
The Japanese restaurant chain Aleph Inc. intends to launch a “biodiversity-friendly rice”. As part of this effort, Aleph has convinced rice producers to cultivate rice without the use of agrichemicals and to create natural biotopes in rice paddies. This effect on their supply chain has already led to an increase in the number of species in the rice paddies.

Axel Springer showed that economics and ecology are not mutually exclusive when they redesigned the company grounds at their printing facility in Ahrensburg. An award-winning renaturation programme lowered the maintenance costs while increasing the ecological value of the grounds.
Axel Springer AG

As part of its supply chain management programme, Axel Springer, a German publisher, uses ecological criteria to select its suppliers. For paper manufacturers, the criteria specify that they:
Axel Springer AG

In 2010, Beraca established the first sustainable dialogue with its suppliers (associations and cooperatives). All community leaders were brought to the city of Belem, in the state of Pará, for two days of information exchange among its own leaders and employees from all departments of the company (manufacturing, quality control, purchasing, logistics, and others).

In 2003, Beraca created the Biodiversity Enhancement Program to promote sustainable use of the Brazilian biodiversity through environmental practices. Trade negotiations on non-timber forest products has protected the environment and improved the income of families and small businesses based in the Amazon region. The partnership with private companies, social organizations, and governmental institutions has allowed minimum price regulations for products such as Brazil nuts, açaí, babaçu and andiroba. Through these partnerships, Beraca has empowered associations and cooperatives that supply raw materials.

When developing a new organic beverage, Bionade GmbH decided in favour of quince. Regional contract growers once again cultivated this old, native and tasty but almost forgotten fruit variety. The introduction of this unusual flavour thus makes a contribution to the conservation of agricultural diversity.

CAIXA, a Brazilian bank, set up an investment fund for ecological offsets for companies that are required to invest in the maintenance or creation of conservation units as compensation for their business’ negative environmental impacts.
CAIXA

Centroflora Group, a Brazilian producer of botanical extracts, established an internal policy on access and benefit sharing for new products based on Brazilian biodiversity. The policy reflects the principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Centroflora Group

The Brazilian Centroflora Group produces botanical extracts for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. To ensure long term production and product development, the sustainable use of biodiversity is essential. Thus, Centroflora encourages the organic production of herbs and the sustainable extraction of Brazilian biomass for its supply chain, while promoting fair incomes for rural societies.
Centroflora Group

Products and services that promote conservation or the sustainable use of biodiversity can only be successful if they are sought after by consumers. Through both its own publications and by serving as a secretariat of government campaigns, Dentsu, a Japanese advertising agency, contributes to raising the public's awareness of biodiversity. This in turn leads to developing new markets for biodiversity-friendly products.
Dentsu Inc.

DSD provides its customers with an Environmental Success Report, in which the results and savings based on packaging recycling are calculated and laid out. The calculations contained in these reports are verified and confirmed by an independent institute. Since 2007, DSD has been the first system operator to certify for its 500 biggest customers how much CO2 they have saved by having their packages recycled. Starting in 2008, DSD began specifying this amount for all its customers.
Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland GmbH (DSD)

In order to progress the Environmental Success Report effect, DSD is promoting the “Greenhouse” project of the National Nature Heritage of the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU). The foundation is preserving large portions of the former lignite open-cast mines in the Lausitz region as refuges for species in danger of extinction. DSD transfers to its customers a sponsorship commitment for a piece of “Greenhouse” in proportion to their share of packaging recycling.
Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland GmbH (DSD)

DSD is concerned about the packaging life cycle and is cooperating with many manufacturers to develop a way to keep the packaging materials even longer in the business cycle (cradle-to-cradle). With the company’s Environmental Success Report, DSD has been able to collect information on its environmental impact, as well as gather specific indicators on the further development of packaging recycling. DSD has joined forces with selected partners from the retailing, filling and package manufacturing sectors to set up the “Sustainable Packaging Agenda” pilot project.
Der Grüne Punkt – Duales System Deutschland GmbH (DSD)

Biological diversity is also the basis for whole economic sectors such as the fishing or fish-processing industries. The future availability of fish and seafood is obviously an essential component of long-term business success. Deutsche See has taken on this responsibility. The company is continually reviewing its product line for endangered species and requires its suppliers to use sustainable fishing methods.
Deutsche See

To preserve global stocks of fish, Deutsche See has implemented procurement requirements that guarantee traceability and transparency. In addition the product line is regularly reviewed for endangered fish species as well as for the possibility of using fish from certified, sustainable fisheries, organic fish and fish from aquaculture.
Deutsche See

This maker of pencils has a raw material procurement strategy that involves buying wood harvested from certified forests, where biodiversity is protected. They are also the first company in this industry to exclusively use water-based varnish in its German production.

