SIMIC

GLOBAL demand for beef continues to drive the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, with farmers clearing vast forest areas for grazing land, reports Lyons' EuroNews.

However, new findings suggest that the products would never leave Brazil without the support of some of the world¡¯s largest shipping companies.



The Bureau of Investigative Journalism investigation revealed that European shipping giants play a critical role in transporting beef and leather linked to deforestation to global markets.



The report uncovered that over 500,000 tonnes of these products were exported in just two years despite increasing awareness of the environmental impact of deforestation.



Between August 2021 and July 2023, data from consultancy AidEnvironment showed that 4,600 square kilometres of forest loss in the Amazon could be traced to just 12 meat processing plants in Brazil.



These plants are operated by the country's three largest beef producers¡ªJBS, Minerva, and Marfrig¡ªcompanies that are frequently criticized for their links to deforestation.



Despite this, the products continue to reach international markets, transported in hundreds of consignments by major European shipping companies.



These include Hapag-Lloyd, CGM-CMA, Maersk, and MSC, all key players in global shipping logistics.



Most shipping companies enforce policies to block the transportation of certain goods, such as illegally logged timber or trafficked wildlife, in line with international regulations.



However, no such restrictions currently exist for beef and leather linked to deforestation.



This regulatory gap allows these products to move largely unchecked, with little scrutiny of their origins.



The findings highlight the role of shipping companies as silent enablers in the global trade driving Amazon's destruction.



Environmental advocates warn that the deforestation crisis will continue unabated without meaningful oversight or industry-wide rules.