Sustainability Language

Supply Chain & Due Diligence

Conversion-free

A sourcing commitment that commodity production must not cause or contribute to the conversion of any natural ecosystem — broader than deforestation-free.

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Definition

Conversion-free (or no-conversion) means commodity production, sourcing or investment that does not cause or contribute to the conversion of natural ecosystems, as defined by the Accountability Framework initiative. Conversion is the change of a natural ecosystem to another land use, or a profound change in its species composition, structure or function — whether or not legal. Deforestation is one form of conversion; the commitment also covers grasslands, savannahs, wetlands and peatlands, typically with a cut-off date after which conversion renders a unit non-compliant.

References

Overview

What it means

Extending zero-deforestation logic to all natural ecosystems, not just forests.

How it is used

Companies and standards (e. g. leather and soy protocols aligned with AFi definitions) set conversion-free commitments with cut-off dates, commonly aligned to 2020; verification uses geospatial monitoring and traceability.

Why it matters

Non-forest ecosystems hold vast carbon stocks and biodiversity; conversion-free commitments close the loophole that deforestation-only pledges leave open.

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