Biodiversity: Key steps to future-proof your business

Is your business treating biodiversity as a risk or an opportunity? To better understand how industries are responding to biodiversity loss, Sweco recently examined how the 50 largest European manufacturing and energy companies are addressing biodiversity in their sustainability reporting. The findings, published in a new Urban Insight report, reveal a growing recognition of biodiversity impacts, but a possibility for persistent underestimation of biodiversity-related financial risks. It also offers practical recommendations for bridging the gap between ecological and financial performance.

As sustainability efforts evolve beyond carbon reduction, Sweco’s report unveils the growing potential of protecting and restoring nature as a driver of business growth. Biodiversity loss is among the top global risks projected for the next decade. Vital sectors such as mining, forestry, infrastructure and energy rely heavily on healthy ecosystems. Wetlands and rivers, for instance, support essential services such as transport, water supply and cooling for power generation. Preserving biodiversity is now vital for business resilience and long-term value creation, with over €50 trillion of the global economy moderately or highly dependent on nature. Protecting biodiversity isn’t just a strategic imperative—it also has the potential to unlock nearly €10 trillion in business value and generate 395 million jobs by 2030.

Nature’s essential services—climate regulation, water purification, crop pollination and infrastructure protection—are under ever-increasing pressure. Companies must adopt nature-positive solutions to generate meaningful business benefits alongside ecological preservation.

To better understand how industries are responding to biodiversity loss, Sweco recently examined how the 50 largest European manufacturing and energy companies are addressing biodiversity in their sustainability reporting. The Urban Insight report outlines a growing awareness of biodiversity impacts but indicates a possible underestimation of biodiversity-related financial risks.

Key findings include:

• 82% of the companies identified biodiversity as a material topic in terms of impact materiality.
• Just 16% recognized biodiversity as financially material, signaling a potential blind spot in risk management.
• In the manufacturing sector: 67% identified biodiversity as a material topic in terms of impact materiality, but only 21% considered it financially material—citing risks such as restricted raw material access and legal consequences.
• In the energy sector: 96% viewed biodiversity as a material topic, but only 12% considered it as financially material, highlighting risks such as operational constraints due to droughts and ecosystem degradation.

Despite the potential of biodiversity to unlock trillions in business value, it remains overlooked for its financial materiality. How to bridge the gap? To avoid overlooking the financial risks associated with biodiversity loss, Sweco identifies key actions to future-proof businesses against these risks.

Practical steps to integrate biodiversity into core operations

Sweco experts outline five actions for companies aiming to build nature-aligned business strategies.

1. 1. Understand your company’s activities and value chains
2. 2. Know your business’ impacts and dependencies
3. 3. Collaborate to shape the future
4. 4. Manage risks and leverage opportunities
5. 5. Transform to make business for nature

By integrating biodiversity and climate strategies into core operations, businesses can contribute to positive societal change, mitigate risks through resilient business models and tap into new markets and business opportunities.

Discover more solutions in the report.