JBS’s emissions targets have been removed from the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) website, raising concerns about its environmental sustainability efforts in the food and beverage industry trends. The SBTi aids businesses in setting science-aligned emission reduction goals, with companies like Nestlé and PepsiCo already having net-zero targets approved.
However, JBS is now listed as “commitment removed” on the SBTi site, indicating that its near-term and net-zero targets have been removed from the register. Despite announcing its aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, JBS has faced challenges in meeting these targets.
In response to the SBTi’s actions, JBS stated that changes in the organization’s requirements and methodologies have altered their previous agreements. This has led JBS to pursue environmental goals outside of the SBTi framework while maintaining its commitment to reducing emissions across its value chain.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James recently filed a lawsuit against JBS’s US arm, accusing the company of making misleading net-zero claims, further raising questions about its environmental commitments.
Environmental campaign groups have lauded the SBTi’s decision to invalidate JBS’s climate efforts, with Alma Castrejon-Davila from the Changing Markets Foundation stating, “It is great to see that finally they [SBTi] have chosen to do the right thing and remove the commitment from a major polluter like JBS.” Gemma Hoskins, from Mighty Earth, highlighted JBS’s significant emissions and links to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
Despite the challenges, JBS remains committed to setting science-based emission targets and collaborating with stakeholders to address climate change. The company is actively working on an emission reduction roadmap to enhance the sustainability of its agricultural systems and combat global food insecurity.
