Greenpeace victory as Brazilian meat companies sign moratorium on Amazon cattle products

Jo Matthews

Last updated 06/10/2009 18:52:16

Four of the biggest meat companies involved in Brazilian cattle farming have joined forces to stop the purchase of cattle from newly deforested areas of the Amazon.

The move represents another result of the Greenpeace investigation, previously covered in June, which formed an expose of the global movement of meat, leather and cosmetics ingredients made from Brazilian cattle, and prompted calls for action from key international companies. 

It is estimated that clearing tropical forests for agriculture produces 17% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions – more than the global transport system.

Nike, Adidas, Timberland and Clarkes were among the companies who threatened to cancel contracts unless their beef and leather products were guaranteed free from raw materials linked to Amazon destruction.  Now meat companies Marfrig, Bertin, JBS-Friboi and Minerva have signed a formal moratorium in which they pledge better protection for the rainforest.

John Sauven, head of Greenpeace, said: ‘British companies have helped make this happen by getting tough with their suppliers, but this is not the end of the story. We now need to make sure that this agreement is properly enforced and extended to the entire cattle industry in Brazil.'

Greenpeace is calling for companies to refuse to buy products sourced from farms that have carried out illegal deforestation.  It wants consumers to pressure supermarkets and high street brands identified in the report to clean up supply chains.

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