Asia’s largest food retailers, manufacturers, and hospitality groups are making strides in sustainable protein sourcing, yet they still fall short of global best practices, according to the latest assessment by Asia Research & Engagement (ARE). The report, “The Asian Protein Buyers 100,” evaluates how 100 of Asia’s biggest protein-buying companies manage environmental, social, and governance risks in their supply chains.
The companies assessed, which include well-known names such as China Mengniu Dairy, Yili Group, and Jollibee, represent over $500b in market capitalisation. Despite some progress, the average score for these companies increased from 9 in 2023 to 16 in 2025, indicating that most are still in the early stages of implementing sustainable practices.
The report highlights that whilst the number of companies in the leading Tier 3 group more than doubled from 10 in 2023 to 26 in 2025, no company reached the top two performance tiers. This underscores a significant gap between sustainability commitments and actual execution.
Key areas of improvement include climate change and labour standards, driven by regulatory pressures and investor scrutiny. However, governance related to protein sustainability and protein diversification remains weak, with average scores of 4.5% and 7.4%, respectively.
Kate Blaszak, ARE Director of Protein Transition, stated, “Asia is the world’s fastest-growing protein market, which means what happens here will determine the future of global food systems.” The report aims to shift focus from policy to practice, encouraging companies to adopt measurable targets and board-level accountability for sustainable practices.
