Preserve nature

Our value chain involves a significant agricultural supply chain, that can have far-reaching effects on the environment, impacting various natural ecosystems.

Deploying practices to halt deforestation, protect biodiversity, and manage water sustainably can contribute to the preservation of fundamental ecosystem services we collectively depend on, including soil fertility, clean air and water, protection from natural disasters, and recreational and cultural inspiration, and the potential subsequent loss of economic value. Moreover, a healthy natural ecosystem plays a vital role in tackling climate change, with land and oceans absorbing and storing carbon from the atmosphere.

Efforts to reduce our footprint on nature and operate within the boundaries of our planet’s ecological limits can also contribute to tackling environmental inequality, as the negative impacts of changes in climate, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions often disproportionately affect the world’s most impoverished communities.

Our business activities rely on natural resources and healthy ecosystems. The degradation and loss of natural capital can cause disruptions and increase production costs. The raw materials used in our products rely on fertile soil, strong biodiversity, stable climate conditions, and access to water. As a business with an agricultural supply chain, it is paramount that we contribute to protecting and preserving nature and the ecosystems where we operate. Even small changes to the balance of the natural environment can damage crop productivity, increase production costs linked to remediation and adaptation measures, and negatively impact farmers’ livelihoods, as well as those of communities living in the area.

Promoting the efficient use of natural resources and taking steps to protect, preserve, and improve them help manage risks and prepare us to respond to regulation that will norm our performance and disclosures related to ecosystem degradation and the cost of biodiversity loss.

Further, we understand the importance of working to halt the destruction of natural habitats, including avoiding and compensating for losses, in order to guard against potential financial and reputational risk.