business to biodiversity
DESCRIPTION
business & biodiversity. Short business case for including biodiversity in general corporate (sustainability) strategy.TRANSCRIPT
Business to Biodiversity
B2BIO-Strategy Tool
What is Biodiversity?What are we talking about?
What is Biodiversity?• Biodiversity:
– the variability among all living organisms within species, between species and within and between ecosystems
• Ecosystem:– An interacting complex system of different
organisms (including plants, animals, micro-organisms) and their nonliving environment: examples are: forests, coral reefs, deserts and cultivated farmlands
• Ecosystem Services:– Benefits that people obtain from ecosystems.
Examples are freshwater, timber, food, climate regulation, protection from floods, erosion control and recreation
What are we talking about?
SupportingNutrient cycling, soil formation,
primary production, etc
ProvisioningFood, fresh
water, wood, fuel, etc.
RegulatingClimate regulation, flood
regulation, water purification, disease regulation
CulturalRecreational, educational, spiritual etc.
Ecosystem Services
Why is Biodiversity relevant to Business?
Trends• Enormous decline in Biodiversity [the 6th great extinction trend in history of the
earth, the first caused by humans] and degradation of ecosystems• Increasing understanding of direct economic importance of ecosystems and
biodiversity• Increased quantification of economic value: e.g. Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment, TEEB• New biodiversity markets are on the rise: REDD, Biodiversity Compensation, Bio-
prospecting etc.• Economy & Ecology are interwoven…relevant to all
Why is Biodiversity Relevant to Business?
Biodiversity Hotspots, not all the value, but highest concentration of ecological valueBusiness to Biodiversity
Business impacts on Biodiversity
Through land use (production)
Use and emission of (Toxic) materials
Climate impact
Transport (climate & invasive species)
Other
Business dependance on Biodiversity
Natural Resources (e.g. food, ingredients, chemicals, fibres,
construction materials, nutrients)
Water purification
Energy
other
Biodiversity Strategy Business Benefits
Although monetizing and translating ecosystems into economic value/ & business propositions is complex
• Ecosystem destruction and decline in biodiversity is often irreversible…..not for the coming years, but for the coming millions of years
• Many businesses are directly dependent on a range of ecosystem services, all businesses are indirectly dependent on range of ecosystem services
• Biodiversity and ecosystems offer services that are becoming scarce, and this scarcity will grow thus the market will adjust itself to value it: first mover can achieve competitive advantage, refusal to act will lead to cost and missed opportunity
Conclusion: A Biodiversity strategy is indispensible in any viable business strategy in the
long run
Business to Biodiversity
Price premium/sales:- Higher price for sustainable
product- Growing market for sustainable
products
Brand value/image:- Frontrunner image
- Improved relation with stakeholders
- Employees do not feel that they contribute to extermination of orang
utan
Risk:- Destruction of resource base
- Instable supply chain- Reputational risks
- Anticipation on regulation (e.g. Malaysian timber in the
Netherlands)
Wat levert t nu op?
And advantageous in the short run
Cost efficiency:- Stable supply chains
- Resource efficient operations- Pro-active action to reduce dependence on
scarce resourcesPrice premium/sales:
- Higher price for sustainable product
- Growing market for sustainable products
Brand value/image:- Frontrunner image
- Improved relation with stakeholders
- Employees do not feel that they contribute to extermination of orang
utan
Innovation:-New markets
- Development of new foodstuffs, medicines
- Innvation in supply chain management, waste management
Risk:- Destruction of resource base
- Instable supply chain- Reputational risks
- Anticipation on regulation (e.g. Malaysian timber in the
Netherlands)
Wat levert t nu op?
And advantageous in the short run
Making Biodiversity manageable for companies
Although measurement of value of and impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services is complex, there is a indispensable connection to businesses throughout their operations.
To assist companies in the development of a Biodiversity Strategy, and to integrate this strategy (amongst other sustainability strategies) in their
general business strategy , Symbeyond developed the B2BIO tool
Sustainability is not a one dimensional issue, as all business considerations it needs an integral strategy
Making Biodiversity Manageable for companies
Business to Biodiversity
You want to prepare your company for a viable future while improving its current operations
And are wondering what biodiversity means to your business.
Contact us to hear more: [email protected] 44, 1012 KV, Amsterdam
Biodiversity & your business