Thanks to growing environmental awareness among consumers, more and more companies are committing to reducing their impact on the planet. However, relatively few companies in the consumer goods sector have adopted a specific procedure to ensure sustainable sourcing. This is what emerged from the Slow Road to Sustainability report by the WWF, published ahead of the annual Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) summit, held in South Africa from 15 to 17 June.

Only 14% of companies have reduced their impact

The research conducted by WWF examines the performance of 256 consumer goods brands that are members of the Forum. According to the environmental organisation, only twenty-two of the world's most important companies — around 14 per cent — have made a serious commitment to reducing their environmental impact and ensuring sustainable sourcing of perishable raw materials such as paper, soy, palm oil, cane sugar and farmed fish.

The consequences for the planet

Demand for the aforementioned products, derived from forests, agriculture and fisheries, is growing, and meeting this demand is placing unsustainable pressure on forests, ecosystems, waterways, oceans and the climate, jeopardising the livelihoods of local communities.

Two Italian companies among the sustainable ones

As noted, among the companies assessed by WWF — through analysis of annual reports, sustainability reports and websites — only twenty-two have set targets aimed at meeting the recommended certification standards in the medium to long term. Among the few companies to pass the assessment, two Italian brands stand out: the Sofidel group, a company specialising in the production of paper for hygienic and domestic use, known in Italy in particular for the Regina brand, and the Ferrero group, the well-known confectionery company.

Sustainable sourcing

"Companies, especially the largest producers and buyers of perishable raw materials, as well as many of the manufacturing brands and retailers, have a fundamental role to play in steering production towards sustainability," said Stephen Watson, head of WWF's Market Transformation Initiative, an initiative aimed at promoting sustainable sources of primary resource production.

100% certified sourcing by 2020

WWF has called on companies, in particular those that are members of the Consumer Goods Forum, to make a public commitment to achieving 100 per cent sourcing of certified perishable raw materials by 2020.