Radar Verde assesses the performance of meatpacking companies in the beef supply chain in the Legal Amazon and of the country’s leading retailers, analyzing these companies’ commitment to combating deforestation in their cattle supplier chains. The assessment is based on the indicators presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Radar Verde Indicators and Application
| INDICATOR | APPLICATION | WHAT IT MEASURES |
|---|---|---|
| Deforestation Exposure Score | Meatpacking Companies | Measures the area exposed to deforestation risk, in hectares, within the potential sourcing zones of meatpacking plants. |
| Supply Chain Control Score | Meatpacking Companies and Retailers | Assesses whether the company verifies direct and indirect supplying farms (meatpacking companies) and requires evidence of anti-deforestation policies (retailers). |
| Deforestation Commitment Score | Meatpacking Companies | Verifies whether the company has public commitments against deforestation. |
| Engagement Score | Retailers | Verifies whether the retailer has policies that encourage an end to total deforestation, both legal and illegal. |
Below, we summarize each assessment and provide further details in the “Appendix” section.
Assessment of Meatpacking Companies
Radar Verde assesses meatpacking companies with plants in the Legal Amazon, analyzing their cattle supplier control policies and their transparency in adopting socioenvironmental commitments.
Meatpacking companies are analyzed based on public data available on their respective websites and, in parallel, are also invited to complete the Supply Chain Control Score questionnaire. These data, together with the level of ambition of the companies’ commitments against deforestation, are used to consolidate each company’s Deforestation Commitment Score. In addition, meatpacking companies are assessed according to their Deforestation Risk Exposure Score, which measures the extent to which they are exposed to the risk of purchasing cattle from deforested areas within their potential sourcing zones.
Table 2 summarizes the procedures used to estimate each indicator:
Table 2. Radar Verde Indicators and Means of Verification for Meatpacking Companies
| INDICATOR | MEANS OF VERIFICATION AND DATA SOURCES |
|---|---|
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Deforestation Risk Exposure Score for Meatpacking Companies in Their Respective Potential Cattle Sourcing Zones (hectares): this indicator measures the extent of the area, in hectares, exposed to deforestation risk within the potential cattle sourcing zones of the companies assessed. |
Historical Deforestation Indicators
Future Deforestation Risk Indicator
The method used to estimate the Deforestation Risk Exposure Score for meatpacking companies is presented in Appendix 1. |
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Deforestation Commitment Score: this indicator measures companies’ commitment to preventing deforestation in the cattle supply chain, based on two pillars: the level of commitment ambition and the Supply Chain Control Score for direct and indirect supplying farms. Score from 0 to 100 points. |
Assessment of responses to the Radar Verde Supply Chain Control Score questionnaire, considering policies, implementation, and independent audits commissioned by the companies. Data collection from companies’ public platforms (websites), containing information on the Supply Chain Control Score, supplemented by responses to the questionnaire sent. |
Assessment of Retailers
Radar Verde developed a methodology to analyze the existence, effectiveness, and transparency of the environmental policies adopted by the retail sector in the beef supply chain, with a focus on combating deforestation. The analysis is structured around two complementary dimensions: the Supply Chain Control Score, which verifies whether companies implement effective mechanisms for monitoring and managing their suppliers to ensure that the beef placed on the market is not associated with deforestation; and the Engagement Score, which assesses the company’s efforts to promote responsible practices among suppliers, consumers, and brands committed to deforestation-free supply chains.
- Supply Chain Control Score: this considers the existence and implementation of a well-structured anti-deforestation policy and the requirement that its suppliers—meatpacking companies—effectively control the origin of the beef. The retailer must ensure that the beef placed on the market does not come from direct or indirect supplying farms involved in deforestation. The assessment also analyzes whether the retailer publicly discloses its policies and the results of independent audits on the matter. In addition, the retailer may provide further information by completing the Supply Chain Control Score questionnaire (Table 3).
- Engagement Score: this assesses the company’s efforts to promote and encourage practices aligned with ending total deforestation, both legal and illegal, beyond its internal control mechanisms. The analysis covers engagement and mobilization initiatives involving suppliers, consumers, and the brands sold by the company, with a focus on promoting deforestation-free supply chains. It also considers the company’s communication and transparency efforts to promote products and environmental commitments, as well as actions demonstrating active engagement in raising market awareness and strengthening responsible practices throughout the beef supply chain. In addition, the retailer may provide further information by completing the Engagement Score questionnaire.
Table 3. Radar Verde Indicators and Means of Verification for Retailers
| INDICATOR | MEANS OF VERIFICATION AND DATA SOURCES |
|---|---|
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Supply Chain Control Score:
The score ranges from 0 to 100 points, reflecting the level of supply chain control, monitoring, and transparency. |
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Engagement Score:
The score ranges from 0 to 100 points, reflecting the level of influence and promotion of practices aligned with ending total deforestation, both legal and illegal. |
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