Last week, the Corporate Sustainability Mastermind Group (CoSM) considered the topic of business and biodiversity. Here are my main takeaways:

• Biodiversity is as big an issue as climate change (and the two overlap majorly), but doesn’t get as much political airtime;
• However, the public judges biodiversity more highly as it is relatable to everyone (eg David Attenborough TV shows), and negative press coverage can resonate in a way that carbon emissions can’t;
• Biodiversity is a much bigger issue than how many times you cut the grass around your site;
• If your supply chain includes land- and/or water-intensive industries (eg paper, cotton, food products), then you must consider biodiversity;
• Traceability in supply chains is crucial – it is too easy for ‘good’ ie sustainable supplies to be contaminated with ‘bad’;
• Surveys and assessments of biodiversity much more complex and time-consuming than, say, carbon footprints;
• Biodiversity is a great gateway for Sustainability engagement – practical conservation tasks are very immersive and make good emotional connections between people and the natural world;
• On-site biodiversity areas can cut maintenance costs, improve employees’ mental health and demonstrate commitment in a tangible/photogenic way.