You know that succulent steak sizzling on the grill? Well, it might have a bitter aftertaste of deforestation. An investigation by Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) reveals that shipping giants such as MSC, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd they are contributing to the destruction of the Amazon rainforesttransporting hundreds of thousands of tons of beef from Brazilian deforestation-related farms.
We are talking about mind-boggling figures: in just two years, these companies have moved over half a million tons of meat and leather, the equivalent of half the UK’s annual beef consumption. And where does all this meat go? On our plates, obviously, in Europe, the United States and China.
Brazilian beef is a major cause of deforestation in the Amazon. Every year, huge expanses of forest are cut down to make room for pastures for livestock. Yet, this meat would never end up on our shelves if it weren’t for the role of the shipping companies that transport it all over the world.
According to data from AidEnvironmentthe 12 meat processing plants linked to three of Brazil’s largest producers — JBS, Marfrig and Minerva — are responsible for the loss of at least 4,600 km² of forest, an area three times the size of London.
MSC, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd: the “couriers” of deforestation
There Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), leader in the sector, handled approximately 190,000 tonnes of beef and skin from these areas. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd follow closely behind, fueling trade with a very high environmental cost.
“Silent enablers“: so Alex Wijeratna of Mighty Earth defines these companies, which despite having policies against the transport of illegal timber or wildlife, turn a blind eye to the source of the beef. “They go unnoticed when it comes to legal liability,” accuses Wijeratna.
Many of these companies say they have internal policies aimed at prohibiting the transport of goods from illegal sources, such as illegally logged timber or trafficked wildlife. But they don’t exist at the moment universal regulations regulating the transport of beef and leather deriving from deforested areas. This legislative gap allows them to continue transporting these goods without suffering consequences.
European Union legislation, which was supposed to come into force at the end of 2024 to combat deforestation linked to beef and other products such as soy and palm oil, also has been postponed.
Responsibility for all phases
Shipping company policies are not enough to stop deforestation. It is not enough to declare commitments towards sustainability or support compliance with international regulations: transport companies must also assume part of the responsibility.
A crucial aspect, highlighted by Nicole Polsterer of the Fern group, is that not only meat producers must be held accountable. Every link in the supply chainfrom those who raise livestock to those who transport them, must be legally responsible for the environmental destruction it helps create. It is not enough to delegate responsibility to farmers or slaughterers: every company involved in the supply chain, including transporters, must deal with their own actions.
In a context of growing global awareness of climate change, the Amazon represents a heritage to be protected. Beef, one of the main products linked to deforestation, will continue to be at the center of the debate. As new European laws come into force and a growing call for greater transparency, shipping companies will be faced with choices.