Fujitsu group employees participate in the regeneration and reforestation of tropical forests in Thailand, Malaysian Borneo and in the mangrove forests in Vietnam. Today 1.18 million trees have been planted on 670 ha of land. The regeneration of the forests aims to support the rich biodiversity found in this area.

Biodiversity management at HeidelbergCement has a combination of drivers. To ensure that they are able to continue mining raw materials, the company is committed to active stakeholder dialogue. Through efficient biodiversity management and an open dialogue with conservation agencies, NGOs and neighbouring communities about the standards the company applies, HeidelbergCement has been able to save costs (normally incurred by expensive cultivation efforts and long approval processes) and enhance its reputation.

A further example is the nature conservation indicators that HeidelbergCement has developed for their quarrying sites. With their help it is possible to determine and forecast the conservation value of the quarries as well as the effect of the conservation activities both during and after the mining.

HiPP, a producer of baby food, is committed to using raw materials from organic farms. This leads to a product-related increase in consumer value that is rewarded by customer and brand loyalty.

An example of a sustainability indicator is a company’s CO2 footprint, which HiPP has introduced for its baby food product, “Pure Early Carrots”. They used the following indicators in their calculation: raw material production, the availability of adjuvants and packaging, energy consumption in production, transport, the use by the customers as well as disposal or recycling of waste. This forms the basis for carrying out a CO2 accounting analysis of the whole product cycle.

Kajima Corporation, a Japanese construction company, is continuing to investigate how indigenous honeybees could be used as an indicator for human quality of life, because they support and stabilise biodiversity by means of pollination. The idea behind this initiative is that native honeybees are vulnerable to agricultural chemicals and that they need plants as a source of nectar.
Kajima Corporation

Kajima Corporation, a Japanese construction company, uses innovative planning and evaluation methods to analyse whether a sufficient quality and quantity of green space is available for key (indicator) species. In addition to using a geographic information system (GIS), Kajima employs high resolution satellite data and digital surface models. This shows that with the proper planning these species’ habitats can be saved.
Kajima Corporation

The KfW Bankengruppe is concerned about the impacts its projects have on biodiversity. For example, the KfW Entwicklungsbank together with the European Investment Bank and the European Commission were slated to finance 200 MW of the Egyptian Gabal el Zayt 630 km² wind farm with a total output of up to 3,000 MW. This western Egypt location is also a main bird migratory corridor. An extensive bird migration study, stipulated by the KfW Entwicklungsbank, recommended the southern area of the project, accounting for around 60% of the originally planned area, be left untouched for bird migration. The Egyptian government agreed to this and adjusted its plans accordingly, leaving the area untouched for the bids.

The KfW Bankenguppe supports private sector efforts to protect the environment. Since 2006, KfW has been financing the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program (BBOP), whose aim is to encourage companies to take voluntary measures to offset significant negative impacts on the natural environment. The CBD has acknowledged the “biodiversity offsets” as a significant contribution on behalf of the private sector in protecting biodiversity. The private sector has been invited by CBD to compile case-studies, methodologies, tools and guidelines on biodiversity offsets in collaboration with relevant organizations and initiatives, such as BBOP.

Klabin, a Brazilian paper and cardboard producer, manages its forests in a mosaic pattern. Planted trees intermingled with preserved forests stabilise the native woodlands’ equilibrium. This model contributes to developing ecological corridors, thus contributing to the preservation of local biodiversity as well as helping regulate water flows and soil erosion.
Klabin

Educating the employees to be messengers for sustainability is one of the Mars’ goals in addition to creating a sense of environmental responsibility. Together with the classic location and process-related aspects, employees learning about the global linkages as relates to raw materials procurement, focussing especially on cocoa.

Sustainability is an integral part of the Mars’ corporate policy. This can be seen through continual assessment measures used to optimise Mars’ operational practices. At their headquarters in Viersen, in the last ten years they have been able to reduce natural gas consumption by 23%, electricity usage by 33%, water utilisation by 73%, and rubbish creation by 97%.

In order to protect the biological diversity of the marine world and to protect fish from overfishing, Mars has removed all endangered fish types from its cat food recipes. It takes its commitment a step further by only purchasing fish from certified dolphin-free fish catches.

The cocoa tree is a sensitive plant that only grows in tropical undergrowth. It needs pollinating insects and trees that supply shade and nutrients as well as retain water in the soil. In order to secure an adequate, long term supply of cocoa, Mars has set itself the goal of sourcing 100% of its cocoa from sustainable cultivation.

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance constructed a rooftop garden on top of its head office in central Tokyo. Comprising over 7000 m² of green space, the garden provides a safe place for wild birds and is integrated in an ecological network of green public areas.
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd.

Mitsui Sumitomo, a Japanese insurance company, promotes the reforestation of illegally logged rainforest in Indonesia. This commitment contributes to the recovery of destroyed ecosystems and creates new income opportunities for the local community while improving Mitsui Sumitomo’s reputation.
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd.

