Woolworths, come clean on your deforestation risk
WHY THIS CAMPAIGN
Why are The Wilderness Society and SIX campaigning on Woolworth's deforestation risk?
Australia is a global hotspot for deforestation: we lead the world in mammal extinctions and are in second place on biodiversity loss.1
Big corporations are driving this deforestation, 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).1
Woolworths (ASX: WOW) is one of these big companies complicit in Australia’s deforestation crisis through their supply chain. Supermarkets are the biggest buyers of beef in Australia and regularly use timber products like pallets in their operations, meaning products made through deforestation could be coming in and out of their stores everyday.
In August 2024, Woolworths announced a “no deforestation” target to be implemented by 31 December 2025.2 It’s 2025 now, and the company has still not shared how they plan to meaningfully implement that promise and ensure our groceries are not contributing to forest and bushland destruction.
As the first of the two supermarket giants to set a commitment to going deforestation-free, Woolworths can set the standard for deforestation-free groceries. So they need to get it right, with not just words but action.
SIX and The Wilderness Society are building shareholder power to push Woolworths to properly and transparently implement their no-deforestation plans.
Where is Coles?
Coles is trailing behind with no public commitments to ensure the products they are sourcing are not coming from forest and bushland destruction. Coles must follow Woolworths’ lead in adopting and adhering to a robust deforestation-free commitment by December 2025.
PROBLEM
Deforestation is rife across Australia: Over half of Australia’s forest cover has been destroyed since colonisation, with devastating effects. Deforestation is driving climate change, wildlife extinctions, soil erosion, an increase in invasive species, and degradation of water quality – not to mention the significant cultural impacts for First Nations peoples. 3
Australians don’t want supermarket products that come from deforestation: Research conducted by Fiftyfive5 for The Wilderness Society revealed that over two-thirds of Australians expect the supermarkets to make sure products they sell don’t come from Australian forest destruction.4
A commitment was made, but action is vague: The Wilderness Society’s Corporate Deforestation Benchmark placed Woolworths within a category of companies who “disguise”. The well-known, customer-facing company has made a commitment to go deforestation-free - but little public information on what they’re doing, if anything, to turn their promise into reality.5 Failing to properly disclose plans to address deforestation poses a risk to Australian wildlife and ecosystems, as well as Woolworths customers and shareholders.
OPPORTUNITY
Implement best-practice targets now: We’re calling on Woolworths to continue to be a leader in forest and bushland protection by showing the community and their shoppers how they plan to implement targets in line with global best-practice. It's time for them to get on with the job of actually removing deforestation from their supply chain.
Woolworths could be an industry leader by acting now: Other supermarkets like Coles (ASX: COL) and IGA (owned by Metcash Limited, ASX: MTS) pay close attention to what their competition is doing. Coles is still in the process of setting a no-deforestation target, but Woolworths is ahead of them by already having one – which means Woolworths has the opportunity to set the standard across the sector!
TAKE ACTION NOW!
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References
[1] The Wilderness Society, Deforestation, https://www.wilderness.org.au/protecting-nature/deforestation
[2] Woolworths Group, Woolworths Group No-Deforestation Policy and Supplier Guidance, January 2025, https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/content/dam/wwg/sustainability/2025/POL.089%20Policy%20-%20Woolworths%20Group%20No-Deforestation%20Policy%20V1.pdf
[3] The Wilderness Society, Deforestation explained, https://www.wilderness.org.au/protecting-nature/deforestation/deforestation-explained
[4] The Wilderness Society, Research: Australians want companies to end deforestation, https://www.wilderness.org.au/images/resources/Research-Australians-want-companies-to-help-protect-forests.pdf
[5] The Wilderness Society, Corporate Deforestation Benchmark (Bulletin 2 - those who disguise), https://www.wilderness.org.au/deforestationuncovered/bulletin-2
