SIX, along with our partner the Wilderness Society, have hit Woolworths with shareholder resolutions demanding they stop winding back their no-deforestation commitment!

The shareholder resolution comes just days after Woolworths effectively gutted its no-deforestation commitment, listing beef as a “low-risk” commodity for deforestation and continuing to rely on flawed certification for timber products like pallets used across its supply chain.

‍Shareholders shouldn’t need to lodge resolutions to get Woolworths to stick to their own commitments on deforestation.

In August 2024, Woolworths announced a “no deforestation” target, promising to eliminate deforestation from its supply chains by 31 December 2025. Now, with about four months until Woolworths must prove its groceries are not coming from deforestation, the supermarket must ensure its actions reflect the scale and urgency of Australia’s deforestation problem.

‍The resolutions urge Woolworths to act on beef as the high risk commodity that it is and reconsider its reliance on a dodgy timber certification, in line with the best practice requirements of the Science-Based Targets initiative (this requires companies in the Forest, Land and Agriculture sector, including retailers, to commit to deforestation-free supply chains in order to meet climate targets.)

Australia is a global hotspot for deforestation. We lead the world in mammal extinctions and are in second place on biodiversity loss. Big corporations drive this by destroying hundreds of thousands of hectares of Australia's unique forests and bushland every year for agricultural expansion, to make way for pasture to raise cattle for beef, and logging, for timber, paper and pulp products.

The Woolworths AGM this year is shaping up as a centrepiece for how our big supermarkets are responding to our urgent nature risks. The deforestation resolutions will sit alongside our Save the Skate resolution submitted back in April. This is a chance for Woolworths to hear loud and clear - to stop deforestation and to stop an extinction.

‍Victoria Jack, Campaigner for the Wilderness Society said,

“The resolutions send a clear signal that shareholders think it’s time for Woolworths to get real and properly deal with deforestation-risk. They won’t accept empty promises, Woolworths made a public commitment to ensure the products it’s sourcing and using are deforestation-free, and both customers and investors are expecting them to deliver meaningful action.” 

“By lodging these resolutions, shareholders are holding Woolworths to account and making sure deforestation will be in the spotlight at the AGM in October.

“With about four months until Woolworths needs to prove its groceries are not coming from deforestation, Woolworths must ensure its commitment and actions reflect the scale and urgency of Australia’s deforestation problem.

“Woolworths has chosen to rely on a flawed classification of beef as ‘low risk’ not because it’s accurate, but because it suits them. It’s not in line with international best practice. And at the same time they’re relying on a dodgy certification for their timber products, which won’t ensure their supply chain is free from pallets made of native forests.

“Aussie families don’t expect to be eating groceries that could be from bulldozed koala habitat. Yet without robust implementation of genuine corporate deforestation-free commitments, that’s what could be on the shelves.”‍

Phoebe Rountree, Campaigns Manager at SIX, said,

“In the very same week Coles announces they’ll source deforestation-free beef for their own brand products, Woolworths is winding back their own deforestation-free commitments. It is a disturbing development.

“Shareholders won’t allow Woolworths to weasel out of their no- deforestation commitments.

“Shareholders expect better. We shouldn’t need to lodge resolutions to get Woolworths to stick to their own commitments on deforestation.  Shareholders shouldn’t need to step in to stop Woolworths taking careless risks with their own brand by damaging nature. 

“This resolution marks a clear message from shareholders to Woolworths on nature risk. It’s time Woolworths listens and acts.” 

SIX and the Wilderness Society will continue to engage with Woolworths ahead of their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in late October, and we hope they choose to act well before the AGM to save our forests and bushlands!