World’s Largest Beef Producer JBS Ends 2040 Supply Chain Net Zero Commitment

Published on: July 13, 2026•4 min read

by KnowESG

JBS drops its 2040 supply chain net zero goal, removing Scope 3 emissions from its climate targets.

Takeaways

JBS has withdrawn its 2040 value chain net zero target, removing Scope 3 emissions from its climate commitments.
The company says tracking emissions across hundreds of thousands of independent suppliers remains a major challenge.
JBS will now focus on reducing emissions from its own operations and increasing renewable electricity use by 2030.

Brazil-based meat company JBS, the world's largest producer of beef and poultry, has withdrawn its commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. The decision marks a major shift in the company's climate strategy, with its updated goals no longer covering Scope 3 emissions, which make up more than 90% of its total carbon footprint.

The change was announced alongside the release of the company's JBS Sustainability Report 2025, where Global Chief Sustainability Officer Jason Weller explained why the company had revised its approach.

According to Weller, implementing a supply chain-wide net zero target proved far more difficult than expected because JBS works with hundreds of thousands of independent farmers and ranchers across multiple countries. Each supplier follows different farming methods, operates under different conditions, and lacks a common system for measuring emissions, making consistent reporting and progress tracking extremely complex.

The announcement reflects the broader challenge facing the livestock industry, one of the most emissions-intensive sectors worldwide. Livestock farming generates large volumes of methane, a greenhouse gas with a much higher warming potential than carbon dioxide over the short term. The sector also relies on extensive global supply chains, making emissions management particularly difficult. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that livestock is responsible for about 14.5% of global human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

Weller said the company's original net zero commitment was introduced to encourage faster climate action and greater collaboration across the food system. However, he noted that expectations around corporate sustainability commitments have changed significantly. Investors, customers, regulators, and communities increasingly expect climate targets to be supported by measurable data, transparent reporting, and realistic implementation plans.

JBS has already faced legal and public scrutiny over its climate commitments. In 2024, New York's Attorney General sued the company, alleging that it had misled stakeholders by promoting a 2040 net-zero target before fully calculating its emissions or demonstrating a credible pathway to reach the goal. The case ended in 2025 with a settlement worth $1.1 million.

The company's latest sustainability report confirms that Scope 3 emissions, primarily those generated through purchased goods and services, including livestock production, represent over 90% of its total greenhouse gas emissions. By removing these emissions from its climate goals, JBS is narrowing its focus to areas where it says it has greater operational control.

Under its revised strategy, JBS will concentrate on reducing emissions from its own facilities. The company now aims to cut the intensity of its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 30% by 2030 and by 70% by 2050, using 2019 as the baseline year. It has also committed to sourcing 60% of its global electricity from renewable energy by 2030.

Also Read: Nvidia Faces Scrutiny for Lagging on AI Supply Chain Decarbonization

The revised climate plan highlights the growing tension between ambitious corporate sustainability commitments and the practical challenges of cutting emissions across complex agricultural supply chains. As companies face greater demands for accountability, many are reassessing how they set and deliver long-term climate goals.

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Source: ESGtoday