Bunge

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

No leading practices were identified for the 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
Bunge discloses objectives under its three sustainability pillars and reports on its process for identifying and prioritising its most relevant sustainability topics. However, the company can improve by setting targets covering sustainability topics across all three benchmark measurement areas (environment, nutrition and social inclusion) in relation to both its own operations and its value chain.

Governance and accountability for sustainable development
Bunge discloses the roles and responsibilities of its Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee, which is overseen by the board of directors. The company also discloses that, as of 2021, performance-based sustainability goals will be a component of the executive leadership team’s annual incentive bonuses. The company can improve by expanding the scope of its sustainability goals to cover issues across environment, nutrition and social inclusion.

Stakeholder engagement
While Bunge discloses that it undertakes stakeholder engagement activities and provides an overview of the issues raised, it can improve by disclosing its process for identifying relevant stakeholders and ensuring stakeholder engagement covers sustainability topics across all three benchmark measurement areas (environment, nutrition and social inclusion) across its value chain.

Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions
Bunge has set a ten-year target to reduce its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 10% per metric ton of production. It also reports progress against the target but has yet to align its target with a 1.5-degree trajectory.

Protection of terrestrial natural ecosystems
While Bunge has a 2025 target to achieve deforestation and conversion-free supply chains for its high-risk commodities, it is yet to report progress directly against the target. However, the company reports on the percentage of soya and palm oil volumes that are sustainably sourced.

Soil health and agrobiodiversity
Bunge provides qualitative evidence of sustainable practices that improve soil health and increase agrobiodiversity through its participation in the Field to Market initiative. However, the company has significant room for improvement by setting targets to increase the percentage of production from sustainable practices that improve soil health and agrobiodiversity and reporting progress against them.

Water use
Bunge discloses progress against its water-reduction targets covering its own operations. It has also set targets to reduce water usage in its facilities located in water-stressed regions. However, the company is yet to disclose engagement with its suppliers on this topic.

Food loss and waste
While Bunge discloses its participation in local initiatives to manage food waste, no evidence was found of the company working to reduce food loss and waste across its own operations.

Availability of healthy foods
Bunge provide qualitative evidence of enhancing the nutritional profile of its products such as through fortified margarines and enriched oils. The company can strengthen its disclosure by providing quantitative evidence of improving the nutritional quality of its products and setting targets to increase the percentage of such healthy food products in its portfolio.

Accessibility and affordability of healthy foods
The company does not disclose a commitment and activities to improve the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods for vulnerable groups.

Workforce nutrition
The company does not disclose sufficient evidence of having any workforce nutrition programmes.

Food safety
While the company provides evidence of ensuring safe food for consumers through its Quality, Food and Feed Safety policy, the company has an opportunity to strengthen its commitment by disclosing the percentages of its own operations that are certified to a food safety scheme/certification programme recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative or other widely recognised certification.

Child and forced labour
Bunge indicates it will not use child and forced labour and requires that its suppliers adhere to the same standard. However, no sufficient evidence was found requiring suppliers to verify the age of workers hired. In terms of forced labour, the company only requires its suppliers not to retain workers’ personal documents for its palm oil supply chains.

Living wage
The company does not disclose that it pays its workers a living wage or requires its suppliers to do the same. Neither has it set targets to do so in the future.

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
Bunge provides evidence of supporting farmer productivity and resilience through initiatives such as supporting financial and technical assistance for farmers to implement conservation practices. It also supports the inclusion of smallholders in the supply chain by helping them implement sustainable agricultural practices. However, the company is yet to demonstrate that it is measuring the outcomes and impact of its support activities.

Land rights
As part of its Land Use and Biodiversity Policy, Bunge recognises the right of smallholders and indigenous people to a proper livelihood and supports their participation in the business. However, the company only discloses an expectation, and not a requirement, for its palm oil suppliers to respect the land tenure rights of indigenous and local communities.

Bunge has a clear commitment to respect human rights and the ILO core labour rights, and it provides grievance mechanisms that are accessible to its workers as well as external individuals and communities. However, the company does not provide sufficient disclosure on its human rights due diligence process such as identifying, assessing and taking action on human rights risks.

Bunge commits to respecting the health and safety of its workers and discloses the same expectations for its supply chain partners. The company can improve its score by disclosing quantitative information regarding the health and safety of its workers as well as how its monitors the health and safety performance of its supply chain partners. Similarly, while Bunge provides information on the percentage of women in its highest governance body, it can further improve its commitment and disclosure on gender equality and women’s empowerment. No sufficient evidence of commitments or disclosure was found regarding living wages, working hours, collective bargaining and workforce diversity.

Bunge provides limited disclosure on personal data protection and how it addresses bribery and corruption. It can improve by strengthening its commitments and disclosure in these areas. No sufficient evidence was found regarding responsible tax or responsible lobbying and political engagement.