Venky's India Ltd

The company does not have a science-based emission reduction target and is not in the process of developing one.

It mentions using the best available eco-friendly power generators and other systems. However, it does not disclose whether it has set targets to reduce GHG emissions from Scope 1 and 2. It makes feed using essential materials like soy and maize but has no goals for reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions. This is obtained from local farmers and feed manufacturers. Therefore, it accounts for most of the company's Scope 3 emissions.

The company does not discuss whether it is working with suppliers to reduce emissions from agriculture.

The company does not engage in innovative projects to reduce or mitigate emissions from feed farming

The company does not engage in innovative projects to reduce or mitigate emissions from animal farming

The company states that attempts are made to preserve energy wherever feasible, such as using less power at farms, offices, and hatcheries. The company also says that its retail arm employs electrical installation equipment instead of LPG gas, reducing environmental pollution. When possible, it uses green power generators. However, it does not provide information regarding its inventory or GHG emissions.

The company does not disclose any information on GHG emissions from animal farming. The company does not disclose any information on GHG emissions from feed production. The company does not disclose any information on GHG emissions from land use change.

The company does not disclose to CDP climate change questionnaire. The company does not disclose the data on GHG inventory is audited by a third party.

The company does not disclose information on its quantitative or qualitative emissions performance.

The company does not disclose information on conducting a climate-related scenario analysis in the reporting period.

The company states that the rise in prices of feed ingredients had a negative impact in the reporting period. However, the same is not discussed about climate change.

The company does not disclose its commitment to align capital expenditures with its GHG targets.

The company is involved in chicken processing, broiler and layer breeding, poultry feed, and soya bean extract activities. Therefore, soy constitutes 2% or more of the total feed ingredients. It has sustainable sourcing practices in place but needs further discussion on what it consists of. It directly procures soya from local farmers in its operating areas. It operates across India and owns poultry feed production mills in both Vietnam and Bangladesh, under the names Venky's Vietnam Ltd and Uttara Foods & Feeds Pvt. Ltd. According to Global Forest Watch, Vietnam and Bangladesh have seen significant rates of deforestation and tree cover loss during the past two decades, whereas India remains at low-risk of deforestation. However, since Bangladesh and Vietnam import the majority of their soy, producing very little locally, it is unlikely for soy linked to animal feed to be a significant driver of deforestation in those regions. The company is therefore encouraged to disclose information on how it manages deforestation risks related to soy, particularly in its overseas operations, and explicitly declare which countries/regions their soy is sourced from.

The company states that it continues to educate and interact with farmers on modern farming practices while encouraging the highest quality of production. However, it does not disclose information relating to its engagements with suppliers on sustainability and deforestation risks linked to soy.

The company discloses that it directly procures agricultural produce like soya from local farmers in the area where company is operating, thereby eliminating the role of mediators. As such, the company has been deemed to have partial traceability of its soy supply.

The company does not discuss innovations and/or practices to move towards sustainable feed sources.

No evidence was found that the company has conducted a water risk assessment for its processing facilities. It does, however, provide evidence related to water-saving measures that have been implemented in its facilities.

The company has not set a time-bound water reduction target to reduce total water withdrawals at facilities in the reporting year.

The company has not responded to CDP Questionnaire in the current reporting period.

The company states that from "time to time" it has educated farmers about the latest available practices in farming without providing further detail.

The company does not disclose feed water intensity, or the proportion of feed sourced from water stresses areas. Further, the company does not provide evidence that it is investing in sustainable feed production from a water use perspective.

Venky's states that water scarcity risks are inherent to the company's animal farming operations. The company states that water is reused in its farms and hatcheries, which has substantially reduced its freshwater requirements.

The company has not established partnerships with third parties to input into sourcing/farming strategy, including water use.

The company reports that the waste and emissions generated during the reporting year were within the permissible limits determined by the CPCB/SPCB. As both of these bodies regulate waste management and water, air, and noise pollution, this is assumed also to include limits on wastewater quality. The company discloses no unresolved legal notices from the CPCB/SPCB.

The company does not disclose the quality or volume of wastewater discharge. No evidence was found that wastewater related data has been audited, and the company did not respond to the CDP water questionnaire in 2022.

The company discloses that it has set up rendering plants that recycle the waste generated by the company enabling its re-use, however the final uses of this processed waste is unclear.

The company does not provide any information about nutrient management in feed farming.

