Ecosystem conversion and restoration
The company does not disclose a commitment to minimise ecosystem conversion or to ensure zero conversion, nor does it have time-bound targets to achieve conversion-free supply chains. Additionally, it does not disclose activities to minimise ecosystem conversion and while it discloses some evidence of addressing conversion, this does not guarantee DCF-aligned practices.
Finally, the company is not committed to restoring ecosystems.
GHG emissions
The company discloses its target to reduce its absolute end-to-end greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2025 against the baseline year of 2018. Further, it discloses that the target covers emissions under major elements of scope 3. However, the scope 3 target only covers some segments and not all its scope 3 emissions. The company should set time-bound targets to reduce its scope 3 emissions and report progress against them. Crucially, it needs to reduce its scope 3 emissions and all of its scope 1, 2 and 3 targets need to align with a 1.5-degree trajectory.
Impact and dependencies assessment
While the company collaborates on various initiatives such as Harmony and Global Forest Watch Pro to champion biodiversity and assess deforestation risks, it has an opportunity to more comprehensively assess its impacts on nature within its own operations. Additionally, the company has yet to disclose the methodology and results of these assessments. It is also engaged in needs assessments with supply chain partners to evaluate risks, including those related to biodiversity and forest loss, yet there’s room to assess and disclose its own dependencies on nature and those in its upstream business relationships.
Invasive species
The company has not identified any activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive alien species in its own operations.
Key areas and species
While the company has highlighted its observations of millions of bees and numerous butterfly species in its Harmony fallows and its collaboration with OFI to protect high conservation value forests, there remains an opportunity to fully disclose species in proximity to all its locations. It can also further enhance transparency by revealing locations of its operations and suppliers adjacent to critical biodiversity areas. Clarifying the conservation status of these species using national and international conservation lists will provide a more comprehensive understanding of its commitment to biodiversity conservation.
Resource exploitation and circularity performance
The company has an opportunity to disclose its inputs according to an international standard, and to report quantitatively on its group-wide circularity performance. It could also disclose a target to improve soil health in its production or sourcing practices and to report progress against it.
Solid and air pollution
The company should commit to avoid developing or marketing new chemicals or products with SVHC (substance of very high concern) properties, as well as work on reducing the production of hazardous substances and waste. It has an opportunity to report on air quality parameters of emissions of harmful air pollutants and disclose time-bound targets to reduce air pollutants across the most material parts of its value chain. The company could also report on the amount of plastic waste generated and proportions directed from or to disposal.
Water
The company has an opportunity to set time-bound targets and engage with suppliers to reduce water withdrawal. Also, it does not appear to disclose metrics on water pollution, nor has set targets to reduce them. Furthermore, the company does not disclose a commitment to respect the right to water, nor its processes for implementing preventive and corrective action plans for identified specific risks to the right to water and sanitation in its own operations.
