Biodiversity is essential for a healthy planet, and companies have an important role to play in protecting it. Consumers and employees increasingly expect companies to operate sustainably. 

Meanwhile, supporting biodiversity can benefit your brand reputation. 

Biodiversity simply refers to the variety of life on Earth. It encompasses all species of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms, as well as the ecosystems in which they live. From tropical rainforests to coral reefs, healthy natural habitats support diverse life and maintain ecological balance. 

However, according to the UN, globally around one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. Habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation and climate change are driving this biodiversity crisis.

Why Businesses SHOULD Care About Biodiversity

Declining biodiversity is creating mounting problems for companies of all sizes. However, those that prioritise protecting natural habitats and conservation can reap a number of benefits. First, it improves supply chain resilience. 

Extreme weather driven by climate change is disrupting supply chains worldwide. A growing number of companies already report interruptions from events like floods and droughts. But sustainable supply chains that conserve biodiversity may be more resilient.

It also enables businesses to meet evolving consumer interests. Research indicates over half of consumers would pay more for sustainably sourced products. As younger generations gain purchasing power, demand for eco-friendly brands will only increase, and a need for more ethical, sustainably-minded businesses will grow. Rather than waiting for stricter laws, companies should take the initiative to openly share details about how their operations affect biodiversity loss and waste production. Proactive transparency will position businesses better in preparation for tighter regulations that experts expect are imminent.

Plus there is a wider social responsibility, as major economic forces, businesses can significantly impact biodiversity, both positively and negatively. Their operations are linked to most of the drivers of biodiversity loss, but companies also have tremendous power to protect and restore nature. 

Forward-thinking brands are beginning to recognise this responsibility and make positive changes.

So, how can companies support biodiversity through their operations as well as environmental campaigns like National Tree Week?

1. Get Involved with Conservation Initiatives

Partnering with non-profit environmental organisations provides impactful opportunities for companies to fund and participate in conservation initiatives. National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, organised by The Tree Council. This annual campaign highlights the importance of trees and biodiversity. Every year, thousands of trees are planted across the UK during National Tree Week.

Tree planting initiatives like this are vital for protecting biodiversity globally. Trees provide habitat for a huge range of species. Trees also play a crucial role in regulating the climate, by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The UK has one of the lowest levels of forest cover in Europe, at just 13%. Campaigns like National Tree Week encourage more tree planting to increase forest cover. The UK government has now committed to increase woodland cover to 17% by 2050.

Businesses can participate in National Tree Week by organising tree planting events or donating to have trees planted. One example is Gibraltar-based law firm Hassans, which has taken steps to analyse and reduce its environmental impact by offsetting their carbon emissions through an innovative tree planting partnership, helping fund reforestation globally. This is an impactful way for companies to lower their carbon footprint while also supporting biodiversity.

2. Restore natural habitats

In addition to minimising environmental harm from current operations, forward-thinking companies are also taking proactive steps to restore degraded natural habitats worldwide. Outdoor apparel company Patagonia provides funding to grassroots environmental groups working to protect ecosystems through its Action Works grants programme.

By funding conservation efforts, renewing degraded habitats and advocating for nature-friendly policies, companies can counterbalance the damage caused by industrial activity. More and more, corporations are recognising their obligation to take such proactive steps to restore biodiversity as part of a sustainable business model aimed at leaving the planet better than they found it.

3. Use and create green spaces

Companies have tremendous opportunities to directly enhance biodiversity on their own premises and campuses. Toyota's UK headquarters underwent an impactful biodiversity makeover, earning them certification from the Wildlife Trusts for creating newt, frog, beetle and bird-friendly habitats on site. Even in urban city centres, facilities can support biodiversity by installing green roofs covered with native plants that attract birds, bees and other pollinators.

These examples showcase the tangible actions businesses can take to transform their own grounds into organisational biodiversity havens, from simply replacing unneeded concrete or grass with diverse native plantings. Assessing corporate campuses and facilities to identify such biodiversity enhancement opportunities engages staff in sustainability and creates local ecological resilience.

4. Lead by example and raise awareness

An important step companies can take is to set clear goals around biodiversity and land use, and publicly commit to meeting these targets. Specifically, businesses should measure their current biodiversity impact, such as land usage, water usage, emission output and supply chain sourcing. They can then use this baseline to establish time-bound, measurable goals to improve.

There are a number of tools available to assist companies in measuring their biodiversity footprint and modelling the impact of reduction targets. Once goals are defined, companies should publicly share them and commit to achieving them. Effective ways to do this include signing pledges like the UN Global Compact, Business for Nature or Science Based Targets for Nature. Such public commitment raises awareness and accountability, and global businesses such as Apple and Google are leading the way.

Internally, businesses can also educate employees about setting biodiversity goals through training and engagement initiatives. This builds a culture of sustainability. Setting ambitious but achievable biodiversity targets is a powerful way companies can align operations with ecological sustainability.

  Take Action Today

 Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are essential to the sustainability of life on our planet, and businesses have a responsibility and an opportunity to preserve biodiversity through their operations and initiatives. Leading brands are already making tangible progress, but every company should assess its operations and supply chains to identify ways it can better support biodiversity.

With consumers and employees prioritising sustainability, protecting nature makes business sense as well as moral sense. Collective and sustained effort from the private sector can help contribute to the reversal of the alarming biodiversity loss trends. The time for action is now to create an economy that operates in harmony with nature, not at its expense.