GFPT PCL

The company does not have a science-based emission reduction target.

The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050, primarily covering Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The company is advised to specify the percentage of emissions included within this scope. For commodities such as maize, soybean, and soybean meal used in animal and aquatic feed, Scope 3 emissions should also be considered. Although the carbon neutrality target encourages the inclusion of Scope 3, it is not mandatory, and the company is urged to clarify this in future disclosures.

The company does not discuss whether it is working with suppliers to reduce emissions from agriculture.

The company does not engage in innovative projects to reduce or mitigate emissions from feed farming.

The company does not engage in innovative projects to reduce or mitigate emissions from animal farming.

The company discloses its Scope 1 emissions as 17,898 tonnes CO2-eq and Scope 2 emissions as 31,866 tonnes CO2-eq for FY2023.

The company does not disclose any information on GHG emissions from animal farming. The company does not disclose any information on GHG emissions from feed production. The company does not disclose any information on GHG emissions from land use change.

The company does not disclose to the CDP climate change questionnaire. The company does not disclose whether the GHG inventory data is audited by a third party.

The company reports a 4.6% decrease in absolute total emissions (Scope 1 and 2) from 52,165 tonnes CO2-eq. in FY2022 to 49,764 tonnes CO2-eq. in FY2023, as per its 2023 Annual Report. However, it does not disclose quantitative decreases in emissions from feed, enteric fermentation, or manure management.

The company does not disclose information on a climate-related scenario analysis.

The company acknowledges that several market factors, such as weather, water, transportation, storage, supply and demand conditions, and agricultural policy, directly affect feed prices. It also recognises that climate change may lead to natural disasters and drought in feed-producing regions, causing lower crop yields and increased price volatility, ultimately raising production costs and impacting overall performance. To manage these risks, the company uses futures contracts and stores larger volumes of grains, though it acknowledges that it cannot entirely eliminate the adverse effects of grain price increases. The company does not mention increased heat stress or animal mortality, nor does it provide information on increased veterinary and medicine costs. Additionally, increased energy costs and the risks of carbon taxes on electricity or animal protein are not addressed. The company does not disclose the number of financially material events resulting from climate risks during the reporting period.

The company does not disclose its commitment to align capital expenditures with its GHG targets.

The company sources soy for animal feed but does not disclose the percentage of feed ingredients this represents. 100% of soy is not sourced from deforestation-free areas or suppliers. The company has not undertaken a deforestation-related risk assessment to identify high-risk sourcing locations.

The company does not disclose having a deforestation/conversion-free target for soy.

The company does not report progress against its commitment. Nor did it respond to the CDP Forest Questionnaire in 2022.

The company does not disclose any information on how it engages soy suppliers on deforestation and does not provide support to soy producers to encourage deforestation-free production or improve traceability.

The company does not disclose how compliance is monitored or the actions taken if non-compliance is detected. It sources soy from Brazil, the USA, and Argentina but does not specify the level of traceability for the soy from these countries.

The company does not discuss innovations or practices to move towards sustainable feed sources.

The company reports a total water consumption of 2.33 million cubic metres in 2023 and outlines diverse strategies to minimise use, including leveraging information systems to monitor and control water consumption. It emphasises continuous improvement in production processes, development, and technology to enhance water efficiency. However, the company does not disclose conducting water risk assessments, nor is there evidence of assessments for its processing facilities.

The company does not disclose a time-bound water reduction target to reduce total water withdrawals at facilities in the reporting year.

In 2023, the company reported that its water consumption consisted of 70% raw water and 30% groundwater, marking a 7.79% increase from 2022. However, the company does not disclose water withdrawals or consumption by water stress level, nor provide information on water-related CAPEX or OPEX. Additionally, there is no evidence of third-party auditing of its water-related data, and the company has not responded to the CDP Water questionnaire for the current reporting year.

The company does not address water usage in its feed supply chain. It does not discuss comprehensive guidance, support, or incentives offered to suppliers/growers on water usage and has not established a partnership with a third party to input into sourcing/farming strategy.

The company does not disclose feed water intensity or the proportion of feed sourced from water-stressed areas. Furthermore, the company does not provide evidence that it is investing in sustainable feed production from a water-use perspective.

Given increasing water constraints, the company aims to reduce water consumption to no more than 45 litres per chicken, with current progress reported at 46.30 litres per chicken for FY2023. However, the company does not disclose the proportion of animal protein commodities produced or sourced in water-stressed areas, nor does it provide comprehensive guidance or incentives to suppliers or growers regarding water use in animal farming.

The company does not disclose having established partnerships with third parties to input into sourcing/farming strategy, including water use.

