Refreshing the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework

Since the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (ABSF) launched in 2017, the beef industry has undergone significant change. The framework’s continued success depends on its ability to address the evolving needs of the industry.

As part of its first materiality assessment in over four years, the ABSF will undergo a refresh to determine what matters most to the industry and its stakeholders today, as well as how its resources should be directed.

Lead consultant Robyn Leeson said the materiality assessment was a crucial aspect of ensuring the ABSF remains relevant.

“This is a way of refreshing the ABSF as things change, whether it’s year to year, or over the course of five to 10 years,” Robyn said.

“In the beef sector, we’ll identify what has had the biggest impacts on the physical environment, the economy, animals, or people, and how those impacts then affect the sector itself through reputation or risk.”

The previous materiality assessment, conducted in 2020, highlighted issues that have since grown in significance. Deforestation, in particular, is expected to take centre stage in this year’s discussions.

“A discussion around deforestation is expected to increase this year,” Robyn said.

“When we did the last materiality assessment, that issue was bubbling along with specific stakeholders, but over the course of a few years, there is more regulation and interest from domestic retailers and financial institutions.

“It’s demanding much more attention, so I don’t think it’ll be a big surprise to anyone to see topics like that come up.

The assessment will also consider global influences, as the beef industry operates within an international context.

“A lot of our stakeholders are global communities, so being able to meet global reporting standards when it comes to sustainability is an especially big priority for them.”

The assessment will combine desktop research with stakeholder engagement.

“We’re asking people from different parts of the value chain to identify their priorities within the industry through a survey, which will help to inform part of the assessment.

“It’s really important to get industry views and we’re keen to get views from different perspectives from along the value chain.

“There will be differences between regions, which is also important to capture.”

Recommendations from the 2020 materiality assessment included broadening the focus on Indigenous Australians’ role in the beef industry, and addressing human rights and labour practices.

Robyn said the data collected was used for more than one report, and could be applied to inform the ABSF as it evolves in the coming years.

“Having feedback from stakeholders is really important for other reasons too. The steering group can reflect on those results, consider why they might be different and form a response.”

The assessment is due to be finalised in early 2025.