Write responsible supply chain policies with AFi's How To Guide
22 Juni 2026
Our updated guide helps food and agriculture companies develop responsible supply chain policies that protect forests, natural ecosystems, and human rights
Agricultural and forestry commodity production is a leading cause of deforestation, ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuses—driving biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions. Companies that produce or source these commodities have a vital role to play in addressing these issues. For many, eliminating land use change is the most impactful action they can take to meet climate and nature goals.
Developing a responsible supply chain policy is often a first key step, turning ambition into clear action, and setting expectations for employees, suppliers, and other relevant stakeholders. Policies are also important for companies setting SBTi Forest, Land, and Agriculture (FLAG) targets, which requires publishing a no-deforestation policy covering their most important deforestation-linked commodities.
Write a responsible supply chain policy
The Accountability Framework initiative (AFi) has launched an updated version of its How To Write a Policy Aligned with the Accountability Framework guide, initially published in 2020.
The guide is for companies in the agricultural and forestry sectors. It was designed to help them create responsible supply chain policies, with guidance from the preparation of these policies through to drafting them. It can also be used by consultants and service providers working with companies to develop these policies.
The new How To Guide has been expanded into three dedicated resources, focused on:
- Preparing to Write a Policy: This resource gives guidance on laying the foundations for an effective policy, including understanding risks, engaging stakeholders, and aligning internal staff.
- Writing a Policy: This resource gives clear guidance on drafting a robust policy that aligns with market expectations and reflects best practices—such as those within the Accountability Framework.
- Sample Policy: This resource provides a practical example of a policy companies can adapt to their own context and supply chains.
“Halting deforestation offers enormous potential for climate action, accounting for 80% of land use change mitigation capacity,” said Stephen Mackenzie, FLAG Technical Lead, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). “The AFi’s How To Write a Policy Aligned with the Accountability Framework guide is a welcome addition to the toolkit of materials to assist companies in making rigorous no-deforestation commitments as part of their FLAG science-based targets. By making this bold commitment, businesses can reduce emissions, safeguard ecosystems, and lead the way toward a sustainable and resilient future."
Follow the best practices of the Accountability Framework
The Accountability Framework is a practical roadmap for addressing deforestation, conversion, and human rights abuses in agricultural and forestry supply chains. It is composed of Core Principles, practical Operational Guidance on various social and environmental topics, and common definitions of key terms. By following the Accountability Framework, companies can rapidly accelerate their progress, prepare for evolving regulatory requirements, meet investor expectations, and enhance trust with consumers.
The AFi’s revised How To Guide aligns with the Accountability Framework Core Principles 1-3 on setting and specifying commitments that protect forests, other natural ecosystems, and human rights.
In addition, the guide can be used alongside the Operational Guidance on Commitments and Progress Pathways, published in December 2025. The Operational Guidance gives details on how companies can set commitments, identify milestones, and create progress pathways to achieve them. The updated How To Guide complements this resource by providing practical support for drafting policies that align with those commitments.
Get started today
Whether a company is developing its first responsible supply chain policy, updating an existing policy, or preparing to meet SBTi FLAG requirements, this resource offers practical guidance to support this process. Download the How To Write a Policy Aligned with the Accountability Framework guide to get started today:
