Ecosystem conversion and restoration
No evidence was found regarding Nutrien’s efforts to avoid ecosystem conversion, including deforestation, or promote restoration. The company has an opportunity to develop a strategy and publicly report on specific, time-bound targets.
GHG emissions
Nutrien should set time-bound targets to reduce its scope 3 emissions and report progress against these targets. Crucially, the company’s targets need to align with a 1.5-degree trajectory.
Impact and dependencies assessment
While Nutrien is actively participating in the TNFD pilot program and plans a group-wide assessment for 2023 to understand nature-related factors, it still has an opportunity to assess its impacts on nature, including biodiversity, within its operations and disclose the methodology and results. Although it uses Agrible for documenting sustainable acres in the US, the company can extend these efforts to assess the impact on biodiversity throughout its supply chain. Similarly, even though it acknowledges the dependency of agriculture on healthy ecosystems, it has an opportunity to assess these nature-related dependencies within its own operations and across 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 Nutrien has highlighted the presence of gopher tortoises and peregrine falcons near its sites, it has an opportunity to present a comprehensive list of all species in proximity to its operations. Further, the company could benefit from unveiling locations crucial for biodiversity within its own operations and those of its suppliers. Additionally, disclosing species populations adjacent to supplier locations and detailing the conservation status of these species, in line with national and international frameworks, would underscore its commitment to conservation efforts.
Resource exploitation and circularity performance
No evidence was found regarding Nutrien’s efforts to work towards a circular economy or which organisms it exploits. The company has an opportunity to develop a strategy and publicly report on specific, time-bound targets.
Solid and air pollution
Nutrien should commit to avoiding 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. It has an opportunity to 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 the proportions directed from or to disposal.
Water
Nutrien has an opportunity to set time-bound targets and engage with suppliers to reduce water withdrawal. There is no evidence the company discloses water pollution metrics or set targets to reduce the same. Moreover, the company demonstrates reducing water withdrawal in its own operations.
