JBS is Destroying Amazon Rainforest

Don’t be fooled by the cover:
Climate destruction is in JBS’s DNA

JBS is the world’s largest meat company. It claims to be serious about climate action but retailers and investors need to read beyond the PR spin. In reality, JBS is a…

  • Climate wrecker: It is the highest emitting meat and dairy company in the world, with a carbon footprint estimated to be larger than Spain’s, and methane emissions which outpace all other livestock companies.
  • Forest destroyer: From 2019 – 2020, JBS was linked to over 125,000 hectares of deforestation in Brazil – an area nearly as large as Sao Paulo. Through livestock and commodities, the company continues to drive deforestation in Brazil and beyond. Their woefully inadequate pledge to be deforestation-free by 2035 doesn’t account for all its supply chains and means another decade of destruction.
  • Human rights abuser: Since 2017, JBS has paid billions in fines for corruption, environmental harms and human rights abuses.
  • Factory farming giant: JBS slaughters millions of chickens, pigs and cows every day who are often kept in cruel and unsafe conditions

JBS plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange, which could provide access to more funds to expand its destructive operations.

This power move would also diminish minority shareholder voting rights, reducing scrutiny over JBS’s climate and human rights issues.

Investors need to look beyond JBS’s greenwash. Since launching its net-zero plan in 2021, JBS has backtracked on climate commitments, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most environmentally damaging companies to seek a NYSE listing since the Paris Agreement. 

If investors and retailers are serious about their climate action they must drop JBS or risk the integrity of their commitments.

© Christian Braga / Greenpeace

Who is responsible?

The finance, food and leather 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 and nature crises. They have the power to say no to all forms of deforestation and tackle climate-wrecking emissions from livestock in their supply chains and investment portfolios.

Tesco buys meat from forest-destroying JBS

Forest-Destroying

Finance

JBS is reliant on investors and lenders to finance its ever-expanding operations. Financial backers like Barclays, the biggest financier of JBS, and shareholders like BlackRock, Vanguard and Capital Group are actively funding deforestation and climate pollution by continuing to finance the company.

Forest-Destroying

Supermarkets

From burgers to bacon and chicken breasts, JBS products end up on supermarket shelves and fast food menus across the world. Many of the retailers, such as UK supermarket Tesco, have deforestation-free commitments in place, yet continue to source products from JBS-owned companies like Moy Park and Pilgrims Pride.

Forest-Destroying

Leather

Leather is a vital and valuable part of the cattle industry. JBS Couros is the world’s largest producer of leather.  The value of the Brazilian leather industry alone is estimated at over $50 billion. 80% of Brazil’s leather from cattle is exported and used in the car, furniture and fashion industries.

JBS’s net-zero plan is nothing more than greenwash

In 2021, JBS promised a net-zero future by 2040, but actions speak louder than pledges. Their recent track-record shows they can’t be trusted to protect people and planet: 

 

  • No credible plan: JBS failed to present a credible net-zero strategy to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), resulting in its removal from SBTi’s climate commitment register.
  • Legal heat: The New York Attorney General is suing JBS for profiting from repeatedly misleading consumers about its climate action.
  • Driving deforestation: Recent investigations link JBS to over 100 instances of illegal deforestation in Brazil. 
  • New weaker commitments: In its prospectus to list on the New York Stock Exchange, JBS quietly replaced its ‘net-zero’ ambition with a lesser ‘climate neutral’ target.
  • Massive emissions: JBS continues to emit carbon and methane emissions at alarming rates.
  • Misleading consumers: JBS conceded to US advertising watchdog and removed aspirational net-zero claims from products

What is the solution?

Associating with JBS-owned companies implicates you in illegal deforestation, corruption, human rights abuses, and severe pollution. Some UK supermarkets have already dropped some JBS products, and investors are scrubbing them from their portfolios. Don’t be complicit — drop JBS.

Drop JBS and go for Sustainable Food

Deforestation-Free

Finance

JBS’s financial backers must stop bankrolling the company’s expansion and align their portfolios with climate goals.

Drop JBS or go for Sustainable Food

Deforestation-Free

Food

Supermarkets like Tesco need to drop all climate and forest destroyers and stop selling meat from the JBS Group.

Drop JBS and go for Sustainable Leather

Deforestation-Free

Leather

Car companies, furniture makers and fashion retailers must stop sourcing leather from JBS.

Find out more

JBS’s continued links to forest destruction and broken promises have been called out by numerous NGOs. Read more here:

Drop JBS

is supported by Bank Track, Feedback, Greenpeace UK, Mighty Earth and World Animal Protection.

Drop JBS is supported by Feedback

BankTrack supports Drop JBS campaign

World Animal Protection supports Drop JBS campaign