TFA Activities
Demand Side
Emerging markets represent an increasing size of global trade for forest risk commodities. For example, China alone represents 62% of soy imports, 32% of pulp & paper and 11% of palm. Further, the absence of a strong sustainability agenda as well as a growing leakage market that undermines progress in other markets and progress by the private sector to remove deforestation from supply chains call for action on the demand-side.
The TFA partner community builds awareness of deforestation risks in commodity supply chains with target stakeholders in key emerging markets, for example in China (all commodities), India (palm) & domestic markets in Indonesia (palm) and Brazil (cattle, soy). It also identifies, coordinates and prioritises public and private sector actions to accelerate progress and ensure efforts take into account and synergize with the actions of others to the extent possible.
The TFA supports the demand-side through its China team in Beijing, focused specifically to leverage strong World Economic Forum presence and relationships and to deepen business and government engagement as well as support and coordinate with broader community efforts.
Awareness and Action in Emerging Markets
- Building the Business Coalition on Ecological Civilization.
- Green Value Chains Special Policy Study.
- Sustainable Soy Trade Platform.
Advance Demand-Side Measures
- Supporting the European Commission’s New Green Deal.
Engaging emerging markets is one of the 10 priorities TFA has laid out as essential to reduce commodity driven deforestation. There is no solution to reducing deforestation without much stronger engagement with China given its demand footprint for palm oil, soy and pulp and paper. Furthermore, with 80% of Brazilian soy exports going to China, it is even more important to engage China strategically as part of a broader strategy to maintain positive momentum for efforts in both the Amazon and critically the Cerrado.
The TFA leverages the strong programmes and networks that the World Economic Forum already has in China to provide a high-level convening space and to elevate the profile of commodity-driven deforestation and greening supply chains. As such, COFCO International has recently joined the TFA Steering Committee and is keen to partner and deepen TFA engagement in China.
Supporting Documents

Greening Commodity Supply Chains in Emerging Markets: Challenges and Opportunities
Report
Emerging Market Consumers and Deforestation: Risks and Opportunities of growing demand
Report