In the Toranomon and Roppongi areas of Tokyo, Mori Building is remediating intensively used land. With the concept “life surrounded by nature in the heart of the city” the Japanese company creates public areas and green spaces, revitalizing nature in the city by providing native species with natural vegetation. This project was the first in Japan to obtain the highest possible rating in the Japan Habitat Evaluation and Certification Program (JHEP).

As a Brazilian producer of organic sugar, Native Organics developed a new production system, based on “green” cane harvesting in contrast to traditional burnt cane harvesting. Together with organic cultivation the new system leads to biodiversity levels 23 times higher than in conventional sugarcane farms.
Native Organics

The Oak Valley Estate cultivates wine, fruits and greenhouse flowers in the Fynbos area of South Africa. These mountains are prone to continuous invasion by alien plant species, which may use up to 50% of the potential available water supply. By preventing these plants from spreading with an annual eradication programme, Oak Valley Estate contributes to biodiversity conservation and sustainable business development.
Oak Valley Wines

Oekom has specialised in publishing works on the environment and sustainability. In a move to strengthen the company’s philosophy on ecology it exclusively uses recycled and FSC certified paper, purchases green power and organic farm food catering services for its employees, and is environmentally conscious in its business travel. These efforts are all part of an authentic concern about preserving the environment, which, in turn, improves the company's reputation company.

The Otto Group shows how commercial enterprises can have a positive impact on raw material production. For example, the company promotes the sustainable production of cotton in Africa by controlling its product line and ecologically managing their supply chain. In addition, for the production of furniture, the Otto Group procures its wood using a strategy that hinders the use of endangered wood species and timber illegally logged from forests.

Precious Woods harvests tropical wood in Gabon and South America. To maintain its reputation, the company conducts its business in full compliance with FSC rules and reforests abandoned pastures. Precious Woods also invests in training its employees, who are mainly from the surrounding region.
Precious Woods

Puma AG, a leading global sportlifestyle company, is an experienced player in supply chain management. In an effort to create transparency in its own business and sustainability reporting, it has committed to working closely with its suppliers. With the Global Action Network for Transparency in the Supply Chain (GANTSCh) Puma has been working with more than 30 of its suppliers since 2006 to build up equal partnerships as well as provide trainings and coaching to build capacities for sustainable operation.
Puma

PUMA has partnered up with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) to create “Play for Life”. Its goal is to support the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity through:
Puma

Businesses depend on ecosystem services, and ecosystems depend on biodiversity. To conserve biodiversity Ricoh, a Japanese company, adopted an internal biodiversity policy. At the same time the producer of technical office systems set ambitious medium (2020) and long-term (2050) targets accompanied by concrete actions for reducing energy and resource consumption and pollution prevention.
Ricoh

Cocoa plants grow best in the shade of nutrient-rich rainforest trees. They are often planted together with coconut, banana and rubber trees. This is why Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG now has a programme to promote the mixed cultivation of cocoa in existing rain forests. Together with adequate levels of pay for small farmers, these practices discourage slash-and-burn agriculture and the destruction of the rainforest.

Saraya, a Japanese detergent producer, shows that differentiation is possible by creating additional social value. With the sale of their Yashinomi washing agents, the company raises awareness and consumer-driven support for Saraya's active environmental policy and their investment in rainforest conservation and reparation projects.

Saraya, a Japanese producer of hygiene products, developed a new fermentation process to fabricate surfactants from sustainable palm oil. The process allows the production of detergents which have better degradability than conventional market alternatives. This results in sustainable cleaning agents with less environmental contamination.

The Japanese construction company Sekisui House developed, in close cooperation with different non-governmental organisations, guidelines for the procurement of “Fairwood”. With this guideline Sekisui House avoids using illegally logged wood, integrates biodiversity aspects into its supply chain management system and supports sustainable regional development.
SEKISUI HOUSE, Ltd.

Sekisui House Ltd. promotes the “Gohon no ki” gardening concept, which is designed to help maintain ecosystems by planting indigenous trees to attract local wildlife. Planting trees not only improves the aesthetics of the property, but it attracts wild birds and butterflies - creating a small ecosystem. This supports a network for interacting with the surrounding natural environment and has a positive effect on the quality of life for the local residents.
SEKISUI HOUSE, Ltd.

Sumitomo Trust & Banking has launched a loan product that applies a preferential lending rate to enterprises with a high environmental rating. This rating is based on a bank analysis that includes biodiversity as a criterion. Furthermore, Sumitomo is scheduled to launch the new Sustainable & Responsible Investment (SRI) fund of Japanese equities, which only includes shares in companies taking care of biodiversity.

