Major Shipping Companies Transported Over Half a Million Tonnes of Beef Linked to Forest Destruction in Brazil
According to new data from consultancy AidEnvironment analyzed by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, major shipping companies transported more than half a million tonnes of beef and leather from abattoirs linked to tropical forest destruction in Brazil over a two-year period. This amount is equal to half of the UK’s annual beef consumption.
The analysis revealed that 12 meat plants operated by Brazil’s largest beef companies – JBS, Marfrig, and Minerva – were associated with at least 4,600 square kilometers of forest loss from August 2021 to July 2023, an area three times the size of London.
Among the shipping companies involved, MSC carried the largest volume of beef and leather from the 12 abattoirs, followed by Maersk, Hamburg-Sud (acquired by Maersk in 2017), Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM.
Deforestation Impact
This analysis is the first of its kind to quantify the volume of deforestation-risk cattle commodities transported by shipping companies to major markets like China, the United States, and the European Union. The European Union recently delayed legislation requiring companies to ensure imported products, including beef, soy, rubber, and palm oil, are free from deforestation. While shippers are not directly impacted by this law, they will play a crucial role in implementing due diligence according to Marie Toussaint MEP.
Alex Wijeratna from campaign group Mighty Earth emphasized the role of major shipping companies in enabling the global trade of deforestation-risk commodities, calling for greater legal accountability. Holly Gibbs from the University of Wisconsin-Madison stressed the importance of shipping firms committing to sustainable supply chains free of illegal deforestation.
Legal Accountability
Nicole Polsterer from Fern highlighted the responsibility of every link in supply chains profiting from tainted goods to be legally accountable for forest destruction. In response to these findings, CMA-CGM expressed its commitment to minimizing the impact of its activities on biodiversity and developing new procedures to comply with upcoming regulations.
The CMA CGM Group is closely monitoring European regulations regarding the import and export of products associated with deforestation to ensure compliance and limit environmental impact.
