Collaborative Engagements
Engagement Overview
What are collaborative engagements?
Engagement refers to the process undertaken by an institutional investor, or a group of institutional investors, to achieve a desired change in company disclosures, strategies or practices.
Investors with exposure to a company in their portfolio via shares, bonds, debt or other financial instruments use their ownership of the company or its capital as leverage, to enter a process of dialogue and evaluation. Collaborative investor engagements, such as those typically run by FAIRR, enable investors to join a larger group of institutions to amplify their impact and accelerate change. Investors may enter into a collaborative engagement for the following reasons:
Individual investors may have limited influence due to the size of their holdings.
The greater the aggregate support for an issue – in number of investors and AUM – the stronger the signal it sends to both target companies and the wider market.
Knowledge building. Investors may not have the knowledge to launch their own engagement and want to learn from experts or other investors.
FAIRR operates engagements on behalf of its investor members, functioning as an outsourced stewardship or engagement team for investors who typically have limited capacity to engage many companies in their portfolio. The FAIRR team coordinates the process, creates all documents and conducts all research and evaluation required. Investors can further learn from each other and FAIRR expertise during the course of an engagement.
How do engagements work?
FAIRR is responsible for coordinating engagements that are supported by our investor members. All our engagements have clear objectives underpinned by assessment frameworks informed by leading academics and industry experts, investors and corporates. These are used to measure and report on company progress.
The engagement process is structured around 4 fundamental actions:
Formal notification of companies via an engagement letter signed by supporting investors;
Formal dialogue with companies in meetings held with small group of investor representing the broader coalition;
Measuring company progress based on primary (company response to letter and meetings) and secondary (public disclosure including company websites, media, reports) data;
Reporting on progress against the engagement objective.
Latest Activity
Report Launch: Protein Diversification Phase 1 Progress Report
Explore the latest report, which assesses how 20 of the largest food retailers and manufacturers are diversifying their protein portfolios as a means to reduce the material risks associated with animal protein production and seize new market opportunities.
Report Launch: Waste and Pollution Phase 2 Report
Explore the latest report, which focuses on the progress made by companies in the second phase of this engagement, as well as areas where there remain significant gaps with leading practices.
Report Launch: From Farms to Forks: Antibiotic Stewardship
In May 2023, FAIRR launched two engagements; Animal Pharmaceuticals (Phase 2) and Restaurant Antibiotics (Phase 1). The engagements aim to improve transparency around how companies operating at different stages of the protein value chain are working to ensure responsible antibiotic use at the farm level.
The report highlights key findings, provides company-specific examples, and explains how companies could improve disclosure to demonstrate that they are addressing the systemic risk of AMR.
New Insight: Protein Diversification: A Tool to Address Climate, Nature, and Public Health Risks'
The overconsumption of animal protein in Western geographies is leading to adverse impacts on climate, nature, and human health. FAIRR’s new insight piece explores how transitioning to the consumption of plant-based proteins can address these three impacts.
New Report: Working Conditions Engagement Progress Update 2023/24
FAIRR’s third progress update on the Working Conditions engagement provides in-depth analysis on the performance of six global meat producers across a range of material labour risk factors and explores key industry trends. The engagement focuses on raising worker voice in corporate structures through three key themes: health and safety, fair working conditions, and worker representation.
Engagement Launch: Protein Diversification Engagement
Following six successful years of engaging companies on the need to diversify their protein portfolio, FAIRR has closed its Sustainable Proteins engagement. Building on key learnings, integrating the latest scientific guidance, and acknowledging market changes, FAIRR is pleased to launch its Protein Diversification engagement with 20 global food manufacturers and retailers.
Report Launch: Waste & Pollution Engagement
In September 2022, FAIRR launched a first-of-its-kind collaborative investor engagement aiming to drive ten global pork and poultry producers to conduct meaningful risk assessments around their management of manure and animal waste and to put in place action plans that reduce their impact on biodiversity. The Phase 1 Progress Report discusses how these companies assess the risks driven by the pollution across their value chains and also offers investors best practice examples. The report includes suggestions for follow-up engagement questions, a discussion of the potential opportunities of nutrient circularity, as well as granular data on the performance of companies against the assessment framework.
Biodiversity Webinar recording is now available
This webinar explored the key takeaways from the first dialogues of our biodiversity, Waste & Pollution Collaborative Engagement. It also offered members a preview of FAIRR's upcoming work on regenerative agriculture and biodiversity-wide scenario analysis.
Report Launch: Antimicrobial Resistance & Antibiotic Stewardship in the Animal Pharmaceutical Industry
In May 2022, FAIRR launched a collaborative investor engagement focused on 7 global publicly-listed animal pharmaceutical companies and is supported by 65 investors representing over $17 trillion in combined assets. The aim is to drive greater disclosure and clarity over how – and if – animal pharmaceutical companies are addressing the risk of AMR throughout their value chains, from factory to farm.