An example for the integration of biodiversity into a business model is travel-to-nature. This CSR certified travel organisation is specialised in exotic nature travel programmes. Additionally, it promotes contact between tourists and the native people. Such meetings help the local population to appreciate biodiversity and its conservation.
travel-to-nature

In the corporate environmental key ratios chapter of TUI’s yearly corporate sustainability report, TUI lists its key ratios for biodiversity under the headline “Biodiversity Action”.

Through regional-specific design and ecological pest controls at hotel facilities, Robinson is contributing to the protection of native animal and plants species at its various vacation destinations.

TUI guests, under the watchful eye of scientists from Reef Check, are able to participate in researching coral reefs and the dangers human influences pose. The data is easy to collect and can be done by snorkelers and hobby divers. The information they gather is transmitted to Reef Check’s central database where it is processed to give a worldwide outlook on the reef’s current endangerment and the influence humans have.

TUI came up with the “TUI Travel Guidelines for Animal Welfare”, which aids the company in selecting dolphinariums offered on tours. The guidelines include IUCN and CITES regulations, thereby indirectly aiding in the protection of wild dolphin and whale populations. Internal and external auditors verify the TUI’s compliance with the rules of actions.

In order to protect the habitats of whale and dolphins and avoid threatening the animals, TUI whale watching excursions are carried out under strict ethical guidelines. Through these monitored excursions the local population is able to earn a living and support their communities.

In an effort to sensitise the TUI guests to issues concerning species protection, passengers of the in TUIfly airplanes will be able to see ads from the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. Starting in November 2009, the one minute spots will deal with topics such as souvenirs and protecting endangered species while travelling.

A continual education topic at TUI is the “Environment”. With a permanent employee training program, the TUI tourism managers receive training about environmental and species protection activities at the company.

The emotional character of biodiversity offers a great opportunity for businesses. For example, in the i-to-i trips offered by TUI, guests wanting to combine travel with a commitment to the environment or social issues can participate in volunteer trips and become actively involved in wildlife conservation projects protecting turtles or elephants.

TUI’s “Little Guide to Protecting Species”, produced together with the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, gives information about illegal souvenirs that are made from protected plants and animals. It gives tips for buying fair souvenirs that will also strengthen the local economy. This brochure additionally helps to protect the consumer, as buyers of illegal souvenirs are often subject to fines or even imprisonment.

In order to conserve and increase biological diversity in the company’s own forests, this Finnish forestry company has developed a global biodiversity programme. This programme involves training for all woodcutters and forest managers, focusing on what makes a habitat valuable, how it can be protected and how this can take place as part of a sustainable forestry management programme.

Part of the VW Groups mission statement includes species protection as a main goal. VW is actively promoting such measures in its corporate processes. They have external auditors examine the possible effects of automobile production on species diversity in all of their West German locations.

Instead of creating a number of smaller and less significant compensation areas, Volkswagen decided to bundle various individual projects together to push nature protection forward in a big way, over a big area. Volkswagen joined forces together with the town of Wolfsburg to create a new area of river meadows covering more than a million square metres. The goal was to recreate the original dynamic water flow systems of the Aller River. Renaturising the Aller into a meandering river involves many steps and is an ongoing project that is protecting many plant and animals in a natural environment.

Water is essential for life – and it is a scarce good. In order to decrease the use of water, Audi recycles 96% of the water needed in its plant in Ingolstadt. It also gathers rainwater in underground cisterns and collecting tanks, which, over the last 20 years, has lowered the amount of water required per auto by almost 70%.

Three out of five new vehicles in Germany are fleet vehicles. VW Leasing GmbH, together with the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), has helped its major customers directly combine cost cutting with climate protection and species conservation. “Fleet Competence eCo2” bundles extremely fuel efficient vehicles and fuel efficiency training with the financing of selected projects – such as the renaturation of drained wetlands.

This producer of medicines and natural cosmetic products extracts its herbal raw materials largely from controlled organic cultivation or from certified wild plant collecting and integrates nature-orientated elements into its cultivable land. In order to ensure a long-term supply of wild plants, Weleda promotes the conservation of natural habitats through extensive care.

The Werner & Mertz brand Frosch (frog) makes ecological and environmentally friendly household cleaners. To strengthen their product philosophy, the company is involved in the renaturation of river meadows to actively support the local frog population and the natural resettlement of frogs in a number of places in Europe. As frogs are an indicator of high water quality, the company is com-bining reputation enhancement with practical conservation activities.

An example of such a sustainable supply chain management policy is the cooperation between the Otto Group, Axel Springer, and UPM, a forestry company. This allows wood to be traced back from the finished printing product to the forest the wood came from. Company Profile: UPM, Otto Group, Axel Springer
The following best practice examples are alphabetically listed.
They have also been tagged for quick orientation regarding relevance in the various stages of corporate biodiversity management. To find out more about a field, click on the tag.