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Soy story: WWF scores UK supermarkets on sustainability efforts

WWF has published its latest “Soy Scorecard”, ranking UK supermarkets’ efforts to combat deforestation and land conversion in their soy supply chains.

Consumers are increasingly calling on food and drink manufacturers to make a meaningful impact and reduce the negative environmental aspects of soy production.

The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature’s 2025 Soy Scorecard and accompanying report compare UK retailers’ commitments to combating soy-led deforestation and conversion.

Global trade disruption and risk continue to intensify amid volatility, climate change, and pressures on the natural environment, WWF said.

To address these trade threats and consumer demands, it said companies need to shift from voluntary pledges to provide credible, transparent, and measurable actions that tackle the root causes of deforestation and conversions across global supply chains.

“2025 must mark a decisive shift from ambition to implementation,” it stated in its report.

UK supermarkets’ soy scores vary significantly

Based on five criteria spanning commitment and advocacy action, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose were awarded top marks on the Soy Scorecard, while Asda and Iceland were judged as lacking transparency and full engagement in industry-wide initiatives.

WWF also stated that, despite legislative promises, laws requiring due diligence reporting on imports that cause deforestation remain absent.

“Most UK shoppers will be shocked to hear that the British pork, chicken, and salmon in their baskets could be driving deforestation in the Amazon, putting jaguars, sloths, and toucans at risk,” said Sophie Bauer, head of food transformation at WWF-UK. “Food companies have the power and responsibility to break this link.”

However, the NGO stated that currently, it is a significant challenge for supermarkets to trace the origin of the soy used on farms from which they source meat and fish.

Primarily, this is due to beans being grown and mixed from diverse regions before being shipped, or in the case of meat and dairy products, imported.

Soy: A climate-conscious cause for change

Although soybeans are a highly consumed commodity, their use is often underestimated due to their indirect consumption.

Globally, almost 80% of soybean crops are fed to livestock, particularly for chicken, pork, salmon, and egg and dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, and yoghurt.

Soy-based oil is also commonly used in cooking and is found in various products, including chocolate, ice cream, non-dairy milks, baked goods, and margarine.

The widespread popularity of soybeans has led to deforestation and habitat conversion, particularly in South America.

Next to the Amazon rainforest lies the Cerrado. This tropical ecosystem is eight times the size of the UK and houses 5% of the world’s biodiversity, and is responsible for producing around 60% of Brazil’s soy.

However, the Cerrado’s output has resulted in a rapid decline in vegetation. Today, just a fifth of its original vegetation remains intact.

Despite the savanna’s loss of rich wildlife and habitats – further exacerbated by experiencing its worst drought in over 700 years in 2024 – it stores 13.7 billion tonnes of carbon, providing an essential defence against climate change.

How retailers can tackle deforestation and habitat conversion

In its report and scorecard, WWF said that while policies and sustainability commitments from leadership are valuable, they are only one part of the efforts to address deforestation and habitat conversion.

Food manufacturers and retailers that are falling behind in their soy-focused sustainability practices can use WWF’s scorecard for ideas on how to improve.

The NGO recommended four pivotal steps that companies can implement to demonstrate environmental leadership in soy production.

First, businesses need to enhance their visibility and traceability for deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) sourcing. Advocating and implementing robust soy import standards throughout their supply chain to achieve a consistent and credible framework is vital.

WWF also encourages financial investment to protect and restore land as well as support landowners through responsible stewardship. Capital injection will contribute to protecting habitats and restoring degraded land, helping producers adopt sustainable production practices, lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and alleviating ongoing production pressures.

Next, WWF recognises that leadership is a cornerstone of enhancing DCF sourcing for soy. The NGO urges the government to ensure legal frameworks are implemented that enable a complete move to DCF supply chains. WWF wants to see companies vocalise the need for legislative and policy changes that enable a transition to DCF soy.

Last, WWF asks food companies to take action in these areas while simultaneously providing public transparency regarding plans, milestones, and progress that align with the Accountability Framework initiative’s recommendations.

Could EUDR delays disrupt deforestation-free soy production?

Following delays to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the EU had requested another 12-month postponement, to 2026.

However, the latest proposal, made in October, suggests a staggered approach, wherein the main compliance deadline for large and medium operators remains 30 December 2025. Small and micro primary producers may receive extra time – until 30 December 2026.

“The EUDR will still come into force at the start of 2026, and it is up to companies to make best use of it to increase transparency and due diligence in soy supply chains while investing in the wider action laid out in this soy report,” Nicola Brennan, conversion-free supply chain specialist at WWF, told Ingredients Network.

“[The] EUDR is still relevant and should be made to the best use of, but is not the silver bullet solution and cannot be relied upon to achieve goals alone – regulations are set to help raise the bar on minimum standards.”

Criticising the European Commission’s stance that IT problems are causing further delays to the European Union’s (EU) deforestation law, WWF described its move to “simplify” the EUDR as a “shameful surrender to political pressure”.