Mighty Earth sues JBS USA over alleged greenwashing on net-zero claims
Environmental group accuses meat giant of misleading the public about its 2040 emissions target
USA – Mighty Earth has taken legal action against the US division of Brazilian meat processor JBS, accusing the company of making deceptive claims about its plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, claims JBS USA is attempting to mislead consumers with what the group calls “false and misleading” environmental pledges.
According to the complaint, JBS continues to assert on its website that it will reach net-zero emissions globally by 2040, even though its reduction targets reportedly cover only a fraction of the company’s total output.
Mighty Earth said that JBS’s goals include only Scope 1 and 2 emissions, which represent direct operations and energy use, while ignoring Scope 3 emissions that account for around 97% of the company’s total greenhouse gas footprint.
The advocacy group also accused JBS of pushing ahead with global expansion plans that contradict its stated climate ambitions.
Allegations of Misleading the Public
Alex Wijeratna, Mighty Earth’s senior director of investigations and law, said the organization filed the case because JBS lacks a credible strategy to reduce the majority of its emissions.
He claimed that the company is responsible for extensive deforestation in the Amazon and produces more methane annually than energy corporations such as ExxonMobil and Shell combined.
Wijeratna described JBS as a “climate super polluter” that is attempting to “hoodwink the public with misleading happy talk about its false climate goals.”
The lawsuit argues that JBS USA is “deceiving the Washington public with feel-good promises of net-zero emissions” despite having “neither the intention nor the capability” to meet such targets.
JBS Responds to the Lawsuit
In response, JBS stated that it recognizes its role in addressing climate change and pointed to progress outlined in its 2024 Sustainability Report.
The company said it has reduced the intensity of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 20.3% since 2019 and invested more than US$188 million in emissions-reduction projects at its facilities worldwide.
JBS dismissed the accusations as unfounded, insisting that its sustainability goals are based on science and transparency.
The group also rejected claims that it misled investors when it issued climate-linked bonds in 2021, which Mighty Earth alleges allowed the company to benefit from lower borrowing rates for a decade.
Mighty Earth further argues that JBS violated Washington DC’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act by omitting information about environmental damage and deforestation tied to its operations in Brazil.
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