Large Swedish companies recognise the importance of biodiversity - but lack a holistic approach
In a new report called “Swedish Business and the Biodiversity crisis”, WWF and Bain & Company investigates how companies are working – and should work - on biodiversity and setting biodiversity targets. Although many companies have identified that loss of biodiversity is a threat to their businesses, almost half of them lack initiatives to reduce their impact on nature and only one third have plans to meet these challenges.
Susanne Arvidsson, Programme Director Mistra BIOPATH and Associate Professor at Lund School of Economics and Management, comments on the report and press release, issued on 9 February 2023:
- Just as the Secretary General of WWF, Gustaf Lind, concludes in today´s release of the report, it is positive that companies have the issue of biodiversity on the radar but it is also important to recognize the urgency of taking action. Mistra BIOPATH are connecting researchers and industry partners in the development of new tools and solutions to integrate the needs of biodiversity in decision-making, in both industry and the financial system.
Excerpts below from the WWF and Bain&Company press release,, translated to English:
Of the 43 companies that participated in the study, 60 per cent said they have little or no impact on biodiversity in Sweden and 40 per cent said they have little or no impact globally. Only one in five companies rated their impact on biodiversity as high. Consistently, companies in sectors with a direct link to nature, such as forestry, agriculture, and energy, are more aware of their impact on biodiversity than companies in other sectors, such as industry and pharmaceuticals.
- Our studies show that companies are still at an early stage of biodiversity work, and that Sweden is lagging behind our Nordic neighbours. This is why the historic agreement on a global deal for nature at the UN summit last year is so crucial. With such an agreement in place, companies will need to act," says Johan Lundgren, Advisory Partner at Bain & Company in Sweden.
Companies that invest in promoting biodiversity can also reap benefits such as new business opportunities, cost savings, innovation, and opportunities to attract capital. But according to the report, few Swedish companies reflect on how they can benefit from their work.
- Companies' work on biodiversity is not only about risks but also about opportunities, but they need to take a holistic approach. In addition to reducing negative impacts, efforts are needed to promote nature. For those who do, the work can also become a business opportunity," says Margareta Renström-Lindhe, Biodiversity and Business Specialist at WWF.
Link to the report: "Swedish Business & the Biodiversity Crisis".
Rapport: Swedish businesses and the biodiversity crisis - Världsnaturfonden WWF
Pressrelease from WWF and Bain&Company in Swedish
Svenska storbolag inser vikten av biologisk mångfald – men saknar helhetsgrepp | WWF (tt.se)