Partnerships with other initiatives
The Platform develops partnerships with key initiatives active in the area of biodiversity and natural capital. The objectives of these partnerships are to:
- Build synergies and mutualise resources to achieve shared goals;
- Reinforce the work of the Platform; and
- Prevent duplication of work.
Business for Nature is a global coalition bringing together influential organisations and forward-thinking businesses to demonstrate business action and call for governments to reverse nature loss.
The Natural Capital Coalition is a global, multi-stakeholder open source platform for supporting the development of a Natural Capital Protocol aiming to set the industry norms for valuing and accounting for natural capital in business.
The EU B@B Platform collaborates closely with a range of team and services within the European Commission (e.g. DG RTD, DG GROW, etc.)
We Value Nature is a campaign supporting businesses and the natural capital community to make valuing nature the new normal for businesses across Europe.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) brings together some 200 companies dealing with sustainable development and business.
The European Business and Biodiversity Campaign was initiated in 2010 by a consortium of European NGOs and companies led and coordinated by the Global Nature Fund (GNF) with support of the LIFE+ Programme. Among other things EBBC aims to inform the private sector about the importance of biodiversity and tools available to assess dependence and mitigate impacts on biodiversity.
The Global Platform on Business and Biodiversity stems from the ongoing engagement of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with the business sector. This global partnership provides a global forum of dialogue among signatory Parties and other Governments, businesses, and other stakeholders, and encourages the establishment of national and regional business and biodiversity initiatives. The Global Platform on Business and Biodiversity serves as the Partnership's website and offers numerous case studies, tools and other relevant information.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is the intergovernmental body which assesses the state of biodiversity and of the ecosystem services it provides to society, in response to requests from decision makers. Their new adopted work programme (2019-2030) includes a methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people that aims at categorizing how businesses depend on, and impact, biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people and identifying criteria and indicators for measuring that dependence and impact, taking into consideration how such metrics can be integrated into other aspects of sustainability.
IUCN aims to transform with its Business and Biodiversity Program the way business values, manages and invests in nature, highlighting the opportunities and benefits of a more sustainable approach. IUCN seeks to build an action-based relationship with business that goes beyond Corporate Social Responsibility obligations, addressing the root causes of environmental degradation. The Global Business and Biodiversity Programme provides a wide range of expertise. It builds bridges between stakeholders, carries out independent scientific assessments, and develops conservation policy standards and tools.
The Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity supports policymaking by: Developing tools that support the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, including its global dimension; Identifying, filtering and structuring relevant information and making it accessible bringing together researchers, policy-makers, NGOs, industry and citizens; Analysing, synthesising available evidence and communicating it in a transparent, tailored and concise manner.
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
The Finance for Biodiversity Foundation was set up in March 2021. The aim of the Foundation is to support a call to action and collaboration between financial institutions via working groups, as a connecting body for contributing signatories and partner organizations.
National platforms in the EU
The EU B&B Platform collaborates actively with other business and biodiversity platforms and networks at national level.
- Austria: Naturland Lower Austria is an initiative of the Energy and Environment Agency of Lower Austria. The platform aims to collect and disseminate valuable information about protected and natural areas and projects in Lower Austria. It seeks to promote cooperation and foster new initiatives with its member organisations committed to preserving ecological diversity.
- Belgium: Belgian Biodiversity Platform provides services to the Belgian scientific community engaged in biodiversity research.
- Belgium: The Shift is the Belgian meeting point for sustainability, bringing together companies, NGOs and other societal actors who want to realise the transition to a more sustainable society and economy. They organise a large number of activities together, with and for their members, including on business and biodiversity. The Shift has developed a 2020 Biodiversity Programme.
- Sweden, Business&Biodiversity Sweden is an industry-wide corporate network for large companies with the aim to incorporate biodiversity, natural capital and ecosystem services in the business models of the member companies. The network is also a platform for meetings with decision makers and for common R&D. Members take part of network meetings, webinars and a yearly field trip, all in relevant topics. The network is run as a business initiative, with no public funding. The network is hosted by Ecogain, and members pay an annual membership fee.
