Don’t be fooled by the cover:
JBS is a risky business
The world is in the midst of a climate crisis and the livestock industry contributes close to 15% of all global emissions. As the world’s largest meat company, JBS claims to be serious about climate action but their track record and plans for growth tell a different story.
JBS is the highest emitting meat and dairy company in the world, with a carbon footprint estimated to be larger than Spain’s. The company continues to drive deforestation in Brazil to expand its global business, and has made it clear that it will still accept deforestation in its supply chain for another 12 years. Since 2017, JBS has paid billions in fines for corruption, environmental harms and human rights abuses.
The company is now proposing to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2023, but filings show they lack a legitimate plan for addressing climate change risk and an evolving global protein market. The NYSE listing could also reduce minority shareholder’s power and consolidate family control – despite their notorious history of corruption and legal troubles.
Banks and supermarkets that do business with the company must drop JBS now.
© Christian Braga / Greenpeace
Who is responsible?
The food, leather and financial sectors all have a role in allowing JBS to get away with its destructive business model. JBS’s customers and financial backers must stop funding the climate crisis and the annihilation of tropical forests and biodiversity. They have the power to say no to all forms of deforestation in their supply chains and investment portfolios.
Forest-Destroying
Supermarkets
From burgers to bacon and chicken breasts, JBS products end up on supermarket shelves across the world. Many of the retailers, such as Tesco, have deforestation-free commitments in place, yet continue to source products from JBS-owned companies like Moy Park and Pilgrim’s Pride.
Forest-Destroying
Finance
JBS is reliant on investors and lenders to finance its ever-expanding operations. Like supermarkets, many of their financial backers have deforestation-free commitments but are actively funding deforestation and climate pollution by continuing to finance the company. Over a third of JBS’s financial backing comes from European banks such as Barclays and Santander.
Forest-Destroying
Leather
Leather is a vital and valuable part of the cattle industry. The value of the Brazilian leather industry alone is estimated at over $50 billion and 80% of Brazil’s leather from cattle is exported and used in the car, furniture and fashion industries. JBS Couros is the world’s largest producer of leather.
THESE COMPANIES ARE CUSTOMERS AND BANKROLLERS OF JBS: ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST NOTORIOUS FOREST-DESTROYING CORPORATIONS
What's the
real cost?
Climate
Change
The food system is responsible for approximately a third of global greenhouse gas emissions and the livestock sector is a significant driver of the food sector’s climate pollution.
Biodiversity
When forests are destroyed, so too are the homes and habitats of unique plant and animal species. The Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth and the neighbouring Cerrado region, where much destruction occurs, is a tropical savannah ecosystem that is home to 5% of the world’s plants and animals.
Forests
The cattle industry is the biggest driver of deforestation in the Amazon. When land is deforested and cleared of vegetation to grow animal feed and raise livestock, it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Deforestation is the main driver of emissions in Brazil today, followed by the agriculture sector.
Indigenous
Rights
Indigenous Peoples protect 80% of global biodiversity. In Latin America, rates of deforestation are significantly lower in indigenous protected lands. But the land, rights, livelihoods and cultures of Indigenous Peoples are under attack, particularly from land grabbers who want to clear forests for cattle, pasture or cash crops.
Pandemics
The Amazon and other ecosystems contain huge numbers of viruses. By destroying forests, people and livestock are brought into closer contact with wild animals and the unique diseases they may carry, putting us at risk of future pandemics.
© Christian Braga / Greenpeace
What is the solution?
Financing and buying from JBS is risky business. The supermarkets and financiers propping up JBS-owned companies must drop the world’s biggest meatpacker now.
Deforestation-Free
Food
Supermarkets like Tesco need to drop all forest destroyers and stop selling meat from the JBS group.
Deforestation-Free
Finance
JBS’s financial backers must stop bankrolling the company’s expansion and divest now.
Deforestation-Free
Leather
Car companies, furniture makers and fashion retailers must stop sourcing leather from JBS. Research shows that brands like Volkswagen and BMW run a high-risk of contributing to Brazilian deforestation.
In the news
Deforestation and the destruction of the Amazon are making headlines as the Brazilian government attempts to roll-back environmental protections and curtail Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Supermarkets have spoken out in the media about the risks of these new laws to the environment and their supply chains. But they need to practice what they preach and cut all ties with forest destroyers now.
Find out more
JBS’s continued links to forest destruction and broken promises have been called out by numerous NGOs. Read more here:
