang Persaraan MYS T. Rowe Price USA Capital Group Cos., Inc., The USA Lazard Ltd. BMU Truist Financial Corp. USA Charles Schwab USA Legal & General GBR United Services Automobile USA China Construction Bank CHN Association Legg Mason USA CIMB Group MYS Vanguard USA Life Insurance Corp of India IND Crédit Mutuel CIC Group FRA Venerable Holdings, Inc. USA Lincoln National Corp. USA Dimensional Fund Advisors USA Wellington Management USA Macquarie Group AUS Dynamo - Administração de BRA Wells Fargo USA Magellan Financial Group AUS Recursos Western & Southern Mutual USA East West Banking Corporation PHL MassMutual Financial USA Holding Co. Eaton Vance USA MetLife USA Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputra MYS
Appendix: The scores | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 30 Financial institutions (FIs) with deforestation policies for all commodities FI name FI HQ Score FI name FI HQ Score ABN Amro NLD Standard Chartered GBR Aegon NLD UBS CHE Australia & New Zealand AUS UniCredit ITA Banking Group Ltd. United Overseas Bank SGP BNDES BRA Westpac AUS BNP Paribas FRA Citigroup USA Commerzbank DEU Commonwealth Bank AUS Of Australia Credit Suisse CHE DBS SGP Deutsche Bank DEU Goldman Sachs USA HSBC GBR JBIC JPN JPMorgan Chase & Co. USA Lloyds Banking Group GBR Mitsubishi UFJ Financial JPN Morgan Stanley USA NatWest GBR Norges Bank Investment NOR Management Oversea-Chinese Banking SGP Corp. Ltd. Rabobank U.A NLD Santander ESP
Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 31 Financial institutions (FIs) with at least one policy but not all FI name FI HQ Score FI name FI HQ Score Agricultural Bank of China CHN Sumitomo Mitsui Trust JPN Allianz DEU TIAA USA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya ESP US Bancorp USA Argentaria (BBVA) Banco do Brasil BRA Bank of America USA Bank Negara Indonesia IDN Barclays GBR BMO Financial Group CAN BTG Pactual BRA California Public Employees USA Crédit Agricole FRA ING Groep NV NLD Landesbank Baden- DEU Württemberg (LBBW) Liberty Mutual Holding USA Co., Inc. Malayan Banking MYS Manulife Financial CAN Mizuho Financial JPN Nomura JPN Nordea FIN Norinchukin Bank JPN PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) IDN Tbk (Mandiri) Société Générale FRA Standard Life Aberdeen GBR Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group JPN
Appendix: The scores | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 32 Companies with no Company HQ Score Company HQ Score deforestation policies Coamo Agroindustrial Coop. BRA Future Group IND Compañía Bernal S.A. ARG Granol BRA Company HQ Score Compañia Industrial Aceitera CRI Groupe Lactalis FRA Aceitera Gral. Deheza S.A.I.C.A. ARG Coto Cincuenta y Cuatro S.A Groupe Savencia S.A. FRA Adient USA COMPAÑIA PARAGUAYA DE PRY GRANOS S.A. Grupo Bom Retiro BRA Advance Publications Inc. USA Coop Col Multiactiva PRY Grupo Jari BRA AFA (Agric. Federados Args.) ARG Fernheim Ltda GRUPO PILAR S A ARG Allanasons Pvt Ltd. IND COOP FREIGHT TWN Grupo Viz MEX Alpargatas SA BRA LOGISTICS LTD Gruppo Mastrotto Spa ITA Ameropa Ltd. CHE Corporación De VEN Abastecimiento Y Servicios Gruppo Veronesi ITA Amul IND Agrícolas S.A. (CASA) Guangdong Wens Foodstuff CHN Aokang Group Co. Ltd. CHN Corpovex - Corporacion VEN Group Co., Ltd Venezolana De Com. Exterior Guangzhou Highest Industrial CHN Arre Beef S.A. ARG Cresud S.A. ARG Co. Ltd. Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. USA Cyrela Brazil Realty BRA Guangzhou Liby Enterprise CHN Bata Ltd. CHE Group Co Ltd Dalian Huafeng Furniture CHN Behshahr Industrial IRN Haid Group CHN Co. Ltd. Development Corp. Danish Agro DNK Htoo Group MMR Beidahuang Group CHN Darmex Agro IDN Industrias Frigorificos Recreo ARG Belle International Holdings Ltd. HKG SAIC Deichmann Group DEU BF Logistics BRA InVivo FRA DIRECTA LINE LOGISTICA BRA Bhartiya International Ltd IND Irmaos Goncalves Comercio BRA Donto ARG E Industria Ltda. Bricapar S.A. PRY East Hope Group CHN Japfa Ltd IDN Bright Food (Group) Co. Ltd. CHN Emami Ltd. IND KAI BO FROZEN MEAT HKG Camera Agroalimentos S.A. BRA EURO AMERICA BRA SUPERMARKET Capri Holdings Ltd USA Evershining Ingredient THA Land O'Lakes Inc. USA Caramuru Alimentos BRA Fleury Michon, Groupe FRA Lear Corp. USA CATTER MEAT SA ARG Foshan Saturday Shoes CHN Le Gouessant FRA Cencoprod Ltda PRY Co. Ltd. Lenta OOO RUS Cencosud CHL F.R.I.A.R. S.A. ARG Li Ning Company Ltd. CHN China Resources National Corp. HKG Frigorifico Concepcion S A PRY Magnit Group RUS China State Construction CHN Frigorifico Gorina Sociedad ARG Makin Group IDN Engineering Corp. Anonima Industrial Y Comex