To view the progress achieved in the last year, download our latest report which discusses company efforts across manufacturing, labelling, marketing and sales practices.
Report Launch: Protein Diversification Phase 1 Progress Report
Explore the latest report, which assesses how 20 of the largest food retailers and manufacturers are diversifying their protein portfolios as a means to reduce the material risks associated with animal protein production and seize new market opportunities.
Report Launch: Waste and Pollution Phase 2 Report
Explore the latest report, which focuses on the progress made by companies in the second phase of this engagement, as well as areas where there remain significant gaps with leading practices.
Report Launch: From Farms to Forks: Antibiotic Stewardship
In May 2023, FAIRR launched two engagements; Animal Pharmaceuticals (Phase 2) and Restaurant Antibiotics (Phase 1). The engagements aim to improve transparency around how companies operating at different stages of the protein value chain are working to ensure responsible antibiotic use at the farm level.
The report highlights key findings, provides company-specific examples, and explains how companies could improve disclosure to demonstrate that they are addressing the systemic risk of AMR.
New Insight: Protein Diversification: A Tool to Address Climate, Nature, and Public Health Risks'
The overconsumption of animal protein in Western geographies is leading to adverse impacts on climate, nature, and human health. FAIRR’s new insight piece explores how transitioning to the consumption of plant-based proteins can address these three impacts.
New Report: Working Conditions Engagement Progress Update 2023/24
FAIRR’s third progress update on the Working Conditions engagement provides in-depth analysis on the performance of six global meat producers across a range of material labour risk factors and explores key industry trends. The engagement focuses on raising worker voice in corporate structures through three key themes: health and safety, fair working conditions, and worker representation.
Engagement Launch: Protein Diversification Engagement
Following six successful years of engaging companies on the need to diversify their protein portfolio, FAIRR has closed its Sustainable Proteins engagement. Building on key learnings, integrating the latest scientific guidance, and acknowledging market changes, FAIRR is pleased to launch its Protein Diversification engagement with 20 global food manufacturers and retailers.
Report Launch: Waste & Pollution Engagement
In September 2022, FAIRR launched a first-of-its-kind collaborative investor engagement aiming to drive ten global pork and poultry producers to conduct meaningful risk assessments around their management of manure and animal waste and to put in place action plans that reduce their impact on biodiversity. The Phase 1 Progress Report discusses how these companies assess the risks driven by the pollution across their value chains and also offers investors best practice examples. The report includes suggestions for follow-up engagement questions, a discussion of the potential opportunities of nutrient circularity, as well as granular data on the performance of companies against the assessment framework.
Biodiversity Webinar recording is now available
This webinar explored the key takeaways from the first dialogues of our biodiversity, Waste & Pollution Collaborative Engagement. It also offered members a preview of FAIRR's upcoming work on regenerative agriculture and biodiversity-wide scenario analysis.
Report Launch: Antimicrobial Resistance & Antibiotic Stewardship in the Animal Pharmaceutical Industry
In May 2022, FAIRR launched a collaborative investor engagement focused on 7 global publicly-listed animal pharmaceutical companies and is supported by 65 investors representing over $17 trillion in combined assets. The aim is to drive greater disclosure and clarity over how – and if – animal pharmaceutical companies are addressing the risk of AMR throughout their value chains, from factory to farm.
To view the progress achieved in the last year, download our latest report which discusses company efforts across manufacturing, labelling, marketing and sales practices.
Current Engagements
Animal Pharmaceuticals Engagement
This engagement tackles the lack of transparency from animal pharmaceutical companies over how they manufacture, market, and sell antibiotics – practices that could contribute to AMR hotspots in the environment and drive high levels of antibiotic use.
Protein Diversification Engagement
This engagement assesses 20 global food retailers and manufacturers to Integrate protein diversification into climate transition plans
Restaurant Antibiotics Engagement
This engagement addresses the quick-service restaurant sector on the need to improve antibiotic stewardship practices.
Seafood Traceability Engagement
Full-chain traceability is key to addressing ESG risks and unlocking opportunities in global seafood supply chains
Sustainable Aquaculture Engagement
Climate and Biodiversity Risk in the Farmed Salmon Industry
Waste & Pollution Engagement
Mismanagement of Manure Drives Pollution and Biodiversity Risk
Working Conditions Engagement
Unpacking Labour Risk in Global Meat Supply Chains
Previous Engagements
Antibiotics Stewardship Engagement
Overuse of Antibiotics in Protein Supply Chains
Meat Sourcing Engagement
Engaging six of the world’s biggest quick-service restaurant brands
Sustainable Proteins Engagement
Assessing 23 global food retailers and manufacturers to build climate-aligned protein portfolios
Signatory Terms of Reference
Our Collaborative Engagement Terms of Reference applies to all investor signatories involved in our collaborative engagements established and coordinated by the FAIRR Initiative (‘FAIRR’). All FAIRR members can join FAIRR-coordinated collaborative engagements. View our Terms of Reference for FAIRR Collaborative Engagements below.