European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability

Shaping the future of European beef sustainability


Resource Centre ERBS FAQs

European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability illustration

A multi-stakeholder organisation focused on European beef sustainability from farm to fork.

The ERBS unites and coordinates sustainability programmes around a common agenda to deliver measurable and positive impact within the beef value chain. We are aligned to the principles of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB).

Graphic: 250,000+ European farmers represented by ERBS platforms
Our Vision picture

Our Vision

We believe we can achieve a world in which all aspects of the beef value chain are environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable.

Our Mission picture

Our Mission

That all aspects of the beef value chain are recognised for delivering measurable positive impacts and continuous improvement towards key sustainability priorities.

Why join the ERBS?

To work collaboratively with other organisations committed to continuously improve the sustainability of European beef production.

Farmers and allied industry organisations illustration

Farmers and allied industry organisations

  • Visibly demonstrate sustainable farming practices in your country
    on a European stage.
  • Show continuous improvement through achieving aligned targets.
  • Help us to shape a joint vision of the future of the beef industry by being part of the conversation.
Processing, retail and food service illustration

Processing, retail and food service

  • Help your suppliers to implement aligned sustainability practices.
  • Highlight the advances on sustainability in supply chains throughout Europe to your customers.
  • Give greater visibility to meat industry benefits.
Civil society groups illustration

Civil society groups

  • Be a valued part of the only Europe-wide framework to measure and address multiple aspects of the sustainability of beef production.
  • Connect and constructively collaborate with partners in the beef industry on aligned sustainable practices.
  • Advance the sustainability of beef production and actively contribute to the progress being made across Europe.

How does ERBS work?

ERBS recognises and reinforces national and local programmes.

Europe has diverse production systems and climates. That is why the ERBS welcomes and supports stakeholders to develop their own approach in a locally relevant way.

Our aim goes beyond compliance to demonstrate continuous improvement and work towards measurable sustainability outcomes.

To achieve this, we consulted and agreed on four action areas that focus on twelve targets to align all Platforms within European countries.

How does ERBS work illustration

Action areas and outcome targets

Climate illustration

Climate

  • For the agricultural scope, a GHG emission intensity reduction plan in place that is reviewed and adapted at every reporting cycle
  • On the agricultural scope, reduce the GHG emission intensity by 30% by 2030 (vs a 2019 baseline)
  • Safeguard existing carbon stocks on beef production, and increase carbon sequestered (with an ambition to set outcome target in the future)
Nature illustration

Nature

  • Enhance the biodiversity of nature within our beef farming and production ecosystems (with an ambition to set outcome targets in the future)
  • Sustain and enhance water resources that feed or interact with beef production (with an ambition to set outcome targets in the future)
  • Sustain and enhance the health of soils within beef production (with an ambition to set outcome targets in the future)
Resilient Farming illustration

Resilient Farming

  • The value chain actively supports farmers at an increasing scale to have more resilient livelihoods
  • Farmers are actively supported at an increasing scale with resources for their farms to be safer for themselves and their workers
Animal health and welfare illustration

Animal health and welfare

  • Target mortality rates are below 1.5% (or 20% year-on-year reduction for systems with mortality rates above this target)
  • Loose housing for all animals (when housed) by 2030
  • All animals are given pain relief (analgesics) and anaesthesia for all surgical procedures and for all forms of castration, dehorning and disbudding (Derogation may apply for anaesthesia to align with local accepted guidance or national legislation)
  • Antibiotic use below 10mg/PCU, with a 50% reduction by 2030 (vs 2018 baseline)

What is a platform?

A group of cross-sector European stakeholders who are working together towards more sustainable beef production.

Platforms are coordinated at country-level and can be existing organisations, programmes or schemes, or new groups from across industry, academia, government and society.  illustration

Platforms are coordinated at country-level and can be existing organisations, programmes or schemes, or new groups from across industry, academia, government and society.

Map of Europe

European countries France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom each have a Platform. We also have member representation in Spain and Austria.

The ERBS recognises Platforms committed to working towards the twelve targets illustration

The ERBS recognises Platforms committed to working towards the twelve targets.

This Framework takes each Platform through six key stages, enabling Platforms to transparently report and track progress on their individual journeys towards achieving the ERBS targets and provides a simple way of communicating progress reports illustration

This Framework takes each Platform through six key stages, enabling Platforms to transparently report and track progress on their individual journeys towards achieving the ERBS targets and provides a simple way of communicating progress reports.

Estelle Rabourdin
ERBS Chair and Quality & Environment Director for Food Services Pilgrim's Europe quote picture

″Being a part of the ERBS enables transparency and provides us with the opportunity to demonstrate that our actions are improving the sustainability of beef production.″

Estelle Rabourdin ERBS Chair and Quality & Environment Director for Food Services Pilgrim’s Europe

Join a growing movement

The following leading companies and organisations are part of the European Roundtable forĀ Beef Sustainability.

ABP Food Group illustration

ABP Food Group

Ahold Delhaize illustration

Ahold Delhaize

BADER illustration

BADER

Barilla picture

Barilla

Bord Bia picture

Bord Bia

Dawn Meats picture

Dawn Meats

EC Medina picture

EC Medina

El Encinar de Humienta picture

El Encinar de Humienta

Hilton Food illustration

Hilton Food

Inalca picture

Inalca

Interbev picture

Interbev

Kepak illustration

Kepak

LMC picture

LMC

Mars illustration

Mars

McDonald’s illustration

McDonald’s

Moy Park picture

Moy Park

Orkla illustration

Orkla

OSI Food Solutions picture

OSI Food Solutions

Polish Beef Association picture

Polish Beef Association

Polish Union of Livestock Breeders and Producers picture

Polish Union of Livestock Breeders and Producers

Premier Foods picture

Premier Foods

QMS illustration

QMS

Red Tractor picture

Red Tractor

Tonnies Group illustration

Tonnies Group

VION illustration

VION

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