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  • Overall approach
    2/14
    • Overarching commitment on deforestation
      0/6
    • Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
      1/1
      Signatory
      Yes
      1/1
      Soy Moratorium; Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 partner; UN Global Compact, Soft Commodities Forum, Soy Working Group.
      Cofco state that they are a Tropical Forest Alliance Steering Committee member and participant of the UN Global Compact and Soft Commodities Forum. They are also signatory to the Soy Moratorium and an active member of the Soy Working Group.
      Open source document
    • Awareness of the value of forests
      1/1
      Awareness
      Yes
      1/1
      "Soybeans supplied shall be sourced from land that has not been converted from HCV areas to other categories of land-use, applying the following cut-off dates".
      Open source document
    • Target to reduce emissions from land-use change
      0/3
    • Reporting on emissions from land-use change
      0/3
  • Commodity score
    19/86
    • Palm oil
      21/86
      • Commitment Strength
        11/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          11/15
          • Commitment details
            Conversion-free commitment
            8/8
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Conversion-free commitment
            8/8
            Type of commitment: Zero conversion
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1/1
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
            Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO International state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1/1
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
        • Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
          0/11
          • Commitment details
            No
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/11
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
      • Reporting and Implementation
        2/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          0/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to protect High Carbon Stock areas and/or peatlands
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1.3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          No monitoring
          0/4
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          "Should a supplier fail to comply with these Principles, COFCO International reserves the right to demand corrective measures to promptly rectify any such failure, which may lead to remedial measures, including for example immediate termination of business relationship."  
          Open source document
        • Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/4
      • Social Considerations
        8/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          COFCO suppliers are required to "obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from indigenous and local communities for the use of their customary lands prior to agricultural development."
          Open source document
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          COFCO require their suppliers to ensure their workers' rights to have freedom of association, and to be free from discrimination, forced labour, and child labour. 
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/4
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
    • Soy
      38/86
      • Commitment Strength
        15/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          15/21
          • Commitment details
            Conversion-free commitment
            10.7/10.7
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Conversion-free commitment
            10.7/10.7
            Type of commitment: Zero conversion
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1.5
            Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1.5
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            Yes
            1.5/1.5
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/2
            Target date
            No deadline
            0/2
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/2
            Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/2
            In their Supplier Code of Conduct, COFCO state requirements of all their commodity suppliers, including: "Use environmental practices that avoid deforestation and protect against conversion of natural and critical habitats leading to a loss of biodiversity."
            Open source document
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/15
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/5.3
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/2
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/2
      • Reporting and Implementation
        11/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          3/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            3/3
            Commitment to protect priority forests
            Yes
            3/3
            2018 - "1,002 pre-financed suppliers screened in the amazon and cerrado biomes, covering 955,000 hectares of soy farms."
            Open source document
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/3
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Deforestation cut off date
          Yes
          2/2
          Deforestation cut off date
          Yes
          2/2
          2008
          Cofco are signatory to the Soy Moratorium, which prohibits financing or sourcing of soy produced on deforested land in Amazon biome after 2008.
          Open source document
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          Non-specific monitoring statement
          2/4
          Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          Non-specific monitoring statement
          2/4
          COFCO "use geo-mapping to track supplier compliance."
          Open source document
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          Engage with suppliers but with no time-bound threat of exclusion
          2/4
          "Should a supplier fail to comply with these Principles, COFCO International reserves the right to demand corrective measures to promptly rectify any such failure, which may lead to remedial measures, including for example immediate termination of business relationship."  
          Open source document
        • Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          Collaborative actions
          Yes
          2/2
          Providing support/advice/experience/expertise
          Cofco state that they are currently contributing to the development of AgroIdeal - a tool used to map and facilitate sustainable soy production expansion in South America.
          Open source document
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/4
      • Social Considerations
        12/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          COFCO suppliers are required to "obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from indigenous and local communities for the use of their customary lands prior to agricultural development."
          Open source document
