Boston, May 2, 2025 – J.M. Smucker*, parent company of Folgers, Café Bustelo and Dunkin’ at Home coffee products, has agreed to review its forest protection policies with an ambition of eventually sourcing all of its ingredients without any collateral deforestation. The move came in response to a shareholder proposal from Green Century Capital Management.
“As investors, we encourage companies to reduce their material risks and improve their environmental impact,” said Leslie Samuelrich, president of Green Century Funds. “We hope Smuckers’ will follow up its research swiftly with a commitment to source coffee and other ingredients from verified deforestation-free sources.”
J.M. Smucker is the largest seller of at-home coffee in the United States. It also produces its namesake jellies, Hostess Twinkies, Milk Bone dog biscuits, and a wide range of other popular snack and pet foods. Coffee and other agricultural products are among the largest drivers of global deforestation.
Assessment followed by commitment
As part of its agreement with Green Century, in 2025, J.M. Smucker will assess the steps necessary to ensure the company uses deforestation-free supplies of coffee, palm, soy and cocoa, as well as wood pulp used in packaging. The company plans to follow the assessment with a transition to deforestation-free supplies in 2026, as commercially feasible. Any policy adopted will include ongoing third-party assurance of forest protection practices as well as a grievance system for reporting violations.
Forest protection is climate protection
Deforestation and destruction of other natural habitats is responsible for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Forests can also play an important role in removing carbon from the atmosphere, but only if they are allowed to grow and thrive. The greatest driver of deforestation globally is agriculture, making it critical for food companies to commit to deforestation-free ingredients.
“J.M. Smucker has woken up and smelled the coffee,” said Andrew Shalit, shareholder advocate at Green Century. “American consumers love their morning joe and they also want to protect the environment. These steps will help J.M. Smucker do both things, and provide sustainable coffee, snacks, and pet products.”
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About Green Century
°Green Century Capital Management, Inc. (Green Century) is the investment advisor to the Green Century Funds (The Funds). The Green Century Funds are one of the first families of fossil fuel-free, environmentally responsible mutual funds. Green Century hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations.
*As of 03.28.25, J.M. Smucker comprised 0.00%, 0.05%, and 0.00%, of the Green Century Balanced Fund, the Green Century Equity Fund, and the Green Century International Index Fund respectively. As of the same date, other securities mentioned were not held in the portfolios of any of the Green Century Funds. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation by the Funds, their administrator, or their distributor.
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This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.
The Green Century Funds are distributed by Distribution Services, LLC. 5/2025