© Marizilda Cruppe / WWF-UK

Deforestation & Conversion-Free Supply Chains

© WWF

What companies, financial institutions, and governments must do to accelerate and scale deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains

Guiding Principles & Asks

Some of the world’s most valuable natural ecosystems – forests, savannahs, grasslands and peatlands, among others – are being destroyed at an alarming rate, endangering life and livelihoods around the globe.

These crucial natural ecosystems help regulate the environment, maintain biodiversity, and support food security, as well as human health, rights and livelihoods.

Much of this destruction is caused by unsustainable production of soft commodities like beef, soy, palm oil, wood fibre, cocoa, coffee and rubber.

We urgently need to shape deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) commodity supply chains to have any chance of tackling the twin crises of climate breakdown and nature loss.

Halting deforestation and conversion is also fundamental in protecting ourselves from new infectious diseases and future pandemics as human activities that encroach upon wild places increase the risks of emergence or resurgence of zoonotic diseases.

We need swift and far-reaching action. While many private and public sector actors have made commitments to eliminate deforestation and conversion from supply chains, these have yet to deliver real change on the ground.

Previous measures such as improving individual supply chains and sourcing commodities only from responsible suppliers have not proven effective. We need broader supplier engagement and more ambitious collaboration within and across sectors to achieve change.

Our Vision, Guiding Principles & Asks clearly define what companies, financial institutions, and governments must do to create deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains at the necessary pace and scale​.

Related Resources

Accountability Framework

The Accountability Framework is the core reference for DCF supply chains and the backbone of our Guiding Principles & Asks which complement the Accountability Framework by indicating suggestions and preferences for priority pathways, strategies and actions.
 

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Guide for Action

Deforestation and conversion won’t stop unless business and governments adopt a systemic approach to sustainable sourcing and deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains.
 

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Greening supply chains

With a new report shining a light on corporate failure to meet deforestation- and conversion-free commitments, drastic action is needed from governments, producers, traders, communities, and investors.
 

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Setting a responsible supply chain policy in 2022: what you need to know

Jeff Milder, Director, the Accountability Framework initiative, gives a rundown of recent developments in how companies are being asked to address deforestation, ecosystem conversion, and human rights issues in supply chains and how these pertain to the AFi’s guidance for companies engaged in agriculture and forestry.
 

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