Procurement Vital to Bunge's Emissions Reduction Drive
Food systems worldwide account for a considerable share of global emissions, with estimates from the IPCC indicating this to be between 21% and 37%.
As a leader in agribusiness, Bunge is integral to these systems and aims to minimise its environmental footprint.
Writing on LinkedIn, Robert Coviello, Chief Sustainability Officer and Government Affairs at Bunge, emphasises the importance of sustainable practices: "At Bunge, our continued commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture is critical as the world manages uncertainty in global markets and increasingly unpredictable climate challenges.
"That’s why, through Bunge’s ongoing investments in low-carbon solutions, responsible supply chains and social impact programmes, we remain focused on driving real, scalable impact to support a more sustainable food system.”
Emissions reductions insights
In its 2025 Global Sustainability Report, Bunge reported a 19.7% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 6.7% reduction in Scope 3 emissions compared to its 2020 baseline.
These metrics showcase the company's commitment to reducing emissions across its value chain, a significant concern for procurement professionals seeking sustainable suppliers.
Bunge has successfully achieved full traceability and monitoring of soybean sourcing in deforestation-prone areas of Brazil. Such traceability is crucial for procurement teams focused on aligning supply chains with sustainability goals.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Bunge has also stopped using coal, complementing its expansion of regenerative agriculture initiatives into new regions like Canada and Poland.
Advancing sustainability standards in agriculture
Bunge is collaborating with the World Resources Institute to set new sustainability standards for agriculture.
The partnership involves the creation of a public tool for consistent reporting on Land Use Change (LUC) emissions.
Caroline Winchester, Head of Responsible Supply Chains at the World Resources Institute, says: “Collaborating with a global agribusiness company like Bunge, with the scale and scope of its operations, was instrumental in informing our work," emphasising the role of Bunge’s experience in refining methodologies for real-world application.
This effort will assist procurement leaders by providing standardised resources to help businesses meet their sustainability targets, mirroring Bunge's approach.
Focus on non-deforestation initiatives
Bunge’s non-deforestation commitment extends to palm oil and other commodities like soy, grains and oilseeds in South America.
The company aims for collaboration with stakeholders to combat commodity-driven deforestation, an effort vital for supply chain resilience and sustainability.
In addition, Bunge's regenerative agriculture programmes saw expansion, including doubling engaged farmers in Brazil and increasing pilot projects, demonstrating a strong focus on revitalising the agricultural landscape.
The initiative aligns with sustainable sourcing priorities within procurement practices.
Science-based targets and resource efficiency
In 2021, Bunge set ambitious science-based targets to cut Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 25% and Scope 3 by 12.3% by 2030, with progress validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
These goals reflect a forward-looking strategy aligning with procurement's increasing mandate to incorporate environmental considerations into supplier selection.
Furthermore, Bunge surpassed its waste and water reduction goals, demonstrating an 82% rate of waste reuse or recycling and a 17.2% reduction in water use intensity.
These achievements speak to the broader objectives of sustainability-critical procurement functions to minimise environmental impacts through mindful resource management.
