international conference on emas: towards a resource efficient economy emas and biodiversity

The European Business and Biodiversity Campaign

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EMAS: TOWARDS A RESOURCE EFFICIENT ECONOMY

EMAS and Biodiversity

Marion HammerlLake Constance Foundation

European Business and Biodiversity Campaign

supported by the EU LIFE+ Programme


Duration: 2010 - December 2012Target group: Big companies and SMEs in Europe

Campaign Coordinator: Global Nature Fund

Partner

• IUCN Europe, Belgium

• Fundación Global Nature, Spain

• Lake Constance Foundation (Bodensee-Stiftung), Germany

• Triple E, Netherlands

• DOKEO, Germany

• Altop Verlag, Germany


• Improving the understanding about biodiversity and ecosystem services

• Informing about tools that help businesses to assess and mitigate the impacts on biodiversity

• Include biodiversity into environmental management systems, labels, standards

• Promote biodiversity partnerships between business and NGOs

• Showcasing business commitments and initiatives (EU B@B Platform, Biodiversity in Good Company)

Objectives


Communikation

www.business-biodiversity.euBiodiversity-Specials in Forum CSR international / Nachhaltig Wirtschaften


Which economic sectors should take biodiversity into account?

Most companies have a two-way relationship with nature /biodiversity:

On the one hand they may have direct impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems through their core operations or indirectly through their supply chain, or throughtheir lending and investment choices.

On the other hand, many companies depend on biodiversity and the servicesprovided by ecosystems as key inputs to products and production processes.

(TEEB Report for Business)


Which economic sectors should take biodiversity into account?

All!

Businesses with direct impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, such as mining, oil and gas, infrastructure, transport

Businesses that depend on healthy ecosystems and biodiversity for production, such as agriculture /food production, fisheries, tourism, cosmetics and personal care, natural medicines, pharmaceuticals

Industry sectors that finance and undergird economic activity and growth, like banks and asset managers, as well as insurance and business services

Businesses that are selling ecosystem services or biodiversity-related products such as (eco)tourism, eco-agriculture, bio-carbon, drinking water


EMAS and Biodiversity

EMAS III defines basic indicators that have to be used by the participating organisations in their environmental statements and reports:

- energy efficiency: total annual energy consumption and the share of renewable energy- material efficiency: total annual mass flow of the various replacement materials- water: total annual water consumption- waste: total annual waste accumulation and accumulation of hazardous waste

- biodiversity: land consumption


Biodiversity = Complex issue


Currently many organisations /initiatives are working on

Business and biodiversity Biodiversity indicators/Ecosystem services indicators

e.g. - German initiative „Biodiversity in Good Company“- European Business and Biodiversity Platform (DG Environment)- International initiatives like Ecosystem Services Review- Company´s initiatives like Pro Planet (REWE-Brand)

Missing: Coordination, exchange of experience, use of synergies


Global Reporting Initiative - Biodiversity indicators The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)= Sustainability Reporting Framework.The environment category encompasses nine aspects and a total sum of thirty indicators. The aspect of Biodiversity presents the broadest indicators, but also vaguely defined ones such as “description of significant impacts of activities, products and services on biodiversity (…)”. Sector Supplements provide more individualized guidance for the industry sectors Electric Utilities, Financial Services, Food Processing, Mining and Metals, and NGO.


Evaluation

of the

biological

footprint

ALDI Austria

http://www.zurueckzumursprung.at/co2-und-klimaschutz/co2-fussabdruck/co2-links/

CO2 Reduction

Genetic Diversification

Habitat Diversification

Species DiversificationReduction of water cons.


ALDI Austria – Biological Footprint

More Biodiversity:

26% more nature diversity than with conventional milk


REWE – One of Germany biggest food retailer created “Pro Planet” products

PRO PLANET – Apples from Lake Constance – contributing to biodiversity


Ecosystem Services Review

World Ressource Institute + WBCSD.Current EMS have the focus on the impact, not on dependence. They focus on risks not on opportunities.

EMS should consider the risks and opportunities arising from the degradation of ecosystems and services they provide.


