In 2020, we introduced the Marfrig Commitments, which aim to promote inclusion, fight against deforestation, and enhance traceability and transparency. The goal is to engage the entire value chain in fulfilling these standards. Our timeline and the areas of focus were established through a thorough territorial analysis of the regions where Marfrig operates—both domestically and internationally—and an evaluation of their associated socio-environmental risks. It was determined that our initial focus would be on the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. Following the determination of actions for these two biomes, Marfrig quickly expanded its commitments to ensure coverage for all biomes where it operates.
Pioneering Role & Innovation
Our Commitments & Pledges Over the Years
2005
Our first major partnership to manage the impacts of our activities: we sign up to the Brazilian Pact to Eradicate Slave Labor (known as InPacto) in order to support the promotion of decent working conditions throughout our production chain.
2009
We become the world’s first food company to enter into a public commitments with Greenpeace to source only legally-produced cattle from the ‘legal Amazon’ region. “Zero Deforestation” lays down guidelines and strategies for strengthening our control over the sourcing of cattle.
2010
Our satellite-based geomonitoring program is created in order to enable us to apply traceability to the suppliers of cattle for our operations.
2012
The plant in Tangará da Serra (MT) becomes the first beef processing unit in Brazil to receive the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal, which certifies the provenance of the raw material and its conformity with standards that promote environmental conservation and uphold human rights.
2014
Marfrig becomes the first Brazilian company to attain 100% coverage of its supplying farms in the Amazon region by geo-referenced maps. Our Pampeano Plant (RS) was awarded Grade A+ by BRC Global Standards, the highest standard of food control recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI). In 2014 we also revised our corporate sustainability strategy.
2015
We launch the first Rainforest Alliance certified hamburger made from meat produced in accordance with the best operational, environmental, social and animal welfare standards. Marfrig Beef and the NGO Alianza del Pastizal launch a seal to recognize farms that preserve the native landscape of the South American Pampa biome.
2019
The first Brazilian company to issue Sustainable Transition Bonds. The amounts raised got earmarked for projects to ensure the sourcing of cattle from deforestation-free areas in the Amazon biome.
2020
The launch of the Verde+ plan and implementation of the low carbon, carbon-neutral, and organic beef protocols, developed in partnership with Brazil’s agricultural research company EMBRAPA. We are the first animal protein company in Brazil to join Science Based Targets (SBTi), an international initiative that encourages companies to establish Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets. We are also part of B3’s Carbon Efficient Index (ICO2), a portfolio that encompasses the actions of companies that adopt efficient measures to minimize the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from their operations. Plant Plus Foods, a partnership with US company ADM in order to sell plant-based products, is set up.
2021
Marfrig signs a ten-year, sustainability-linked US$ 30 million financing agreement, with Stichting andgreen.fund (&Green), in order to invest in a sustainable supply chain sourcing cattle from the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. Within the Verde+ plan we have invested in innovative traceability technology and approaches combining monitoring mechanisms to identify those areas most susceptible to deforestation.
A system for monitoring indirect suppliers has also been adopted.
2022
We were pioneers, in the animal protein segment, in committing to the SBTi (Science Based Targets), an international initiative resulting from the collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wide Fund for Nature. In this way, based on science, we have established targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions – both those from Scopes 1 and 2, resulting from our operations, and those resulting from the supply chain (Scope 3) – which will contribute to global warming being reduced by up to 1.5°C established by the Paris Agreement.
2023
We’ve advanced our target by 5 years to achieve full traceability in procuring animals for slaughter from both direct and indirect suppliers across all biomes in Brazil. This move aligns with our aim to ensure that our company’s entire production chain is sustainable, traceable, and DCF by 2025