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JBS

OVERALL

Owned
BRA
Rating
Criticisms

Meat processor

Founded in Brasil in 1953, today they are the world's largest meat processing company with interests around the world in beef, lamb, pork and chicken meat production. The company operates 150 industrial plants around the world in countries including Brazil, Argentina, USA and Australia, the world's four leading beef producing nations. 40% owned by the founding Batista family.

Company Ownership

JBS SA   BRA     website         
  J&F Investimentos SA   
   owns 40% of JBS SA  
BRA     website         

Investment company

Owned by one of Brazil's richest families, the Batistas, who control JBS, the largest meatpacker in the world, plus investments in industrial, media and banking businesses.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
JBS SA
Environment CDP Forests Score of B
In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of B.
Source: CDP (2019)
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of B
In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of B.
Source: CDP (2019)
Social CDP Water Security Score of B
In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of B.
Source: CDP (2019)
Animals Tier 3 in farm animal welfare rankings
The 2019 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 3, "Established but work to be done", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
Source: BBFAW (2019)
Environment Illegal grazing in the Amazon
According to a 2020 report by Amnesty International, cattle illegally grazed in protected areas of Brazil's Amazon rainforest have entered this company's supply chain. JBS contributes to human rights abuses against Indigenous peoples and residents of Reserves by participating in the economic incentives for cattle illegally grazed in protected areas. JBS has been aware of these risks since 2009, but has failed to implement an effective monitoring system for its supply chain.
Source: Amnesty (2020)
Environment Deforestation in Brazil
Amazon Watch's 2020 report, Complicity in Destruction III, reveals how a network of leading international financial institutions is linked to conflicts on indigenous lands, illegal deforestation, land grabbing, the weakening of environmental protections, and the production and export of conflict commodities. The report found that this agribusiness company has been directly or indirectly involved in conflicts affecting Indigenous peoples and their territories.
Source: Amazon Watch (2020)
Social 15/100 in KnowTheChain Benchmark
In 2018 KnowTheChain benchmarked 120 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 15/100.
Source: KnowTheChain (2018)
Business Ethics 14.8% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 14.8/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek (2017)
Business Ethics 19/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 19/100 in the Food Products category of the 2019 SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices. The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2019)
Environment 39% in Forest 500 Rankings
The Forest 500 identifies, ranks, and tracks the governments, companies and financial institutions worldwide that together could virtually eradicate tropical deforestation. Rankings are based on their public policies and commitments and potential impacts on tropical forests in the context of forest risk commodities (palm oil, soy, beef, leather, timber and paper). This company received a score of 39%.
Source: Forest 500 (2019)
Social Water risk management
In their 2019 report 'Feeding Ourselves Thirsty', Ceres looks at how food sector companies are responding to water risks. 40 companies were assessed on a 0-100 point basis across four categories of water management: governance and management, direct operations, manufacturing supply chain and agricultural supply chain. This company received a score of 22.
Source: Ceres (2019)
Business Ethics Part owned by J&F Investimentos, which has criticisms
This company is 40% owned by J&F Investimentos, which has criticisms and an overall Shop Ethical rating of 'F'
Source: Shop Ethical (2018)
Environment Alleged links to deforestation and slavery
Brazilian prosecutors have brought a civil lawsuit against this company, alleging that over the last four years, JBS purchased cattle from land in the Amazon that was illegally deforested and from farms linked to slavery. However, JBS has insisted that all cattle purchased from Acre comply with its commitment to the mandates of the Brazilian Environmental Agency and the Ministry of Labour.
Source: news article (2011)
Environment Deforestation and slave labour
Despite making commitments in Oct 2009 to no longer purchase cattle from ranches that have recently deforested or that are located on indigenous lands in the Amazon, this 2011 Greenpeace report reveals that JBS purchased cattle from properties connected to deforestation, slave labour and invasion of indigenous land in the Brazilian Amazon in early 2011, in contravention of their agreement. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Greenpeace (2011)
Business Ethics Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef member
This company is a member of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), who's stated mission is to advance continuous improvement in sustainability of the global beef value chain through leadership, science and multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration. However the GSRB has been criticised by a group of NGOs for its failure to address misuse of antibiotics and animal welfare concerns, among other things (http://bit.ly/1xWw5pV).
Source: GRSB (2017)
Business Ethics Leather Working Group member
This company is a member of the Leather Working Group, a multi-stakeholder group who's objective is to develop and maintain a protocol that assesses the compliance and environmental performance of tanners and promotes sustainable and appropriate environmental business practices within the leather industry.
Source: Leather Working Group (2019)
Environment Commitment to Zero Deforestation in Amazon
As a result of the Greenpeace report 'Slaughtering the Amazon', JBS committed to no longer buying cattle raised in areas of the Amazon that were deforested after Sept. 23, 2009. They also announced that they will remove from its suppliers' lists any farms in the region involved with slave labor or caught raising cattle on Indigenous Lands or Protected Areas.
Source: Greenpeace (2009)
Environment FAIRR Protein Producer Index
The Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index is a comprehensive assessment of how this sector is managing critical sustainability risks factors: GHGs; deforestation and biodiversity; water scarcity; water pollution; antibiotics; animal welfare; working conditions; food safety. This company was rated as medium risk.
Source: FAIRR (2019)
Information OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2014)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Revenue US$38.7 billion in 2019
Employees 233,797 in 2017
Subsidiaries JBS USA Holdings Inc 

Meat processor

Previously known as Swift & Company. Bought by Brazil's JBS in 2007, creating the world's #1 beef processor and exporter.


  - JBS Australia Pty Ltd 

Meat processor

Australia's largest beef and lamb processing company, operating ten processing plants and five feedlots. Owned by Brazil's JBS, the world's biggest beef processor and exporter. Bought Australia Meat Holdings in 2007, Tasman Group in 2008, Rockdale beef and Tatiara Meat in 2010 and Andrews Meat and Primo in 2014.


  - Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (78% owned) 

Poultry provider

Contact Details

Address Sao Paulo, Brazil
Website www.jbs.com.br

Products / Brands

JBS Australia
Beef City Black Beef
Friboi Beef
King Island Beef Beef
Swift Premium Beef
Tasmanian Premium Beef


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