Biodiversity and ecosystem services

Private sector and all its economic activities depend on biodiversity and ecosystem services as basis for their daily business. Example: Agricultural sector and the whole food processing industry both depend on the nutrients cycle, provision of fresh water and on pollination services. Key data and indicators to measure the economic value of ecosystem services for the company in order to consider those values in the economic balance Key data and indicators to evaluate risks related to biodiversity and ecosystem services loss and degradation (= scarcity of raw materials, legal risks, reputational damages, financial risks etc.) Key data and indicators to evaluate company´s direct and indirect impact on biodiversity


EMAS focus on impacts on Biodiversity

- Consumption of resources (overexploitation) - Damage on ecosystems and species- transformation of habitats - deposit of waste and emissions (*1)- contribution to climate change (*1)- spread of invasive species- Lack of inclusion of local /indigenous people into information and benefit sharing Direct aspects and indirect aspects should be considered! (*1) = Traditionally part of Environmental Management Systems!

Missing =Key data /Indicators for indirect aspects of corporate actionKey data /Indicators for the more untraditional environmental aspects such as invasive species or overexploitation Key data /Indicators for “Access of information and benefit sharing”


Biodiversity Check according to EMAS methodology

Objectives

Identify the relationship between business and biodiversity

Identify the business impacts on biodiversity

Show the relevance to integrate biodiversity in the corporate social responsibility strategy

Show the relevance to integrate biodiversity in the companies (environmental) management system to guarantee continuous improvement


B+B Campaign - Biodiversity Check – First results

Sector independent key data /indicators

ManagementAre you using an Environmental Management System? Does biodiversity

play a role in this management system? Indicator: % of biodiversity related measures of total measuresSource: EMAS /ISO 14001 Environmental Programme

StakeholderDo you collaborate with international /national/regional organizations

and / or scientific institutions to address biodiversity aspects on a global level?

Key Data: Number of organisations, number of joint /supported initiativesSource: Companies own statistics


Biodiversity Check - Sector independent

Headquarters /Production sites – In generalHow is biodiversity related to your headquarters / facility and estate

management? Key data: Number of plant and animal species; number of biotopes; number

of native plants Indicator: ha /qm of sealed /urbanized land in relation to production

(economic value, quantity) Source: Inventory /Field mapping together with NGOs /scientific institute

Does your estate management take into account environmental standards including biodiversity issues? If yes, which standard?

Key data: Compliance with nature protection legislation /environmental legislation

Source: European, national, regional legislation



Headquarters /Production sites – Habitat changes

Does your company have any location and sites of land owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to that is located in protected areas or areas of high biodiversity value or areas next to protected areas?

Key data: ha of sites adjacent to (≤ 5m ) or included in protected areas

Source: Companies own statistics

Does your company incorporate the protection of natural habitat, wetlands, forest, wildlife corridors, protected areas and agricultural lands into the development of buildings and construction works?

Indicator: ha /qm of natural land and/or intact biotopes in relation to total surface of permises and production sites

Source: Companies own statistics



Headquarters /Production sites – Endangered speciesDo you investigate if there are endangered species (IUCN Red List and National

Conversation List) in the areas affected by your operations? If yes, which one? Key data: Number of species of the IUCN Red List Index; FFH-Directive (Annex I - IV) Source: Inventory /Field mapping together with local NGO

Do you consider endangered species in the management of your operations in those areas?

Indicator: Compliance with nature protection legislation /environmental legislation Source: European /national /regional legislation

Did the construction of new sites influence the migration of Neobiota (not native species)?

Key data: Number of neobiota species, extension (in ha/qm) of neobiota plantsSource: Inventory /mapping elaborated with NGO or scientific institution



Headquarters /Production sites – Exploitation of natural resources

Are there any activities of restoration /reforestation to compensate the exploitation of resources?

Indicator. Ha /qm of restored habitats or reforested area. Comparison to surface of damaged habitat

Source: Companies statistics, ISO /EMAS Environmental Report

Energy consumption and CO2 emissions, waste production, water consumption, waste water production …. (*1)

of companies headquarters and production sitesKey data: Yearly energy consumption, yearly CO² emissions Source: Companies statistics, ISO /EMAS Environmental Report(*1) Traditional EMAS key data and indicators – we do not go into detail!



