How do you manage and monitor your supply chain impacts on biodiversity?

1 Identify your biodiversity dependencies and risks

The first step is to understand how your business depends on and affects biodiversity, both directly and indirectly, through your supply chain. You can use tools such as the Natural Capital Protocol, the Biodiversity Footprint Calculator, or the Corporate Biodiversity Management Handbook to assess your biodiversity dependencies and risks. These tools can help you identify the natural resources, ecosystem services, and biodiversity features that are vital for your operations, products, and markets, as well as the potential impacts and dependencies of your suppliers and customers.

2 Set your biodiversity goals and targets

The second step is to define your biodiversity vision, goals, and targets, aligned with your corporate sustainability strategy and relevant international frameworks, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Science Based Targets Network. You can use the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to set clear and realistic objectives for reducing your negative impacts and enhancing your positive contributions to biodiversity, both within your own operations and across your supply chain.

3 Implement your biodiversity action plan

The third step is to develop and implement a biodiversity action plan that outlines the actions, responsibilities, resources, and timelines for achieving your biodiversity goals and targets. You can use the Mitigation Hierarchy (Avoid, Minimize, Restore, Compensate) to prioritize and guide your actions, and apply the Precautionary Principle to avoid or reduce uncertainty and risk. Your biodiversity action plan should also include measures to engage and collaborate with your suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders, such as NGOs, governments, and local communities, to address common challenges and opportunities.

4 Monitor your biodiversity performance and impacts

The fourth step is to monitor and measure your biodiversity performance and impacts, using relevant indicators, metrics, and methods. You can use tools such as the Global Biodiversity Score, the Biodiversity Indicators Dashboard, or the Biodiversity Impact Metric to quantify and track your biodiversity footprint and dependencies, and to compare them with your goals and targets. You can also use tools such as the Biodiversity Monitoring System, the Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Scenario Calculator, or the Biodiversity Net Gain Good Practice Principles to evaluate and report your biodiversity outcomes and benefits.

5 Communicate your biodiversity results and commitments

The fifth step is to communicate your biodiversity results and commitments, using transparent, credible, and consistent reporting standards and platforms. You can use frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, or the Accountability Framework Initiative to disclose your biodiversity policies, practices, performance, and impacts, and to demonstrate your alignment with global norms and expectations. You can also use platforms such as the Business and Biodiversity Pledge, the One Planet Business for Biodiversity, or the Business for Nature Coalition to communicate your biodiversity commitments and actions, and to join forces with other like-minded businesses.

6 Review and improve your biodiversity management

The sixth and final step is to review and improve your biodiversity management, using feedback, learning, and innovation. You can use tools such as the Biodiversity Performance Review, the Biodiversity Benchmark, or the Biodiversity Check to assess and improve your biodiversity management system, processes, and practices, and to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. You can also use tools such as the Biodiversity Innovation Platform, the Biodiversity Solutions Lab, or the Biodiversity Finance Initiative to explore and adopt new and innovative solutions for addressing your biodiversity challenges and opportunities.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?