Why Deforestation Matters for the Restaurant Industry and How to Help

How is deforestation linked to the food industry?

Driven by population growth and increasing food demand, agriculture is responsible for 80% of global deforestation, making it the leading cause of forest loss worldwide. This means that, for any business in the hospitality industry, understanding the connection between food sourcing and deforestation is crucial. A proactive approach to addressing this issue across the industry can help to turn the tide.

Chefs and procurement teams must create rigorous sourcing policies to avoid contributing to deforestation. Understanding your supply chain and the overall impact of your ingredients is critical; we all need to be aware of the ingredients and products that contribute to deforestation.

In addition to the ethical and environmental imperatives, this area is also subject to increasingly stringent legislation; governments around the world are introducing and tightening laws that combat deforestation. These differ hugely in terms of which commodities are in scope, what level of reporting is required for due diligence, and the types and sizes of businesses in question, but it is likely that your business will be required to report on this sooner or later, if it isn’t already. It is important to be aware of which regulations exist and which might affect your business, and to be prepared ahead of more legislation coming down the line.

What foods are the biggest drivers of deforestation?

Food production is the major driver of this catastrophe. In fact, beef, soy and palm oil combined are responsible for a whopping 60% of tropical deforestation, while cocoa and coffee are other significant contributors. This implicates our food system as a major culprit in driving both habitat loss and the climate crisis. 

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as focusing on just these ingredients themselves; deforestation is a problem that’s hidden, or embedded, in many other foods. Palm oil is a staple ingredient in a myriad of everyday products (including processed foods but also many non-food items, like cleaning products). When it comes to soy, many people immediately think of secondary products like tofu or soy milk – but, in reality, only 6% of global soybean production is directly used as human food. Over three-quarters (77%) of global soy is fed to livestock – primarily beef and poultry – for meat and dairy production.

How can restaurants fight deforestation?

Chefs and restaurants are on the front lines of our food system, and our procurement choices can have huge ramifications. It’s our responsibility (and our opportunity) to ensure this impact is positive, not negative. Here are some ways you can avoid contributing to deforestation, helping to prepare your business for associated legislation in the process.

1. Building strong and transparent relationships with suppliers is key. Look for suppliers who are committed to tracing and verifying the origins of their products and who will keep you informed when there is a relevant change in the supply chain.
2. When sourcing animal products, always ask about how the animals were fed and the embedded risk of deforestation, even with locally-sourced options.
3. Meat, soy and palm oil are the biggest contributors to global deforestation, but it’s also important to be vigilant when dealing with high-risk products like coffee and chocolate. Interrogate your supply chain to guarantee responsible sources.
4. We’re always stronger when we work together. Join collaborative efforts, such as the UK Soy Manifesto, to drive change.
5. Get involved in reforestation and conservation projects, whether it’s planting trees at a local level – perhaps as as a team-building activity – or raising money for bigger global efforts.
6. Use reusable packaging and utensils wherever possible. Where single-use items are truly necessary, always choose FSC-certified biodegradable items.
7. Increase the proportion of whole-food plant-based items on your menu and make it easy for your customers to choose more plant-forward options. WRI’s ‘Food Service Playbook for Promoting Sustainable Food Choices’ is an excellent source of inspiration for how to go about this.

For further support or questions on deforestation, drop us an email at hello@thesra.org. We’ve also developed a detailed resource to help businesses navigate the complex legalities of this issue – just ask in your email!