- Central and Eastern Europe: CEEWeb Cooperation with Business, initially focussing on the Visegrad countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia), CEEWeb and its partners have published "Guidelines for cooperation of businesses and NGOs in the Visegrad countries" aiming to enhance Business – NGO partnerships by analysing their complexity, spreading good practice case studies and providing practical tips for implementation. The initiative also serves as a match-making platform between companies and NGOs willing to take action in biodiversity protection.
- Finland: Corporate Responsibility Network (FIBS) aims to raise awareness of biodiversity, introduce tools for companies to help them discover their dependencies on ecosystem services, and helping enterprises to manage their impacts on nature. The business and biodiversity programme includes seminars and workshops open to all companies interested in the business possibilities created by biological diversity. In addition to public events, nine selected companies are participating in Master Class training which deepens their insight on biodiversity and enables information sharing between the companies.
- France: Act4Nature is an initiative launched by EpE (Companies for the Environment) and many partners with the aim of mobilizing companies to protect, enhance and restore biodiversity. This initiative aims to create a real international collective dynamic, thanks to the involvement of CEOs from all sectors, training their employees and more generally the general public. By joining act4nature, companies make commitments to integrate biodiversity into their overall development strategies in order to contribute to the objectives set by the international community on biodiversity.
- France: Entreprises pour l’environnement (EpE) gathers 40 large international and French companies from different sectors with the objective to integrate the environment into their corporate strategies.
- France: Plateforme Entreprises et Biodiversité (Orée) brings together public and private stakeholders to share best environmental practises and foster their implementation at landscape level.
- Germany: 'Biodiversity in Good Company' Initiative, a pioneer of business and biodiversity platforms founded in 2008, brings together a consortium of private businesses committed to including the protection of biodiversity in their environmental and sustainability management systems. All member companies sign a Leadership Declaration and submit Progress Reports every two years. Thus, they strive to lead as good examples and work together to create public awareness that mobilizes business innovation potential. The Initiative is a member of the CBD Global Platform for Business and Biodiversity.
- Germany: the Federal Environment Ministry, is responsible for overall biodiversity policy in Germany and supports initiatives that bring together policy makers, industry and conservation NGOs to exchange their ideas and experiences in the field biodiversity protection.
- Ireland: Natural Capital Ireland is a group of organisations and individuals from academic, public, private and NGO sectors, interested in the development and application of the natural capital agenda in Ireland. It is structured as a non-profit Company Limited by Guarantee, governed by a Board, led by a Steering Committee and administered by a Secretariat. Its mission is to help to value, protect and restore Ireland’s natural capital and ecosystem services. As of 2021, it has over 900 members.
- Ireland: Busines for Biodiversity Platform Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation helping Irish businesses transition towards a nature positive way of working.
- Italy: National Biodiversity Future Center is one of Italy's five National Centres under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan. This consortium-led initiative aims to create an extended national network of universities, research centers, associations, and other private and societal stakeholders to address the loss of biodiversity and enhance the sustainable use of biodiversity-derived resources and opportunities.
- Netherlands: NaturalCapital.community works on stimulating and supporting Natural Capital in the Dutch entrepreneurial community by solving natural capital business challenges through (online) matchmaking with concrete solutions. NaturalCapital.community was launched in 2017 and is part of the Netherlands Societal Programme for Natural Capital: the national programme in which the Dutch Employer’s Organisation VNO-NCW, CSR Netherlands, IUCN Netherlands and the Dutch Accountancy Organisation have joined forces with the Netherlands Government to scale up Natural Capital in the Netherlands. It offers business-to-business solutions, insights, events and – most importantly- a relevant business network working on natural capital in the Netherlands.
- Poland: Polish B&B Platform - The Polish B@B Platform is a support forum for businesses to help them effectively incorporate biodiversity issues within their operations and strategies. It is a global partner of the Business and Biodiversity Initiative of the Convention on the Biological Diversity (United Nations Environmental Program). The Polish B@B Platform operates in Poland and is fostered by the Ministry of the Environment and officially supported by the General Director for Environmental Protection. The Polish B@B Platform links institutions, academia, experts, industry associations and advisors in supporting entrepreneurs in the creation of sustainable business models.