The company reported no fines or legal disputes related to environmental law breaches in 2023. However, it does not disclose which processing facilities operate in high or medium water stress areas, nor does it provide targets for wastewater quality or volume.

The company reports an average daily wastewater production of 5,200 cubic meters for the current reporting year and a water consumption of 2,331,855 cubic meters in 2023. However, it does not disclose total water discharge, a breakdown by destination, or the quality of wastewater discharged in the last reporting year. Additionally, the company has not indicated whether its environmental data is subject to third-party auditing and has not responded to the CDP Water questionnaire.

The company does not disclose having improved the wastewater quality at the aggregate level compared to the previous reporting period or reduced the volume of wastewater discharged.

The company does not address nutrient management in its code of conduct. It does not disclose a requirement for feed suppliers to have a nutrient management plan in place, nor does it provide guidance, support, or incentives to suppliers/growers on nutrient management or fertiliser use in crop production.

The company does not invest in sustainable feed production to improve nutrient management or disclose information about pesticide use in its feed supply chain.

The company does not outline processes for manure management, conversion to biogas, or sustainable slurry application. Additionally, it has not specifically identified farms located in areas at high risk of nutrient pollution.

The company does not make site-specific nutrient management plans part of its supplier’s contractual agreement or its own farms management. Nor does it provide technical or financial support to suppliers or its own farms to develop nutrient management plans and improve manure storage.

The company does not integrate nutrient management performance into incentive schemes for farmers. It does not discuss innovations in manure or provide evidence of a community engagement plan in relation to pollution.

The company adheres to a "no-antibiotics-ever" programme for rearing chickens and employs various measures to enhance animal welfare and minimise antibiotic use. These include implementing biosecurity protocols based on the HACCP system, using closed evaporative cooling systems, and maintaining stringent hygiene protocols. Environmental enrichment practices support the expression of natural behaviours, reducing stress and improving health. Regular health monitoring and vaccination programmes are overseen by a team of veterinarians to prevent disease. Moreover, herbal products and probiotics are provided to promote health, further reducing antibiotic necessity. The company ensures compliance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards for agricultural animals. However, it does not disclose further details about additional measures to ensure animal welfare.

The company does not disclose the quantity of antibiotics used.

The company acknowledges the importance of animal welfare and adheres to the Five Freedoms. It is committed to engaging and training employees on animal welfare across operations. A 'Chicken Veterinarian and Technical Team' has been established to monitor animal welfare, implement disease prevention measures, and educate broiler raising operators. This team also conducts broiler health checks and educates on animal health and disease prevention. The company follows Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), ensuring humane treatment and proper care of animals, and states a zero-tolerance policy for animal abuse. However, it lacks specific details on actions for breaches of its animal welfare policy. While the company discusses evolving chicken raising systems and adherence to high standards, there is no mention of specific research and development initiatives or collaborative projects focused on advancing animal welfare.

The company raises broilers in a cage-free, air-conditioned, biologically safe system but does not provide detailed information on maintaining low stocking densities or allowing sufficient space for movement. Although it adheres to the Genesis GAP standards for animal welfare, the company does not disclose information on routine mutilation practices or the transportation of livestock for slaughter. A controlled-atmosphere stunning system is in place, ensuring humane stunning before slaughter, in line with international standards. The company provides fodder to encourage natural foraging behaviour, enhancing the chickens' strength, health, and well-being while reducing stress and fear. However, it lacks a commitment to exclude breeds with production traits that increase anatomical or metabolic disorders.

The company reports that its poultry operations are certified for animal welfare practices according to Genesis GAP and FARM F1RST standards, aligning with European requirements.

The company does not disclose information on animal welfare certifications or assurance programs for its beef operations.

The company’s poultry houses feature temperature control and natural lighting to promote animal well-being. They offer a comfortable, cage-free environment with appropriate feed and water systems, and measures for disease prevention. The company has also implemented a controlled atmosphere stunning system.

The company has established a human rights policy aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UN Guiding Principles, and International Labour Organization guidelines.

The company states that its Audit Committee oversees a continuous human rights due diligence process, identifying potential human rights impacts from its operations. It integrates evaluation results with its internal management system and implements corrective actions if violations are identified. However, the company does not disclose if it has identified vulnerable groups, ranked human rights risks by severity and likelihood, or identified any potential risks or risk areas. The company conducts supplier ESG audits to monitor supply chain issues and includes corrective action plans and follow-ups as part of this process. It reports a low social risk level in its supply chain but conducts on-site audits at only 5% of key suppliers. It also does not specify how it monitors and reviews human rights adherence or identifies next action steps in its own operations. In 2023, the company provided an average of 161 hours of training per employee, including its human rights policy. However, it does not disclose how it mitigates risks or remediates affected people and communities in its supply chain.