Procurement /Raw MaterialHow is biodiversity related to raw material extraction or to your procurement

processes? Indicator: % of providers with environmental management system, % of

providers with ecolabel of total number of providersSource: Companies Procurement Policy and criteria. Companies own statistics

Is there any land use for raw material extraction which influences biodiversity? If yes, how do you compensate these activities?

Key data: In case of own material extraction: Key data according to EIA Source: Environmental Impact Assessment, Assessment of local /national NGO



Procurement /Raw MaterialAre there any influences by the extraction of raw materials such as sealing of

the surface, removal of vegetation, extraction of ground water, restoration / reforestation, clean-up activities that influences the life of endangered species (in a positive and / or negative way)?

Key data: ha of biotopes affected or destroyed ha of restored biotopes Sources: FFH Directive, national, regional legislation

Which and how many species are influenced by these activities and how do you deal with it?

Key data: Number of endangered species affected. Biodiversity Management Plan yes/no

Source: Environmental Impact Assessment, FFH Directive, IUCN Red List Index



Procurement /Raw MaterialDo you have a strategy / program to guarantee the fair and equitable sharing of

benefits arising from the use of natural resources in this process? Key data: Number of agreements with local population /number of persons

benefitted. Percentage of benefit Source: Companies own statistics, Local NGOs

Are there any influences in terms of monocropping, homogenization, farming, overfishing?

Indicator: Compliance with nature protection legislation /environmental legislation

Source: European /national /regional legislation Are there any activities of restoration / reforestation to compensate the

exploitation of resources? Indicator: Ha of restored habitats / reforestation to exploited surface



Marketing /Communication

Do you integrate biodiversity issues in your sustainability communication and / or your annual report?

Indicators: GRI Indicators; Publication of indicators identified in the EMAS /ISO Environmental Program

Source: Sustainability Report; EMAS /ISO Environmental Report

Other ways of communication about your activities regarding biodiversity towards costumers, stakeholders, suppliers …

Quality Indicator: Feedback from costumers, stakeholder, suppliers on communication on biodiversity.

Source: Surveys, analysis of comments Surveys among costumers, stakeholders, suppliers …Evaluation of feedback on website, others


Biodiversity Check - Sector independent StaffAre there any employee volunteering projects addressing biodiversity? Key data: Number of employees involved in volunteering projects; Indicator: Payed time given by the companies for employee involvement; budget (in %)

for employee volunteering projects in relation to total budget Source: Companies own statistics; Environmental Report;

Are there any employee programs in terms of transport and business trips that contribute to reduce emissions, energy and other environmental impacts on biodiversity?

Quality Indicator: Feedback from employees on communication on biodiversity /companies initiatives for biodiversity protection.

Source: surveys, analysis of comments Surveys among employees; analysis of commentsHave you developed employee training program including biodiversity issues related to

their position or to the activities of your company? Key data: Number of employees trained. Sources: Companies own statistics, training plan


Biodiversity Check – Currently available:

Sector sepcific key data and indicators for- Extractive industry- Agricultural Industry (intensive fruit production)- Forestry (Industry)- Tourism

Currently in development:

Sector specific key data and indicators for- Food – Retail Sector- Textile- Transport /Mobility (e.g. airports)


ConclusionsIndicator land use is not sufficient and often not meaningful!

Need to identify

Key data /Indicators for indirect aspects of corporate action (e.g. procurement, raw material, communication

Key data /Indicators for the more untraditional environmental aspects such as invasive species or overexploitation

Key data /Indicators for “Access of information and benefit sharing”

Not only management/improvement of impact on biodiversity, but also

Key data and indicators to measure the economic value of ecosystem services for the company in order to consider those values in the economic balance

Key data and indicators to evaluate risks related to biodiversity and ecosystem services loss and degradation (= scarcity of raw materials, legal risks, reputational damages, financial risks etc.)


Contact

Marion [email protected]

Global Nature Fund (GNF)Stefan Hö[email protected]

This time without you!

international conference on emas: towards a resource efficient economy emas and biodiversity

Documents