Loblaw Companies Limited plans to purchase one million pounds of beef from the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) farms and ranches, becoming the first Canadian retailer to do so, according to the company.

Loblaw is a founding member of CRSB. The beef purchased was raised on certified sustainable farms and ranches that meet the sustainability standards set by CRSB. The beef will be incorporated into Loblaw's overall beef purchases.

"This is one of the many investments we have and will continue to make as we advance our commitments to a local and sustainable food future,” says Tonya Lagrasta, senior director, Corporate Social Responsibility at Loblaw. “Supporting solutions in Canada that contribute to the protection and preservation of nature and our shared biodiversity are critical and we are committed to engaging at all levels of the supply chain to drive greater transparency, traceability and sustainability.”

Established in 2014, CRSB is a collaborative, multi-stakeholder initiative focused on advancing environmental, social and economic sustainability in the Canadian beef industry. It drives recognition and continuous progress in beef sustainability through benchmarking, setting strategic goals, and communicating on-the-ground continuous improvement. Launched in 2017, CRSB’s Certified Sustainable Beef Framework was developed as a tool to recognize sustainable practices through third party certification, to support sustainable commitments for the retail and foodservice industry, and to build consumer trust through credible, science-based claims about sustainable beef production in Canada.