UK Businesses & Deforestation: Act Now | COP30

COP30, taking place in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, marks a pivotal moment in the global climate agenda. For the first time in nearly two decades, a COP summit will be hosted in the heart of the Amazon symbolically and strategically elevating nature, forests, and indigenous rights to the forefront of climate negotiations.

As the Amazon teeters closer to irreversible tipping points, discussions at COP30 will focus heavily on halting deforestation, financing nature-based solutions, and delivering on commitments like the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use signed by over 140 countries, including the UK.

What does this mean for UK businesses?

• Increased scrutiny on how UK companies source, trade, and finance forest-risk commodities.

• Regulatory tightening on deforestation-linked supply chains.

• Investor and stakeholder pressure to align with nature-positive practices.

The UK’s Legal Landscape on Deforestation

The Environment Act 2021 is the UK’s primary legislative instrument addressing deforestation through supply chain due diligence. The Act introduces new requirements for businesses using “forest risk commodities” such as:

• Palm oil

• Soy

• Cocoa

• Beef

• Leather

• Rubber

• Timber

These businesses will be required to:

• Ensure their supply chains are free from illegally deforested land

• Publish annual due diligence reports

• Maintain records of supplier sourcing practices

Regulations under the Act are expected to come into force in 2025—coinciding with COP30 making this a now-or-never moment for UK companies to assess and reform their sourcing strategies.

From ESG to Enterprise Risk: The Business Case

Failing to address deforestation is no longer just a CSR issue it’s a material business risk.

Financial Institutions Are Watching:
Investors are increasingly assessing portfolios for deforestation exposure, particularly through frameworks like:

• Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)

• Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN)

• EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)—which may affect UK exporters

Consumers Are Demanding Change:
Across the UK and EU, over 70% of consumers support bans on products linked to deforestation. Transparency, traceability, and ethical sourcing are no longer optional they’re a market expectation.

Legal and Trade Implications:
Businesses that fail to comply with due diligence regulations risk fines, loss of contracts, and restricted market access, particularly in sustainability-sensitive markets like the EU.

What UK Businesses Should Do Now

With COP30 and UK due diligence laws on the horizon, here’s how businesses can take proactive steps:

1. Conduct Supply Chain Mapping

Identify all suppliers connected to forest-risk commodities. Understand where and how these commodities are sourced.

2. Engage Suppliers

Collaborate with suppliers to ensure they meet legal and sustainability criteria. This may include supporting them with certification processes or offering training.

3. Implement Due Diligence Frameworks

Build or adopt systems that align with TNFD, CDP Forests, or ISO 14001 to embed deforestation risk into procurement and compliance processes.

4. Disclose Transparently

Prepare for mandatory public reporting by developing robust sustainability reports that include deforestation risk disclosures.

5. Align with Net-Zero and Nature-Positive Goals

Recognise that halting deforestation is not only about forests it’s a critical lever for climate, biodiversity, and water security, and should be integrated into your net-zero strategy.

A Moment of Responsibility and Opportunity

As COP30 begins, the urgency to act on deforestation has never been clearer. UK businesses have a unique opportunity to lead on sustainable sourcing and nature-positive strategies—not only to comply with law, but to gain competitive edge, build brand trust, and align with the global climate agenda.

The road to Belém runs through your supply chain. Are you ready?

Let’s Talk

If your organisation needs guidance on preparing for deforestation due diligence, aligning with TNFD, or building a credible sustainability roadmap, get in touch with our team. We help UK businesses turn compliance into climate leadership.