Business Case Drivers: Business models
A fundamental driver of a business case for biodiversity is the development of new business models. By building on the conservation of biodiversity, a value proposition for customers can be developed. The customers’ resulting willingness to pay ensures the economic viability of the company as well as the conservation of biological diversity. Examples include zoos or travel agencies specialising in nature trips.
Fields of action
Fields of action in can be identified and set by analysing where a company’s activities have a either direct or indirect influence on biodiversity. The spatial relation to biological diversity is intuitively connected to the sites and facilities field of action. Corporate activities influence biodiversity in other ways though as well.
Sites and Facilities
Site development as business model (for example, “green roofs”)
Product Design
New product-service combinations as basis for new business model
Best Practice Examples: TUI – Environmentally conscientious travellers participate in volunteer vacations
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.
Personnel
Employee volunteering as part of business model
Supply chains, commodities and materials
New financial models in the finance sector through differentiation or region
Best Practice Examples: Beraca - Supply Chain Management
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).
Best Practice Examples: oekom, a pioneer within the media industry - Green Publishing
oekom is aware of its role as a pioneer and multiplicator for sutainable management within media industry. With its initiative „ Nachhaltig Publizieren – Neue Umweltstandards für die Verlagsbranche“ („Green Publishing – New environmental standards for media industry“) advocated by the Federal Environment Ministry, oekom examines in cooperation with the ifeu – Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg, the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) and the Frankfurt Book Fair the whole supply chain. This enables oekom to identify potentials for improving its ecologically sound production by examining everything from paper production to the printed book. The results are discussed within different forums with a great specialist audience.
Additional information about Supply chains, commodities and materials
Production and manufacturing processes
Transport and Logistics
