Fighting Deforestation
We know that deforestation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and that the global demand for agricultural commodities is one of the leading causes of pressure on forests. In addition to their potential for carbon sequestration and climate regulation, forests are the habitat of around 80% of the earth’s biodiversity.
For several years the Jerónimo Martins Group has sought to responsibly manage the incorporation of the main commodities associated with deforestation and conversion of high conservation value ecosystems (palm oil, wood and paper fibres, soy, and beef) both in its products and in Private Brands’ and perishables packaging.
Since 2014, one of our strategies has been to map the presence of ingredients linked to deforestation and conversion of high conservation value ecosystems in our Private Brand and perishable products, collecting information from suppliers on these ingredients’ origin and sustainability certification.
We have been a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RPSO) since 2017 and, since 2019, of the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), two initiatives that promote alignment with best sustainable practices in the production of palm oil and soy. Biedronka is one of the Polish Coalition for Sustainable Palm Oil (PKZOP) founding members, whose objective is to certify 100% of the palm oil in Poland by 2023.
In 2019, the Group joined The Consumer Goods Forum’s Forest Positive Coalition of Action (FP CoA), which defines actions to ensure that private brands and perishable products meet environmental and social sustainability criteria. The FP CoA also encourages the main traders of these commodities and suppliers of private brands and perishable products to commit to fighting deforestation and conversion of high conservation value ecosystems, defining progress indicators and encouraging the public dissemination of the outcomes.