This report describes the Biodiversity Impact Metric, a practical risk-screening tool for supply chain businesses that source agricultural commodities. The approach allows businesses to proactively manage risks relating to the degradation of biodiversity and its wider societal impacts. By earmarking potential high-risk commodities, contexts or practices, businesses can prioritise where to act.
Highlighting the important role of the private sector in protecting and restoring biodiversity, the report is published in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic which has, in part, been caused by the breakdown of our relationship with nature. This report has been designed to help companies increase their resilience to such shocks by understanding the impacts they are responsible for and considering the benefits of restoring biodiversity and nature. For those companies that demonstrate leadership there are clear opportunities to reduce risks, increase differentiation and resilience. In addition, by safeguarding the wider benefits biodiversity and nature provide to society, a company can ensure their licence to operate is maintained.