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Climate change

Coles' Deforestation-Free Beef Commitment Falls Short: Hungry Jack's Remains Major Beef Buyer Without Action

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed Coles' commitment to source deforestation-free beef, but has pointed out that the supermarket's acknowledgement of deforestation's contribution to biodiversity loss and climate change is long overdue. Coles has announced that it will stop sourcing beef linked to deforestation for 85% of its own-branded product by the end of 2025. However, this partial commitment has raised concerns that the other major beef buyers, such as Hungry Jack's, have yet to take action to address deforestation in their supply chains.

Key Takeaways:

  • Coles has committed to stopping the sourcing of beef linked to deforestation for 85% of its own-branded product by the end of 2025, in line with the Science-based Targets Initiative.
  • The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed this commitment, but has urged Coles to set a clear timeline for 100% of its beef to be deforestation-free.
  • Hungry Jack's remains one of the biggest beef buyers without a policy on deforestation, and McDonald's will permit forest destruction in its supply chain until 2030.
  • The supermarkets say that Australia's flawed traceability system and recalcitrant processors are the main barriers to 100% deforestation-free policies.
  • The Albanese government has been called upon to ensure public funding of the national traceability system (NLIS) is conditional on the system being transparent.

Statistics:

  • 85%: The proportion of Coles' own-branded beef product that will be sourced from deforestation-free suppliers by the end of 2025.
  • 2025: The year by which Coles will stop sourcing beef linked to deforestation for its own-branded product.
  • 2030: The year by which McDonald's will permit forest destruction in its supply chain.
  • 100%: The Australian Conservation Foundation's desired level of deforestation-free policy for Coles' beef supply chain.
  • 2025: The deadline set by the Science-based Targets Initiative for all food and agriculture companies to commit to zero deforestation.

Sources:

  • Australian Conservation Foundation press release, "Coles' deforestation-free beef commitment leaves Hungry Jack's the biggest beef buyer yet to act", August 2023
  • Coles Group sustainability report, 2025

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