There are a number of existing tools and methodologies for biodiversity metrics to monitor both ongoing loss of biodiversity and success of conservation measures.  However, businesses have yet to assess the biodiversity impacts of economic activities across their value chain, in a robust and synthetic way. So, what are the options to enhance the net positive biodiversity impacts of a business on its industrial sites and across its value chain? CSR Europe will address the issue at the webinar: ‘Industry & Biodiversity’ – Measuring Corporate Biodiversity Impact on June 26.

Biodiversity — a contraction of biological diversity —continues to decline in every region of the world, and that land continues to be degraded, thus endangering economies, livelihoods, food security and the general quality of life of people everywhere on the planet.

The challenges associated with preserving biodiversity have made this topic a global issue for the public sector, the private sector, and for policymakers alike. Companies are implementing various initiatives, however, to enhance their net positive biodiversity impact, companies need to assess their corporate biodiversity footprint. Moreover, a joint effort is needed - not only by different stakeholders – but also from businesses across sectors (retail, chemical, automotive etc).

CSR Europe is launching a business-led collaborative platform between businesses and key stakeholders on Biodiversity & Industry to take concrete action towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (in preparations for the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework) and the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU.

On June 26, CSR Europe is hosting a webinar ‘measuring corporate biodiversity impact’ to kick off the collaborative platform on Biodiversity and Industry. In this webinar, we will discuss how companies are assessing their corporate biodiversity footprint, what the relevant EU policies are for businesses, and ultimately, how can we take collective action and collaborate with stakeholders to achieve a sustainable Europe by 2030.

Steve Hope, General Manager Environmental Affairs and Corporate Citizenship at Toyota Motor Europe, is implementing the Global Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 in Europe, which tackles challenges that cover every aspect of the business. Biodiversity conservation and restoration are highly material to Toyota. Steve Hope will share how they have taken a lead in the UK motor industry by establishing a partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to strengthen the ecological and environmental quality of their facilities starting at their UK Manufacturing operations. This collaboration is transforming all Toyota’s operational sites, its national headquarters and national Sales Company offices into thriving, sustainable habitats for plants and wildlife. This is supporting their global principle of working in harmony with the environment - Environmental Challenge #6.

Thomas Andro, Head of Solvay Way, will present the company’s pragmatic approach to better assess and identify its main impacts on biodiversity. To answer its stakeholders’ expectations and be more robust, Solvay launched a study to develop a risk mapping in terms of biodiversity of their plants and operations. At a later stage, the study was extended to their supply chain and more broadly to the business level. To do this, they partnered with the French Caisse des Dépôts Biodiversité to pilot a tool to measure the company’s biodiversity footprint, namely the Global Biodiversity Score (GBS).

For more information:

Soni Kanabar,

Project Manager, CSR Europe