What are the keys to acting on biodiversity as a company?

Working to help ants is not necessarily painstaking work! Ants are small allies of choice for biodiversity. For example, they promote the dispersal of seeds on the ground or even pollination. Yet today they are threatened by the activities of many companies. Because yes, biodiversity is impacted by waste and discharges from companies in ecosystems. The use of the resources that biodiversity makes available is another source of negative impacts on it. It’s no secret that the economic activities of companies can be harmful to biodiversity. Companies are asking more and more questions following this awareness. What are the keys to acting on biodiversity as a business? Discover in this article what you can put in place to limit your impact on biodiversity. In the best-case scenario, you can even achieve a positive impact on biodiversity.

Integrating biodiversity into your CSR strategy

If your company already has a CSR strategy in place, it makes sense to start there. If you haven’t yet committed your company to the path of sustainable development, this is the perfect excuse to do so! Implementing a CSR strategy in a work organization, whether it is a private company, a public body, an association or other, is simple… when you have the right methodology!

You will find valuable and often free resources online (white papers, blog articles, etc.) to help you integrate the theme of biodiversity into your company’s CSR strategy. If these resources inspire you and you want to dig deeper into the subject, it is also relevant to get training on the subject. Thirdly, support by one of our consultants and experts on biodiversity is also possible. Since 2009, Nicomak has supported companies wishing to implement more virtuous, more responsible ways of working from an environmental point of view.

Find the keys to act on biodiversity in business in recognized standards

With the mass of information found on the Internet, it is not always easy to know where to turn. Fortunately, several well-known and recognized organizations have looked into the matter to better guide you. Here is a non-exhaustive list. These guidelines are designed to encourage you to take action.

• Science Based Target Network. This internationally agreed process, launched and led by this same initiative, promotes the alignment of companies and their ways of working on objectives related to the preservation of biodiversity.
• Afnor standard NF X32-001 “Organizational biodiversity approach”. Published in January 2021, this standard allows companies to develop and structure a strategy. Consequently, the resulting action plan is directly linked to biodiversity. The standard guides companies in the analysis of its impacts, in the identification of the dependencies of its activity and the measurement of the main risks.
• L’etude TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity). This UN-led study assesses the cost of inaction on biodiversity. It concluded with 6 recommendations for businesses. 1) Identify impacts and dependencies; 2) Assess risks and opportunities; 3) Avoid, minimize and compensate for impacts; 4) Seize market opportunities related to biodiversity; 5) Integrate the biodiversity strategy and actions into the overall strategy; 6) Engage with stakeholders to improve biodiversity policies.

Conclusion

There are many keys to acting on biodiversity in business. And much easier to handle than you might think! However, every business is different. Its sector of activity, its exact context, the environment in which it operates… All this is specific to each company. So we have to approach biodiversity with discernment. You can’t always copy-paste what the neighbor is doing. If you would like to discuss the keys to acting on biodiversity for your company in particular, contact one of our expert consultants on the subject today. He or she will be delighted to explore with you the possibilities that exist to make your activity a true ally of biodiversity.