On deforestation, the challenge is to achieve specific and time-bound plans for the sustainable sourcing of commodities like palm, soy, paper and beef. Complete success will only be achieved by working in collaboration with governments and NGOs, the CGF says.

In November 2010, the board of the Consumer Goods Forum announced two major initiatives on climate change: to help achieve zero net deforestation by 2020 and to begin phasing out the use of refrigerant gases with high global warming potential as of 2015. Good progress is being made towards both these objectives, the organization says.

The U.S. government will work with the companies of the CGF, NGOs and other governments to identify a series of practical actions to eliminate deforestation. Speaking in Rio de Janeiro, Paul Polman, the CEO of Unilever, said: "Individually, both governments and business have already mobilized significant resources to address the challenge of deforestation, but we all recognize that much more can be achieved if we align our efforts and work in partnership."

Philip Clarke, the CEO of Tesco, pointed out that "the companies of the CGF had enormous global reach and are therefore the ideal partners to work with governments and civil society organisations to find practical solutions in the supply chain to put an end to deforestation."

The Forum brings together over 400 retailers and manufacturers from 70 countries. The member companies have combined sales of $3.1tr and employ nearly 10 million people.

Source: Consumer Goods Forum