The company does not disclose whether it has identified any human rights risks in its operations through human rights due diligence.

The company prohibits forced labour and discrimination, but does not explicitly disclose policies on child labour, abuse, wages aligned with the cost of living, or sick pay. Its chicken processing facility is certified for Good Labour Practices and is a member of SEDEX, which audits these policies. However, the extent of such audits across other operations is unclear. The company requires suppliers to prohibit abuse, discrimination, forced labour, and child labour.

The company conducts ESG audits, including human rights requirements, for 5% of its key suppliers, but it is unclear which policies are covered in these audits. The company has established several channels for reporting complaints or feedback, ensuring confidentiality of the complainant's details. However, it does not disclose if anonymous reports are permitted or if the mechanism was developed in consultation with stakeholders. This grievance mechanism also applies to stakeholders, including suppliers. The company reported receiving no complaints about human rights violations in the reporting year but does not disclose whether it received any non-human rights-related grievances.

The company holds an ISO 45001 certification for its feed operations, reflecting a commitment to a safe working environment. It raises chickens in no-antibiotics-ever programmes. However, the company does not disclose the percentage of facilities with health and safety committees that include worker representatives.

The company reports an increase in its Lost Time Frequency Rate (LTIFR) from 7.93 per 1 million working hours in 2022 to 11.48 in 2023. It discloses no work-related fatalities in the past two years. The voluntary turnover rate is reported as 8.13% in 2023, although this figure is not broken down by seniority level.

The company states that its suppliers must comply with legal employee rights relating to associations and Collective Agreements. However, it does not provide a basic statement on the right to freedom of association, disclose unionisation rates, or describe measures supporting collective bargaining agreements and freedom of association rights.

The company provides a breakdown of its workforce, with 61% permanent and 39% temporary employees. However, it does not disclose figures for full-time versus part-time employees or the size of its subcontracted workforce. Additionally, it does not disclose the percentage or number of workers covered by collective bargaining agreements.

The company states its facilities are certified by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). However, it fails to disclose a comprehensive metric for site certification coverage. Additionally, the company does not mention a requirement for GFSI certification for suppliers or disclose the proportion of suppliers certified by GFSI.

The company conducts annual food safety audits across all operations, including internal, customer, and third-party evaluations. While it has an internal traceability system, it lacks consumer-facing traceability technology, such as blockchain. Additionally, the company does not disclose corrective action rates for facilities' non-conformances.

The company outlines a partial description of its product recall system, emphasising traceability and quality control for food safety. This system tracks products from raw material sourcing through to final distribution, allowing for rapid identification and recall within two hours. However, it lacks disclosure on roles and responsibilities, disposal procedures, and comprehensive communication plans. Additionally, the company does not disclose the number of recalls in the reporting year.

The company does not disclose information on the number or locations of market bans, nor details on product recalls or market bans. Furthermore, no product recalls or market bans were identified through media screenings during the reporting period.

The company's Nomination Remuneration and Governance Committee, consisting of five board members, oversees sustainability and reports progress to the board of directors. It has conducted a materiality assessment, presenting its findings in a matrix that covers occupational health and safety, waste and water management, energy management, responsible sourcing, and good corporate governance. This matrix is validated and reviewed by the committee. However, the company does not disclose board-level expertise in sustainability, food safety, or product development and innovation.

The company does not disclose executive monetary remuneration linked to climate or sustainability performance. Nor has it disclosed engaging with civil or trade associations on ESG issues, providing a comprehensive list of trade association memberships, or aligning any policy engagement activities with the goal of restricting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

The company describes its strategic focus on innovation, emphasising research and development for new products and the adoption of advanced technologies. It has implemented innovative practices within its vertically integrated chicken supply chains, concentrating on process and product innovation, food safety, quality assurance, and sustainable methods for raising and processing chickens. However, there is no evidence that the company benchmarks itself against peers in sustainability and innovation.

The company acknowledges the alternative meat market's growth as a significant business concern, driven by increasing consumer awareness of climate change, environmental impact, animal welfare, and health issues. It recognises that plant-based meats produce fewer emissions and have less saturated fat and cholesterol than animal products. The company anticipates a potential decline in sales and demand for its chicken meat products due to the diversity of substitute meat products. However, it does not disclose any tracking or reporting of revenue related to alternative protein sources and has not established a time-bound target to diversify its protein sources.

The company is researching and developing plant-based products to meet growing customer demand for alternative proteins, but the extent of its investment and plans to bring these products to market is unclear. The company monitors the substitute meat market's development and evaluates potential future trends. Greater clarity in future disclosures is recommended.