What biodiversity commitments for a company?

More than a million species are now threatened with extinction: this is an extremely alarming finding! This sixth mass extinction, which we are experiencing, obviously raises questions about our relationship to the living. It is undeniable that companies today take a predominant role in our society. This is why it is important to question the impact of companies on biodiversity. Beyond that, it is even more important to think about the commitments on biodiversity that companies can initiate. This subject, unfortunately too little explored by companies, is nevertheless a vector of innovation and performance.

Fortunately, many online resources are now available free of charge on biodiversity commitments for businesses. In particular how to make these biodiversity commitments consistent with the company’s overall strategy. These resources allow companies to better understand their role and responsibilities in relation to biodiversity.

Integrating biodiversity into its CSR strategy

Positioning yourself as a leader on the subject of biodiversity allows you to be one step ahead of your competitors. As this is a subject that is still relatively little identified by companies when they establish their CSR strategy, many are hesitant about how to proceed. Overall, the first step is to make a diagnosis. This diagnosis should include the following questions:

• What is the scope of my diagnosis? Which part(s) of my activity or my value chain are affected? What products?
• What actions are already implemented on the subject of biodiversity in my company?
• What ecosystem resources and services does my business benefit from?
• What are the impacts of my company and my activities on biodiversity?
• What are the risks but also the opportunities to act for biodiversity?
• What are my stakeholders’ expectations regarding biodiversity and the actions to be taken?
• What is the highest priority biodiversity issue on which I can act?

Once your diagnosis has been established, it is time to put in place a strategy and a resulting action plan. Please note that the implementation of such an action plan must absolutely be accompanied by relevant indicators. There are 4 types of indicators allowing the company to assess the impact
of its activity on biodiversity:

1. Monitoring indicators are based on the notion of causality between people, their activities and
   its environment.
2. State indicators designate naturalistic themes (terrestrial flora, mammals, reptiles,
   insects).
3. Pressure indicators identify the causes of ecological degradation linked to
   human activity.
4. The response indicators assess the progress and the effects of the measures taken in favor
   the preservation of biodiversity.

How to commit to biodiversity as a business

You are sensitive to biodiversity and you have identified it as the lever for action and innovation that it represents. You therefore wish to initiate, with your company, a process of consideration. If you would like to be accompanied on the subject, contact our specialized consultants on the subject today. Thanks to their theoretical and practical experience, they know how to identify opportunities both for you and for biodiversity.

Here are two standards recognized today for their relevance in the implementation of a process of protection of biodiversity in France and in Europe. There are other equally consistent benchmarks. however, both are a great starting point for any company willing to engage with the subject.

• The Science Based Target for nature approach developed by the Science Based Target Network is an internationally agreed framework and process for businesses to align sustainability with biodiversity conservation goals.
• La norme Afnor NF NF X32-001 « Biodiversity approach for organizations – Requirements and guidelines published in January 2021. It allows the company to develop a strategy, structure an action plan and then evaluate its results and improvements. It is a guide in the analysis of its impacts and identifies the dependencies of its activity on nature in order to then measure the main risks.

Conclusion

Biodiversity is an increasingly present theme in corporate CSR strategies. Regardless of their size, French companies are beginning to identify this theme as a hot topic. First of all because biodiversity is strongly impacted by the activities of companies, but also because it is a tremendous lever for innovation. A good CSR and biodiversity strategy can open up new prospects and, who knows, potentially new markets.

Do you want to look into the question? The role of your company in relation to biodiversity is not yet clear enough for you? Have you taken the first steps to mitigate your company’s impact on biodiversity and want to intensify your efforts? Contact one of our expert consultants today! He or she will be happy to take stock of your situation and identify the next step that will meet your needs.