KYOTO, 8th June 2023 — The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a Race to Zero Accelerator, has today launched a new tool that provides companies in the consumer goods and grocery retail sector with a mapping of industry assets – including technology platforms and industry alliances – that give consumer industry companies an easier, more efficient way to get started or accelerate progress on regenerative agriculture. 

The Climate x Nature x Ag Ecosystem Map marks the CGF’s next stage of its role as an official accelerator of the Race to Zero, supporting the UN Climate Change High Level Champions in rallying faster progress from the consumer goods industry and to help companies reduce Scope 3 carbon emissions. The launch also signals a key moment in the Nature-Positive for Climate Action campaign in the run up to COP28. 

Launched at the CGF’s Global Summit in Kyoto, Japan, the Climate x Nature x Ag Ecosystem Map is a partnership between the CGF, Race to Zero, Accenture and Environmental Defense Fund. It was developed in collaboration with members of the CGF Race to Zero Taskforce.

Now live on the CGF’s Carbon Solutions Hub, the Climate x Nature x Ag Ecosystem Map highlights a curated selection of assets to help kick-start or advance action on land and agricultural emissions. The Map supports users wherever they are on their decarbonisation journey, as described by the Race to Zero criteria – starting with guidance (Pledge), target-setting (Plan) and through to implementation (Proceed), data management and reporting (Publish).

H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High Level Champion from the COP28 Presidency, said: 

“The implications of your [consumer] goods, your products, your services, from production to disposal significantly affect our transition to a net zero society. In this crucial year, let’s reevaluate our ambitions towards net zero and nature-positive goals. As industry leaders let’s unite to halve the environmental impact of our products by 2030.”

Oliver Wright, Global Lead of Accenture’s Consumer Goods & Services industry practice, said

“The most significant long term challenge facing our industry is achieving consumption that is both good for human beings and sustainable for the planet. This is an enormous opportunity for consumer goods companies and retailers to reinvent and build resilient businesses that harness sustainability as a source of long term profitable growth.  This can only be achieved by working alone and together.  Agriculture is a major part of the puzzle and the Climate x Nature Ag Ecosystem tool can play a major part in putting us on the path to net-zero emissions.”

Wai-Chan Chan, Managing Director of The Consumer Goods Forum, said:

“While the scale of the climate challenges we face are unprecedented, they are also shared – so collaborative approaches to increase the Race to Zero are key. This new tool marks the next stage of CGF’s Race to Zero journey and demonstrates the positive impact the industry can bring through partnership.”

“Reducing scope 3 emissions is one of the most urgent challenges facing companies across our industry, and we must work collectively to share learnings and resources. While many organisations are making vital progress to keep 1.5°C alive, we know we must all go faster and further together, to drive the pace of change required.”

The CGF is the only CEO-led organisation that represents both consumer goods manufacturers and retailers globally, bringing together senior leaders from more than 400 organisations across 70 countries. As an official accelerator of the UN’s Race to Zero campaign, the CGF is working to support members’ decarbonisation efforts and using its influential reach to increase awareness of the campaign.

Since the CGF became an accelerator, the proportion of CGF members signed up for Race to Zero has more than doubled (21% to 54%). To date, almost 60 CGF members are already committed to halving their emissions by 2030, and to reach net zero by 2050 at the latest.

Today’s announcement came at the CGF’s Global Summit in Kyoto as part of a session titled ‘Accelerating the Race To Zero’, which explored the urgent need to advance the global decarbonisation effort and highlighted the launch of the new Climate x Nature x Ag Ecosystem Map.

Senior leaders speaking at the session were: 

  • Her Excellency Ms. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for COP28
  • Ramon Laguarta, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Pepsio
  • Frans Muller, President & CEO, Ahold Delhaize
  • Oliver Wright, Senior Managing Director – Global Consumer Goods & Services Lead, Accenture
  • Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO, Danone

ENDS

For more information, please contact: Natalie Cush or Maggie Leung

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About The Consumer Goods Forum

The Consumer Goods Forum (“CGF”) is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 4.6 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 55 manufacturer and retailer CEOs. For more information, please visit: www.theconsumergoodsforum.com.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent and innovation led company with 738,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Accenture Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients succeed and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

About Race to Zero

Race to Zero is led by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, who engage non-State actors to support governments in delivering the goals of the Paris Agreement. Working with the Marrakech Partnership – a global alliance of more than 320 major initiatives and coalitions – the High-Level Champions enhance the ambition of cities, regions, businesses and investors and other non-State actors, to collectively race towards a fair, resilient and zero carbon world.

About Environmental Defense Fund

One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organisations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund

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