Supply chains under the magnifying glass
WWF denounces the lack of forest protection
4/16/2022, 4:51 p.m
How much forest has to go so that German companies can manufacture everyday products? The environmental NGO WWF complains that far too few retail chains are thinking about deforestation-free supply chains. But there are also some exemplary industry representatives.
The environmental protection organization WWF has criticized the insufficient commitment of German companies to global forest protection. According to a statement by the WWF, supply chains for the manufacture of everyday products such as margarine, chocolate, steak, cream and detergent were examined. Deficits in transparency and sustainability were identified.
The products mentioned are made from agricultural raw materials “which the EU and Germany import and are converted into fields and pastures for the intact nature in other parts of the world,” explained the WWF. A “deforestation scorecard” developed by the organization shows that self-commitments for sustainable supply chains do not have a sufficient effect.
The WWF therefore called for an EU law to stop deforestation and to trace supply chains. “Otherwise, intact nature in South America, Asia and Africa will continue to be converted for our local consumption,” warned WWF expert for agricultural commodities Maja-Catrin Riecher.
Quite high awareness of the palm oil issue
The WWF deforestation scorecard uses the risk substances palm oil, soya, cocoa and beef products to examine whether German companies have integrated protection against forest destruction into their supply chains. According to the organization, 15 of the 27 companies asked took part in the study.
According to the WWF, there is a commitment to deforestation-free supply chains at Lidl, Beiersdorf, Kaufland and Metro. Of these, only Lidl actually has an eye on all relevant raw materials and supply chains. Lidl, Beiersdorf, the PHW Group, Aldi North and South and Kaufland achieved the best scorecard results. Metro and Edeka were in the middle. dm and Tönnies fared relatively poorly.
The greatest sensitivity was found with palm oil, which the WWF attributes to numerous nature conservation campaigns on this subject. In the case of soy and cocoa, on the other hand, only one of the companies involved has traceable supply chains, and traceability is also rather low for beef products.
The WWF expressed skepticism about the companies that did not participate. “Among this quiet group there may be a few committed individuals, but most of them hope to get away with being passive and lacking in transparency,” explained Riecher.