Avril Group

No leading practices were identified for the company in the governance and strategy measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for this company in the environment measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the nutrition measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the social inclusion measurement area.

Sustainable development strategy
The company discloses its SPRING corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives and related targets and reports performance against them. However, it has an opportunity to expand the scope of its targets beyond environmental issues and to set targets covering the nutrition and social inclusion measurement areas as well.

Governance and accountability for sustainable development
The company discloses having teams who are responsible for the implementation of its sustainable development strategy, but it is unclear if oversight of its sustainability strategy lies with the highest governance body. However, the company does disclose that its CSR index is taken into account in the long-term incentives of members of the Executive Committee.

Stakeholder engagement
While the company has conducted stakeholder engagement activities and discloses an overview of the issues raised via these activities, it has an opportunity to disclose how it identifies its most relevant stakeholders, along with information on how the outcomes of the engagement process are integrated into the company’s sustainable development strategy.

Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions
While the company has set a target to reduce its direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030, it is yet to report progress against its target.

Protein diversification
Avril Group provides qualitative evidence of its efforts to promote protein diversification through working with partners on its innovation program to develop protein-rich ingredients using oilseed grains. The company can further strengthen its commitment by disclosing quantitative evidence and setting targets to increase the proportion of alternative protein in its portfolio.

Water use
The company has a 2023 target to limit water consumption and reports on progress. However, it is yet to engage with its suppliers to reduce their water consumption levels.

Food loss and waste
The company provides qualitative evidence regarding food waste initiatives but is yet to set targets to reduce food waste across its operations.

Plastic use and packaging waste
The company has a 2023 goal to develop the use of recycled raw materials, namely r-PET, and a 2023 target to achieve 100% recyclable products at Lesieur, one of its subsidiaries, and reports on its progress. However, the company is yet to provide evidence that it has achieved 100% sustainable packaging across its operations.

Availability of healthy foods
The company provides qualitative evidence of improving the nutritional quality of its products, for example through maintaining omega-3 content in its oils. However, the company has an opportunity to provide quantitative evidence of improving the nutritional quality of its products, disclose its definition of healthy products and set sales-based targets for the percentage of healthy foods in its portfolio.

Accessibility and affordability of healthy foods
The company does not disclose a commitment to address food insecurity by improving the accessibility and affordability of healthy and nutritious foods.

Clear and transparent labelling
The company does not disclose that it provides nutritional information through clear, transparent and accurate labelling.

Responsible marketing
The company does not disclose a responsible marketing policy, nor guidelines specific to marketing to children.

Food safety
While the company provides evidence that some of its operations are certified to a food safety scheme recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative, it has an opportunity to extend certification to cover 100% of its operations.

Child labour
While the company commits to prohibiting child labour in its own operations and requires its suppliers to adhere to the same standard, it has an opportunity to disclose a policy requiring its suppliers to have an age-verification system in place.

Forced labour
While the company commits to prohibiting forced labour in its own operations and supply chain, it has an opportunity to disclose a requirement that prohibits its suppliers from retaining workers’ personal documents and restricting workers’ freedom of movement.

Health and safety of vulnerable groups
The company does not disclose that it specifically recognises the health and safety risks to vulnerable groups, such as migrant and temporary labourers, women and young farmers.

Farmer and fisher productivity and resilience
While the company provides evidence of supporting farmer productivity through providing multi-year contracts for its livestock farmers, it is yet report on the impact of its support activities.

Land rights
While the company’s palm oil policy includes ensuring the free, prior and informed consent of local communities when planning to extend plantations, no evidence was found that this is a requirement for suppliers.

Avril Group commits to respecting human rights and the ILO core labour rights, and it has publicly available statements that expect its supply chain partners to commit to respecting the ILO core labour rights. The company also provides grievance mechanisms for its employees and external stakeholders. However, it can improve its performance by disclosing processes for identifying, assessing and taking action to address its salient human rights risks in its own operations and supply chain.

Avril Group publicly commits to respecting the health and safety of workers, including monitoring the health and safety performance of its supply chain partners. The company can strengthen its commitments and disclosure on collective bargaining, workforce diversity, and gender equality and women’s empowerment. No evidence was found of a commitment regarding living wages and working hours fundamentals.

Avril Group publicly commits to protecting personal data and has a privacy statement on the use of personal data. The company also discloses its commitment towards prohibiting bribery and corruption, has a grievance mechanism and includes anti-bribery and anti-corruption clauses in contracts with supply chain partners. However, no evidence was found regarding responsible tax, and responsible lobbying and political engagement fundamentals.