Appendix: The scores | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 33 Company HQ Score Company HQ Score MAR.VI SPED SRL ITA The Woodbridge Company Ltd CAN Meredith Corporation USA TJX Companies USA Mizkan Holdings JPN Total Enterprise Ltd HKG Nanyang Hoo’s Furniture CHN Tradewinds (M) Berhad MYS Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Vicwood Group CHN New Hope Group CHN (HKG) Nice Group CHN Weltra ITA Nine Dragons Paper Holdings HKG WH Group HKG Nitori Holdings Co. Ltd. JPN Wings Corp IDN Offal Exp S.A. ARG X5 Retail Group N.V. RUS Parker-Migliorini International CHE Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd. JPN Gmbh Yamazaki Baking Co. JPN Patanjali Ayurved IND Yomiuri Group, The JPN Pertamina Persero PT IDN YPF ARG Pou chen TWN Zhejiang Tongtianxing Group CHN Rezervnaja Prodovol'stvennaja RUS Joint-Stock Co Ltd Kompanija Rimbunan Hijau Group MYS Rioverde OOO RUS Sadesa ARG Shanghai Construction Group CHN Shuangbaotai Group CHN (Twins Group) Sinograin CHN Sociedad Cooperativa PRY Colonizadora Chortitzer Komitee Ltda Sodrugestvo Group S.A LUX Soyuz Corporation RUS Steve Madden Ltd USA Strong OOO RUS Suguna Foods IND Tangrenshen Group (TRS) CHN
Appendix: The scores | Time for change: delivering deforestation-free supply chains | 34 Companies with commitments Company HQ Score Company HQ Score for all commodities J Sainsbury's PLC GBR Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC GBR Kencana Agri Ltd SNG RELX Group GBR Company HQ Score Kering S.A. FRA Restaurant Brands International CAN 3M Company USA Kimberly-Clark Group USA Royal Dutch Shell NLD AAK AB SWE Koninklijke FrieslandCampina NLD R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co. USA Adecoagro S.A. LUX N.V. Saint Gobain S.A. FRA Aditya Birla Group IND Korindo Group PT IDN Sampoerna Agri Resources SNG Amaggi BRA L'Oreal S.A. FRA Pte. Ltd Angelini Group CHL LOUIS DREYFUS NLD SC Johnson & Son Inc USA Arla Foods DNK LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis FRA Schwarz Group DEU Vuitton S.A. Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA DEU Shandong Chenming Paper China Marks & Spencer Group PLC GBR Holdings Co., Ltd. Blondeau Group DEU Mars Inc. USA Sipef Group BEL Cargill USA McDonald's Corp. USA Socfin Group LUX Carrefour S.A. FRA Mondi Group AUT Staples Inc. USA Colgate-Palmolive Co. USA Natura&Co BRA Stora Enso FIN ConAgra Brands Inc USA Neste Corp. FIN Sumitomo Forestry JPN Dai Nippon Printing JPN Nestlé S.A. CHE Suzano Group Brazil Daio Paper Corporation JPN New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. USA Tangshan sanyou CHN Danone FRA News Corp. USA Tetra Laval CHE DekelOil CIV Nike Inc. USA Toppan Printing Co. Ltd. JPN DuPont USA Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd. JPN Triputra Group IDN Empresas CMPC S.A. Chile NordSud Timber DRC Tyson Foods Inc. USA Essity SWE Oji Holdings corporation JPN Unicharm Corp JPN Frialto BRA Orkla Group NOR Unilever PLC GBR Genting Bhd. MYS Pearson PLC GBR UPM FIN Grupo SLC BRA Perkebunan Nusantara IDN Vancouros Indústria e BRA H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB SWE Comércio de Couros LTDA Permata Hijau Group IDN Harita Group IDN VF Corp. USA Perum Perhutani IDN Hengan International Group CHN Westrock USA Co Ltd Precious Woods Holding AG CHE Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC GBR International Paper USA PT Astra International TBK IDN Yum! Brands Inc. USA JBJ Investimentos BRA PT Rajawali Corp. IDN
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