The company does not invest in sustainable feed production to improve nutrient management or disclose information about pesticide use in its feed supply chain.

The company discloses that its live chicken business does not generate any hazardous waste. The waste that is generated from farming operations is biodegradable in nature and it is all recycled and used in poultry activities and agriculture. However, whether chicken litter is converted into fertiliser or biogas is unclear. The company does not disclose a risk assessment to identify high-risk locations. This is notable, as based on the WRI's aqueduct tool, almost all areas of India where the company operates are exposed to extremely high water quality risks.

The company does not make site-specific nutrient management plans a part of its supplier's contractual agreement and/or own farms management. Nor does it provides technical and/or financial support to suppliers and/or own farms to develop nutrient management plans and improve manure storage.

The company does not integrate nutrient management performance into incentive schemes for farmers. It does not discuss innovation in manure or provide evidence of a community engagement plan in relation to pollution.

The company is involved in producing and selling antibiotics and growth promoters. However, it has not disclosed any policy or commitments concerning the use of antibiotics in its operations.

The company does not disclose the quantity of antibiotics used.

The company, active in producing and processing poultry products, does not disclose information on its animal welfare practices. Improved transparency and stakeholder communication would be beneficial.

The company does not state a commitment to engaging and training employees on animal welfare issues.

The company does not disclose the presence of third-party auditing, monitoring, or assurance for animal welfare.

The company does not disclose information in relation to animal welfare certifications or assurance programs for its beef operations.

The company has not disclosed information on key material risks in its poultry and egg sectors. Specifically, details on stocking density, stunning methods, higher welfare breeds in poultry, density, nest boxes, and cage systems in eggs are absent.

The company provides a statement on the importance of respecting human rights. However, the company does not disclose a detailed human rights policy or commit to international principles.

The company does not discuss how it monitors, assesses and mitigates actual and potential human rights risks in its own operations or supply chain.

The company does not disclose whether it has identified any human rights risks in its operations through human rights due diligence

The company discloses it received no complaints relating to child/ forced labour, harassment, discrimination or abuse/inhumane treatment. However, it does not explicitly discuss prohibiting these issues or the promotion of fair wages in its operations or supply chain.

The company discloses that it has a grievance mechanism for its direct operations and states that whistleblowers are protected from unfair treatment or abuse. Further, it reveals that the mechanisms are anonymous. However, the company must mention whether its mechanism was designed in consultation with stakeholders or whether suppliers can access it. The company does not disclose the overall complaints received via its grievance mechanism.

The company does not disclose its approach to managing health and safety risks or report data on work-related injuries or fatalities.

The company does not disclose injury or fatality data for the current reporting or previous year. Nor does the company disclose turnover rates for the reporting period.

As of FY2021, 15.14% of the permanent employees are members of an employee association. However, the company does not provide an explicit commitment to respect the right of employees to associate freely.

Of the company's 5,305 employees, 2,121 are hired on temporary/contractual/casual basis. However, the company does not discuss part-time or hourly employee contracts or state how many employees are covered by collective agreements.

The company has a Quality Policy whereby it commits to delivering standard quality products. However, it does not provide disclosure on food safety certifications.

The company does not report the number or frequency of food safety audits during the reporting year. Further, it does not specify associated corrective action rates. It does not disclose whether it has implemented or is in the process of developing consumer-facing technology for food safety.

The company does not acknowledge food safety as a material business issue, nor does it disclose that a product recall system is in place. It does not report any data on product recall incidents in the reporting year. Further, it does not provide information on preventative or corrective actions.

The company does not disclose information related to product recalls or market bans. There were no product recalls or market bans detected in media screening.

The company does not disclose if the board has a formal mandate to discuss ESG issues. Furthermore, the company does not disclose conducting a materiality assessment or whether it has board-level expertise in sustainability, innovation or food safety.

The company has not disclosed executive monetary remunerations linked with climate or sustainability performance. Nor has it disclosed engaging with civil or trade associations on ESG issues, a comprehensive list of trade association memberships or if it aligns any policy-engagement activities to restrict global temperature rise to 1.5C.

The company does not disclose a strategic approach to sustainability innovation or if it benchmarks itself against peers in sustainability and innovation.

The company does not explicitly acknowledge that protein diversification is a material business issue. Further, it has not yet set a timebound target to diversify protein sources, nor does not report revenue/sales linked to alternative protein sources

The company does not indicate having an approach towards diversifying its product range to include plant-based and alternative proteins.