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          COFCO require their suppliers to ensure their workers' rights to have freedom of association, and to be free from discrimination, forced labour, and child labour. 
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/4
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          Yes
          4/4
          Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          Yes
          4/4
          "In southern Brazil, many rely on soy for a subsistence livelihood. Here, we are working under Brazil’s Social Fuel Stamp programme to expand opportunities for smallholder soy farmers for our biofuel production. The programme means we must ensure that 40% of our investment in soy for biodiesel supports smallholder farmer livelihoods."
          Open source document
    • Pulp & Paper
      8/86
      • Commitment Strength
        0/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          0/15
          • Commitment details
            No commitment
            0/8
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
        • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
          0/11
          • Commitment details
            No
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/11
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/4
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/1.3
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/1.3
      • Reporting and Implementation
        0/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          0/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to reduce use of virgin wood fibre
            No
            0/1.3
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/1.3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          No monitoring
          0/4
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          No engagement or exclusion
          0/4
        • Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/4
      • Social Considerations
        8/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          COFCO suppliers are required to "obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from indigenous and local communities for the use of their customary lands prior to agricultural development."
          Open source document
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          COFCO require their suppliers to ensure their workers' rights to have freedom of association, and to be free from discrimination, forced labour, and child labour. 
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/4
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
    • Timber
      8/86
      • Commitment Strength
        0/36
        • Commitment to protect priority forests
          0/21
          • Commitment details
            No commitment
            0/10.7
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/2
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/2
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          0/15
          • Commitment details
            No traceability commitment
            0/5.3
          • Commitment applies to all sourcing regions
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all operations
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all direct suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Commitment applies to all indirect suppliers
            No
            0/1.5
          • Target date
            No deadline
            0/2
          • Target is quantifiable
            No
            0/2
      • Reporting and Implementation
        0/34
        • Reporting against commitments
          0/6
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/3
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/3
        • Reporting is independently verified
          0/4
          • Commitment to protect priority forests
            No
            0/2
          • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            No
            0/2
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Monitoring and verification of supplier compliance
          No monitoring
          0/4
        • Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          No engagement or exclusion
          0/4
        • Publishing supplier lists
          No disclosure
          0/4
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Report volumes of commodity
          No reporting
          0/4
      • Social Considerations
        8/16
        • Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          Commitment to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          Yes
          4/4
          COFCO suppliers are required to "obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) from indigenous and local communities for the use of their customary lands prior to agricultural development."
          Open source document
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          4/4
          Discrimination; Forced Labour; Child Labour; Freedom of association
          COFCO require their suppliers to ensure their workers' rights to have freedom of association, and to be free from discrimination, forced labour, and child labour. 
          Open source document
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          No commitment
          0/4
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
          Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/4
          Open source document
  • Commitment strength
    7/36
    Avg. score
  • Reporting and Implementation
    3/34
    Avg. score
  • Social considerations
    9/16
    Avg. score

Profile

COFCO is a leading agribusiness company in China producing, processing, manufacturing and trading in agricultural products and foodstuffs. It is one of the major players in the Chinese soya industry with two prominent Chinese subsidiaries. There are further processing facilities in Argentina and Brazil. The company is also a major exporter of soy from Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, especially with its 100% acquisition of Nidera, a global commodity trader, in 2016. COFCO’s animal feed production is among the ten largest globally. Another subsidiary has one of the largest forestry concessions in Gabon with estimates of up to 900,000 hectares. The extent of its commodity trading and its food production also exposes the company to palm oil.

Sector
Industry sector 
Agri commodities, Forestry, Packaged food
Segments
Producer, Manufacturer
HQ
HQ 
China
Company Type
Company type 
State owned
Collective Commitments
Consumer Goods Forum member
New York Declaration on Forests signatory

How we assess the Forest 500

To ensure deforestation free supply chains, companies need to adopt and implement timebound and measurable policies for forest risk commodities.

All assessments use policies published on company websites, some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Full corporate sector performance data Forest 500 assessment methodology

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Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our terms and conditions for use of data presented on this site.

All assessments use policies published on company and financial institution websites, and while we endeavor to keep them updated some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.