- Portugal: Act4nature Portugal is an initiative promoted by BCSD Portugal within the scope of act4nature International, with the aim to mobilise companies to protect, promote and restore biodiversity. Any company, of any size and sector, associated or not with BCSD Portugal, can join and there is no associated cost. In 2021, 27 companies made commitments with the scope of act4nature Portugal.
- Spain: Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative launched on 22 May, 2013 by the Spanish Minister for the Environment and 15 large companies in Spain, the initiative is led by Fundación Biodiversidad, part of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment. It aims to increase the engagement of the business sector in order to achieve the international Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
Hundreds of forward-thinking businesses have already made commitments and are taking action to help reverse nature loss. You can join them too. When making a commitment for nature you need to consider two important steps:
1) Understand how your business impacts and relies on nature to make sure your commitments have the greatest impact.
2) Make informed commitments through credible platforms.
Various commitment frameworks exist across Europe at international and national level. Find an overview here. If you are aware of another commitment framework, reach out to EUBB_Platform
icf [dot] com (EUBB_Platform[at]icf[dot]com)
Platforms outside the EU
The EU B&B Platform also collaborates with other business and biodiversity platforms outside the EU.
- Alianza Mesoamerica por la Biodiversidad. Biodiversity Partnership Mesoamerica (BPM) is a recognized multisectoral association that aims to conserve Mesoamerican biodiversity. The association offers knowledge generation, capacity building, and facilitate the exchange of experiences and best business practices for the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources. They focus on building alliances and business and biodiversity projects that contribute to the region.
- Biodiversity-Based Economic Development Office (BEDO) (Public Organization) supports the systematic and sustainable use of biodiversity and local wisdom and promotes economic activities as a mechanism for nature and biodiversity conservation. The Centre supports both public and private organisations through a broad range of services and activities, including knowledge exchange and policy advice.
- Brazilian Business and Biodiversity Initiative has theobjective to engage the business sector by provide an inclusive platform for information sharing where different initiatives and organizations work together to develop strategies on biodiversity protection and sustainable use of natural resources.
- Brazilian Life Institute is responsible for managing Life Certification which qualifies and recognises public and private organizations who promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development initiatives.
- Business & conservation program - Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) supports companies to advance their biodiversity, sustainability, employee engagement and community relations goals. The Council builds collaborations for conservation, aligning its programs with local, regional and national conservation priorities to contribute to the collective positive outcome for the environment. WHC is the only US conservation organization to work exclusively with corporate landowners to establish, enhance, maintain and protect wildlife habitat around the world.
- Canadian Business and Biodiversity Council (CBBC) aims to help Canada achieve its biodiversity conservation objectives by assisting businesses to operate in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.
- Centre for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB) – Conservation International works with companies to improve their business practices, creating and implementing strategies that combine bold commitments to sustainability with practical solutions that deliver benefits to the bottom line and the environment. CELB's promotes conservation acitvitiesactivities and targets its efforts on industries with the greatest impact on ecosystems: food and agriculture, oil and gas, mining, retail and consumer products.
- Indian Leaders for Nature aims to mainstream biodiversity and sustainable development in the Indian private sector.
- India Business & Biodiversity Initiative (IBBI) aims to guide and mentor business organisations in India on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
- Japanese Business Initiative for Biodiversity (JBIB), Japanese companies are interested in promoting their contribution for the environment and society.
- SwissBiz4Nature is an initiative that aims to inspire Swiss companies to work together and make public commitments to safeguard nature. It is a multi-stakeholder platform led by Swiss business leaders with the support of a Steering Committee and coordinated by IUCN.
- UK Business and Biodiversity Forum is a new business to business hub to support companies to both understand the value of biodiversity and integrate nature into their value chain and decision making. Their vision is that UK businesses include biodiversity into decision making; and that nature is valued, conserved, restored and managed sustainably.
- UK, the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital is an initiative bringing together public, private and voluntary sector organisations to protect and rebuild Scotland’s natural capital.
- UK, the Natural Capital Impact Group is run by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and forms a global network of companies, working collaboratively, to determine how business can sustain the natural world and its resources through its strategies and operating practices. Drawing on research-informed knowledge, processes and tools, the Group aims to influence its industry peers through the example of business practice.