The Gran Chaco forest in Paraguay continues to shrink in relation to the rise of cattle ranching for the production of meat and animal collagen, a substance used in food supplements and certain cosmetic products, according to a report published on Tuesday 8 October by the NGO Global Witness. The revelations come as the European Commission proposes to delay the entry into force of the EU anti-deforestation regulation by 12 months.
In their investigation, Global Witness focused on a portion of territory traditionally occupied by the Ayoreo Totobiegosode, a partially uncontacted Indigenous group facing severe threats to their environment and way of life. According to the NGO’s findings — based on satellite imagery, land registry information and a field survey — livestock farming encroaching on the Totobiegosode territory led to the deforestation of more than 18,000 hectares in 2021-2023 – an area larger than the size of Paris.
Animal by-products
Animals raised in deforested areas were sold to South American meat giants, such as Minerva Foods and Frigorífico Concepción, the NGO claims. Furthermore, Global Witness says to have traced the supply chains of collagen from Paraguay to one of the world’s largest collagen companies, Rousselot.
Specifically, a trade data analysis showed 3,000 tonnes of cattle hides marked “for the production of collagen” have been shipped from Paraguay-based Frigorífico Concepción’s tanneries to Rousselot’s factories in France since 2022.
“We require all hides sourced from Paraguay or the Amazon Basin areas within Brazil come from suppliers that have traceability in place,” said Darling Ingredients, Rousselot’s parent company, when questioned by Global Witness. “A large majority (including the suppliers mentioned in the report) are members of the Leather Working Group (LWG), which actively works to eliminate supply chain deforestation,” and “we require each supplier to sign a statement on deforestation and land rights,” added the group.
According to Global Witness, Darling Ingredients has not responded as to whether it intends to continue its current supplies from Paraguay.
Frigorífico Concepción did not respond to the NGO about its suppliers, the information being considered as “confidential”. The company stated that it has committed “not to buy livestock from areas affected by illegal deforestation” in Paraguay.
Animal skins and hides are a secondary product from the meat industry that may be repurposed for leather and upcycled to collagen peptides, gelatin capsules, and other products. Collagen is mainly used in the health and dietary supplement sectors. The cosmetics industry, at least in Europe, generally prefers a plant-based equivalent.
EU anti-deforestation law
“Collagen supplements may promise eternal youth to Western consumers – but they are also turbocharging a deforestation crisis in Paraguay that has seen enormous swathes of climate-critical forest wiped out in just three years,” comnented, Charlie Hammans, the author of the report.
“Our findings are a crucial reminder of the urgent need for laws like the EU’s landmark anti-deforestation law, which will help to ensure that products used to make collagen, along with a range of products from beef burgers to car tyres, are sourced from deforestation-free supply chains,” he added.
The EU regulation on deforestation-free products (or EUDR) [1] was adopted in 2023 and was originally scheduled to come into force at the end of December this year. However, countries and industries from Brazil to Malaysia say it is protectionist and could end up excluding millions of poor, small-scale farmers from the EU market. There were also widespread warnings that it would disrupt the European Union’s supply chains and push up prices. At the request of 20 out of 27 Member States, the Commission finally proposed to postpone its implementation by 12 months.
The Gran Chaco is the second largest forested area in South America. Divided among Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia, its forests and wildlife have been in sharp decline for 25 years due to soy and livestock farming.
