Biodiversity
The plant life, insects and animals around us are part of the biodiversity of our natural world. Even tiny microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi contribute to biodiversity. Everything is interconnected so changes to one part of the ecosystem can have huge unintended consequences in other parts. And while you might wonder how this is relevant to your business, your customers and clients care about biodiversity. For example, in Ireland, 97% of people surveyed agreed that we have a responsibility to look after nature.
The Basics
Where To Start?
Case Study
Some easy wins in a typical office might include switching to more eco-friendly cleaning products, reducing the amount of paper used, or creating an office garden to attract bees and other insects. If you have outdoor space you could choose to stop using pesticides, stop mowing some or all areas and even installing a beehive on the roof.
If you’re worried that a less manicured landscape might make an unfavourable impression on visitors to your workplace, a simple strategy is to put up a sign explaining how it supports biodiversity. This will have the double effect of both improving the biodiversity around your workplace, and spreading awareness to the wider community.
The resources on this page will give you plenty of ideas and perhaps help you to more actively look after nature in the future so that future generations can enjoy it too.
Resources Library
Business for Nature
Business for Nature is a global coalition for all companies to engage, act, and advocate for nature-positive business. Nature is everyone’s business is a call to action from Business for Nature and industry leaders to bring companies together to protect nature and...
Sarah Blake on pollinator friendly trees for Ireland
Green Zebra co-founder Sarah Blake talks at TedX Crann - Trees for Ireland about pollinator friendly trees that can be planted in Irish gardens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thhsydSfH7w
Kering’s how-to Biodiversity Strategy
Kering and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership published this primer paper on 8 steps to developing a biodiversity strategy for your business. See how your business could incorporate these actions into your sustainability goals....
6 steps to a nature-positive business
Follow these steps from Business for Nature on your journey to make yours a nature-positive business. Learn how to assess, commit, act and advocate for biodiversity. https://www.businessfornature.org/steps-to-be-nature-positive
Natural Capital Accounting
A short introduction to Natural Capital Accounting and how it can make sense of the value of our natural biodiversity assets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykzFmT4rhmM
Working Together for Biodiversity
The Irish Examiner’s guide to Working Together for Biodiversity - everything you need to know to begin engaging in biodiversity action. https://pollinators.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Irish-Examiner-Working-Together-for-Biodiversity.pdf
The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan
The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan’s business guide shows you how to engage in action to help our pollinators, from offices to farmers, there is something here that every business can do. https://pollinators.ie/businesses/
Biodiversity case study: Kering
Who is Kering? Kering is a global luxury fashion and apparel company, comprising a wide range of brands such as Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Balenciaga and Saint Laurent. In acknowledgement of the wide ranging effects that the textile and garment industry has on the...
Biodiversity: where to start?
What can you do? There are plenty of ways that your business can support biodiversity, no matter what goods or services you offer. If you have unused outdoor space consider repurposing it as an office garden. Start small and think big Creating an office garden, or...
Biodiversity: the Basics
How your business can support biodiversity Every business should have a biodiversity strategy, even professional services, digital and technology businesses in city centre locations. While biodiversity might seem more directly relevant to agriculture, food...