Rafael de Andrade, Director of Green Level Environmental Strategy, explains how the organisation is developing frameworks for traceability in high deforestation risk areas. By ILM.

Over the past three years, Green Level Environmental Strategy (GLES) has diligently worked to facilitate collaboration between civil society organisations and the private sector in the cattle production industry, particularly in the context of deforestation and conversion-free (DCF) transformation.

Frameworks for traceability

GLES has consistently operated on a collaborative model, fostering an environment where cooperation and business can thrive. Our previous success in establishing the necessary frameworks for the Primi protocol implementation (fully traceable third-party verified leathers from Brazil) to achieve operational and international validation stands as a testament to this approach.

Amid these efforts, our primary challenge has been to enhance value at every stage of the supply chain – ensuring transparent and reliable compensation for upstream producers while minimising operational costs in the middle market.

After numerous business models, discussions, adjustments and iterations, GLES has successfully validated an innovative multi-stakeholder approach that effectively links carbon compensation for cattle products with deforestation-free origin.

This innovation enables us to provide substantial carbon reduction for brands certifying the origin of products from high-risk areas – potentially achieving reductions of up to 60%. Additionally, we anticipate a 40% decrease in implementation costs for leather brands on average, compared with current financial models available on the market (final reviewed data to be presented soon).

This represents a major milestone for the DCF implementation market, but there is even more to come.

The next steps

By working alongside trusted expert stakeholders, we are able to facilitate two critical objectives: ensuring EUDR validation for vetted supply chains supported by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Visipec and the University of Wisconsin but also significantly empowering meatpackers in Brazil using quality data that can support the development of action plans for reintegrating non-compliant farms, based on the work of Imaflora and Beef on Track Protocol.

In essence, this means expanding market opportunities for beef and leather while enabling direct actions and accessing public and corporate funds aimed at supporting and effectively driving transformation within the industry.

GLES is committed to transparency at every stage of this process, providing a model that generates profitable market solutions for all stakeholders aligned with deforestation-free practices, supported by clear guidelines from NGOs.

We recognise that achieving effective and expedited transformation relies solely on the development of a genuine collaborative model and the establishment of mutually beneficial alliances.

GLES has shared over three years of investment insights and discoveries with partners and competitors under NDAs, aiming to build a more robust foundation of solution providers eager to join us in our efforts and unite with like-minded actors

Such an approach creates an inclusive environment where every participant can contribute to building a stronger business landscape and reap the benefits of collective success.

The final round of validations prior to public release is scheduled for the end of March 2025.