Environmental, Social, and Governance principles in meatpacking plants: addressing sustainability tensions in the swine and poultry industry

Abstract

This study examines how the adoption of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indicators by meatpacking plants in the swine and poultry industry contributes to mitigating sustainability tensions, while revealing key challenges and opportunities. A multiple case study was conducted using primary data from 203 questionnaires administered to integrated producers in southern Brazil and secondary data from sustainability reports published between 2018 and 2022 by two major integrating companies in the region. Results indicate that ESG indicators help mitigate sustainability tensions but also reveal emerging challenges (e.g., decoupled management, territorial degradation, cognitive dissociation, conflicting strategic priorities, asymmetries of interest between producers and firms, instrumental approach to sustainability). The study highlights the effectiveness of ESG indicators in promoting sustainability within the swine and poultry production chain while emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to address these tensions, also providing empirical evidence and practical insights for overcoming sustainability-related challenges in the sector.