Consumer Goods Forum Urges Faster Sustainability Action

The recent Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Forest Positive Coalition (FPC) is urging faster paced action against deforestation and conversion from global supply chains. 

The FPC highlights measurable progress, addresses ongoing challenges and shares insights to the next steps towards a forest positive future.

In 2024 the FPC engaged with more than 250 stakeholders, including: governments, local communities, NGOs and business leaders. 

The expansion of landscape initiatives expands across 26 active projects - focusing on conserving and restoring ecosystems while supporting local communities.

What's in the FPC?

The FPC involves 21 leading consumer goods companies, each dedicated to eradicating deforestation and boosting ecosystem conservation. 

Within the report, it's emphasised that there are eight multinational retailers collaborating to protect the world’s forests: Carrefour, IKEA, Jerónimo Martins, METRO AG, McDonald’s, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Walmart. 

Also protecting the word’s forests are 13 major manufacturers: Asia Pulp and Paper Sinar Mas, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Danone, Essity, General Mills, Grupo Bimbo, Mars Incorporated, Mondelēz International, Neste, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Reckitt and Unilever.

Key points in the report include:

• Deforestation-and conversion-free (DCF) supply chains: The FPC aims to achieve DCF supply chains by implementing and monitoring KPIs – there has been an 83% public disclosure rate on the DCF KPI among members.
• Collaborative action: The FPC collaborates with private sector entities, smallholder farmers, governments, NGOs and local communities – essential for combating climate change, preserving biodiversity and achieving long-term sustainability.
• Alignment with global biodiversity framework: FPC efforts contribute to global initiatives like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – this includes targets such as designating 30% of Earth's terrestrial and aquatic areas as protected by 2030.
• Transparency and reporting: The Coalition prioritises defining KPIs and promoting openness in public company reporting – crucial for monitoring progress and identifying improvement.
• Call to action: The Coalition encourages the wider industry to engage in supply chains and forest positive landscapes – emphasising that collective action is necessary to achieve these goals.

Transparency and accountability 

With transparency at the heart of the FPC, the CGF have also released a ‘KPI reporting page’ to offer improvements, accountability and company profiles. 

Wai-Chan Chan, Managing Director of The Consumer Goods Forum, comments: “Forests are crucial to providing food, air, water and maintaining life on Earth – yet the world’s forests are in crisis. Greater transparency and collaboration are crucial to drive the pace and scale of change needed, and this report demonstrates the measurable progress our members have made.

“However, it also shows specific challenges that demand sustained attention. Achieving a Forest Positive future depends on a multistakeholder approach and broad, industry-wide engagement.

"To maintain the momentum we have built, we must continue driving collaborative action, expanding partnerships and scaling proven initiatives to drive systemic, long-term change.”

Acknowledging that open and consistent reporting drives progress, the recent FPC details each Coalition member’s advancement toward DCF commitments.

What’s the key message?

The FPC achieved significant milestones this year.

83% of members reported on their commitments to Deforestation and Conversion-Free (DCF) supply chains, with substantial progress across key commodities:

• 83% of palm oil
• 75% of soy
• 75% of beef
• 62% of paper, pulp and fibre-based packaging (PPP)

Transparency of member reporting improved, with 74% of members disclosing performance against key KPIs, up from 68% in 2023.

Although there is lots of progress and improvement, there still remain challenges.

CGF aims to scale successful initiatives and traceability technologies and deepen partnerships with stakeholders. By doing this it will allow the continuation of addressing complex supply chain challenges to achieve forest positive goals.

The journey toward deforestation and conversion-free supply chains is forever relevant. 

By driving systemic change, the future of global supply chains actively contributing to forest conservation and ecosystem restoration is bright.

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