Is Mondelēz International prepared for EUDR?

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The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), due for large and medium-sized companies from 30 Dec 2026, requires proof that products sold into the EU aren't linked to recent deforestation. Mondelēz International, exposed through cocoa, palm oil, soy and pulp & paper, falls within scope. The company is also in AFII's Deforestation Debt Universe, with c.USD19bn of bonds outstanding.

Our analysis suggests Mondelēz may be underprepared for EUDR. The company lobbied for a 12-month delay last year, a stance several peers opposed, including Nestlé, Tony's Chocolonely and Ferrero.

Its mass balance approach to cocoa sourcing appears hard to reconcile with EUDR's strict geolocation-based traceability rules, and shifting away from this approach could be costly. Despite Europe generating around 36% of net revenues, Mondelēz's Q2 results barely mentioned EUDR, even though non-compliance risks maximum fines of at least 4% of annual EU turnover.

AFII's Bond Horizon tool flags Mondelēz as likely to issue within three months – a timely window for investor engagement.