We protect biodiversity. To this end, we network and advise companies from various sectors on how they can better protect biodiversity along their supply chain and firmly anchor biodiversity protection in their strategy.
If it is missing, the basis of our economy is missing: biodiversity. It is indispensable for life on earth and yet it is increasingly endangered by human activity and our economic system. According to IPBES, one million animal and plant species are currently threatened with extinction, and with them the functioning of ecosystems. So how do we manage to make companies and business associations biodiversity-friendly and channel capital into the transformation?
“UBi – Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt” offers a joint forum for business and nature conservation associations with the aim of identifying strategies and courses of action towards more biodiversity-friendly business practices through dialog, networking and consultation.
We are currently active in the following sectors as part of the project:
- Food(www.food-biodiversity.de)
- DIY stores
- Textile
- Plants & Flowers
- Tourism
- Finances
Our subject areas:
- The Global Nature Fund, the Lake Constance Foundation and the Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP) are developing biodiversity assessments and measures (“Biodiversity Checks” and “Biodiversity Action Plans”) with five sectors in cooperation with associations. To this end, we test the checks with 14 companies from the textile, DIY, food, tourism/catering and chemicals sectors. The checks also help companies to better prepare for the materiality analysis of the Corporate Sustainable Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the ESRS E4 reporting standard. Findings from the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) are also incorporated into the development of the checks.
- Global Nature Fund and Lake Constance Foundation organize an exchange of the most important standard setters / certifications in the ornamental plant and textile sectors and discuss biodiversity criteria for improving the standards.
- Our lighthouse projects on company premises with the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB e.V.) and the work of the Food for Biodiversity association show how companies can be effective both in their own operations and in the supply chain.
- Our biodiversity management guidelines provide guidance on how to better integrate biodiversity into corporate strategy and supply chains: https://www.unternehmen-biologische-vielfalt.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/EMAS_Broschure_Deutsch_2023.pdf
- For the financial sector, the Global Nature Fund, together with the Association for Environmental Management and Sustainability in Financial Institutions (VfU), is developing recommendations for biodiversity criteria for use in the lending and borrowing business, compiling information on relevant tools for biodiversity management and creating networking and exchange opportunities on the topic of biodiversity for financial market players.
Our project partners Biodiversity in Good Company, DIHK Service GmbH & the CSCP also organize conferences and online dialogue formats, as well as the website www.unternehmen-biologische-vielfalt.de
Project area
Goals
Motivate companies, trade and industry associations to develop and implement their own strategies for the conservation of biodiversity
Enable and promote exchange between business, politics and nature conservation
Integrate the protection of biodiversity sustainably as a fixed, measurable component of corporate management
Impacts
2.000
Contribution to the preservation of biodiversity by raising awareness among more than 2,000 stakeholders from the business community.
30
Around 30 German business associations regularly exchange information on biodiversity and measures as part of the “UBi Supporters’ Circle”.
300
Promotion/implementation of measures to protect biodiversity in over 300 companies.
Impressions
© GNF
© Felix Fössler
Contribution to the sustainability goals
Latest news
Publications
UBi Publikation: Biodiversität in der Kreditvergabe
Die Publikation zeigt, warum Biodiversität für Banken und Wirtschaft ein zentrales Risiko- und Zukunftsthema ist und welche Rolle Finanzinstitute dabei spielen. Sie bietet einen praxisnahen Ansatz, um biodiversitätsbezogene Kriterien und Kennzahlen in die Kreditvergabe zu integrieren und so nachhaltige Finanzierungsentscheidungen zu fördern.
Recommendations for Managing and Enhancing Biodiversity in Floriculture Production
This publication is the result of a roundtable discussion with experts and stakeholders from the floriculture sector within the framework of the "Business and Biodiversity - UBi" project.
EMAS und Biodiversität Leitfaden 2023
Der Leitfaden unterstützt Unternehmen dabei, den Schutz der biologischen Vielfalt systematisch in ihr betriebliches Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement zu integrieren. Er zeigt praxisorientiert auf, wie Aspekte der Biodiversität entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette – von der naturnahen Gestaltung des Firmengeländes über den Einkauf und die Rohstoffgewinnung bis hin zu Produktentwicklung, Logistik und Marketing – im Rahmen von Managementsystemen wie EMAS wirksam verankert werden können.
Leitfaden: Naturkapital als Wirtschaftsgrundlage
Ein praktisches Werkzeug mit konkreten Handlungsansätzen für Unternehmen der Lebensmittelindustrie. Von der Bedeutung der Vielfalt von Nutzpflanzen und Nutztieren über politische Rahmenbedingungen bis hin zur Rolle unternehmerischer Strategie und Management bei der Aufrechterhaltung der Produktionsgrundlagen.
Branchen-Check Biodiversität für Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte („Do-it-yourself“, DIY)
Der "Branchen-Check Biodiversität" bietet Bau- und Heimwerkermärkten einen umfassenden Leitfaden mit praxisnahen Checklisten, um die biologische Vielfalt in ihrem Geschäftsmodell zu schützen und zu fördern.
EASY GUIDE: Biodiversitätakriterien in Standards der Textil- und Bekleidungsindustrie – mit Fokus auf Pflanzenfasern
Diese Publikation zeigt, wie Biodiversität in der Textilindustrie entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette beeinflusst wird, analysiert bestehende Textilstandards im Hinblick auf ihre Biodiversitätskriterien und formuliert konkrete Empfehlungen für nachhaltigere Zertifizierungen und Produktionspraktiken.
Project website
Contact persons
Stefan Hörmann
Managing Director
Tel: +49 228 184 86 94 11
Mobile: +49 160 532 10 52
hoermann@globalnature.org
Sponsor
Project partners
