Conagra Brands Inc

In 2022, Congra Brands conducted TCFD-aligned scenario analysis aligned to a 1.6ºC – 2ºC scenario covering its entire portfolio of directly procured ingredients, including those from animal agricultural supply chains. The scenario analysis also found that plant-based proteins have less climate change impact and better adaptation potential than animal-based proteins, aligning with the company's strategy to increase plant-based protein offerings in line with consumer demand.

Conagra Brands does not provide a breakdown of emissions from animal agriculture by protein type. The company instead provides a breakdown of Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services — indicating that 84% are attributed to ingredients, with 60% coming from farm-level activities, 20% from land use change, and 20% from processing.

Conagra Brands set a well-below 2°C Scope 3 emissions reduction target, which was approved by the SBTi in 2021 prior to the release of updated FLAG guidance. This target was to reduce Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services by 20% per metric tonnes by 2030 from a 2020 base year. The company is in the process of re-evaluating its targets and will engage with the SBTi on current 1.5°C-aligned guidance.

The company previously recognised that plant-based proteins have less climate change impacts and better adaptation potential than animal-based proteins, aligning with the company's strategy to increase plant-based protein offerings in line with consumer demand. However, it does not provide quantitative data on the emissions reduction potential or financial growth opportunity of protein diversification in its climate disclosure.

The company has not set a public protein diversification target or integrated protein diversification into a climate transition plan. The company aims to develop a climate transition plan within the next two years.

The company has not set a public protein diversification target.

The company has not set a public protein diversification target.

The company has not set a public protein diversification target.

The company has not set a public protein diversification target, but reports that 73% of its total ingredients bought by volume were plant-based, and that its Gardein range of vegan plant-based proteins generated more than $157 million in retail sales in FY2024.

The company reports its plant-based ingredient buy by volume annually, accounting for 68% in FY2022, 81% in FY2023 and 73% in FY2024. The company also reports revenue from its Gardein vegan range annually, with $179 million in sales in FY2022, $160 million in FY2023 and $157 million in FY2024.

The company's board incentives are not linked to protein diversification or reducing Scope 3 emissions, with short-term cash incentives and a long-term stock-based incentives tied to financial metrics only.

The company discloses that 45% of its board members have expertise in sustainability.

There is no evidence that the company's board members have expertise on nutrition/health.

Conagra Brands has not provided a full list of its lobbying actions but has outlined its public policy positions on animal welfare, eggs standards, pork standards, and antibiotic stewardship. The company has provided examples of its federal lobbying as needed on matters important to its business, and discloses its activities and expenditures as required by law in its primary US market.

While the company reports its political contributions, it is does not disclose a full list of lobbying actions and it is unclear if these align with positive climate or nutrition outcomes. The company discloses that it does not have a commitment to align its lobbying activities with environmental treaties or policy goals and does not plan to do so within the next 2 years.

The company provides a full list of its membership associations and contributions in its primary US market. Some relevant examples of the company's trade association memberships include the American Frozen Foods Institute, California League of Food Producers and Consumer Brands Association.

While the company discloses a full list of its member associations, it has not conducted an assessment of alignment or misalignment of these with positive climate or nutrition outcomes.

The company has not made a public commitment to Just Transition principles.

There is no evidence that the company has made a a public commitment to retain, reskill, redeploy and/or compensate workers affected by its emissions reduction efforts.

Conagra Brands has not disclosed explicit programmes to support animal protein suppliers transition to more sustainable practices. Instead the company reports regenerative agriculture programmes for non-animal protein supply chains and support for egg and pork suppliers to improve animal welfare without the inclusion of how this will result in improved sustainability.

Conagra Brands does not have an established Just Transition strategy for animal agriculture.

Conagra Brands has not engaged with social actors linked to animal protein production who would be affected by the company's decarbonisation efforts to support them in transitioning to more sustainable practices.

The company does not have a Just Transition strategy and so does not report associated KPIs.

The company does not have a Just Transition strategy and so does not report associated KPIs.

Conagra Brands launched own brand products in its largest US market in the past year. These include own brand Gardein Ultimate Plant-based Ste'k Tips, Ultimate Plant-based Spicy Saus'ge Crumbles, Plant-based Breakfast Saus'ge patties and Fried Chick'n Mac & Cheeze Bowl, and Purple Carrot Vegan Portobello Mushroom Ravioli.

Conagra Brands evidences one type of resource allocation to improve the perfomance of alternative protein products in the past year. The company provides a high level statement that, alongside its cage-free egg commitment, it is exploring egg alternatives and enhanced new technologies to reduce or eliminate eggs from some of its products through recipe reformulation. The company previously disclosed in 2022 that it dedicated Centres of Excellence to plant-based food innovation and made strategic innovation partnerships, however, there has been no disclosure on progress.

Conagra Brands does not have a minimum health and nutrition requirement for its alternative protein source portfolio aligned with a government-endorsed nutrient profiling system. Although, the company measures the proportion of net healthy sales in the plant-based category against Nutri-Score and Health Star, there is no evidence that it has set a minimum health and nutrition threshold for products. In FY2024, 85% of the company’s vegan meal and meat alternative sales under its own brand, portion-controlled Purple Carrot frozen meals and Gardein products qualified as ''healthier'' under the Health Star Rating (HSR) system (≥3.5). In FY2023, approximately 70% of the company's meatless options under its own brands Healthy Choice, Evol and Gardein were also rated A or B by Nutri-Score.

Conagra Brands provides a high-level statement that it is reformulating products to improve nutrition, which includes alternative protein products. In line with FDA guidance, the company commenced a portfolio-wide reformulation initiative in 2023, reducing sodium in 244 formulas across its portfolio by the end of 2024, however, specific examples of alternative protein products reformulated with improved nutritional attributes are not disclosed.

Conagra Brands provides a high-level statement that it is reformulating products to improve sustainability, which includes alternative protein products. The company is exploring egg alternatives and enhanced new technologies to reduce or eliminate eggs from some of its products through recipe reformulation, however, specific examples of alternative protein products reformulated with improved sustainability attributes are not disclosed.

There is no evidence that Conagra Brands has committed to marketing and merchandising strategies related to alternative proteins in its largest markets.

Conagra Brands is marketing and merchandising alternative protein products in its largest US market. The company promoted its alternative protein portfolio at New York's Plant-based World Expo in 2024. Additionally, the company promoted the healthiness of, and products within, its plant-based portfolio, such as its plant-based turkey and pot pie, on its LinkedIn social media channel.

Conagra Brands has made a high-level claim that it is working to ensure its alternative protein source products are accessible. The company highlights its efforts to increase access to healthy food aligned with federal nutrition programmes and reports that its Purple Carrot brand launched a vegan Portobello Mushroom Ravioli ready meal with 13g of plant-protein from non-GMO sources as a convenient option for consumers this year, however, there is no evidence of specific company actions to improve affordability of plant-based products.

Conagra Brands has conducted consumer research investigating trends within the alternative protein sources sector. The company identified that healthy and ethical food trends are driving consumer demand for plant-based products. Based on the finding that plant-based Indian dishes are gaining popularity, the company is considering adding these to its frozen food range. The company also identifies Gen Z and child-free Millennial consumers as the most likely to purchase vegan and non-dairy frozen desserts.

There is no evidence that Conagra Brands has used consumer research relating to healthy diets to inform its marketing and merchandising strategy for alternative protein sources. Although, the company acknowledges growing consumer demand for foods to achieve their health and wellness goals and aims to provide convenient choices that contribute to healthier eating patterns.