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: Bertus.Tulleners@symbeyond.nlwww.symbeyond.nlRokin 44, 1012 KV, Amsterdam

Biodiversity & your business