Wednesday, May 30, 2012 by Tara Gallagher

Two positive trends in product sustainability and a recent report highlighting species loss prompt us to look at how companies consider the impacts of their own activities on biodiversity.

​It’s not just food and beverage makers that should pay attention to this issue. As product designers incorporate more renewable materials into their goods to replace petroleum-derived synthetic substances, the number of companies using plants in their products is growing. The list extends to the apparel industry, biofuels, the many household and personal care products made with palm or other oils, and the list goes on.

Along with this trend to source renewable materials, companies are increasingly using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts across their products’ life cycles. This holistic approach to understanding the relative importance of various impacts is a powerful aid in helping target sustainability efforts.  However, LCA studies fall short when it comes to addressing biodiversity.  While some impact methodologies consider land transformation, LCAs don’t fully evaluate effects on species.

World Wildlife Fund’s recent Living Planet Report 2012 compiles a grim set of statistics that argue compellingly for elevating the importance of species preservation. The study reveals that wildlife has declined by nearly a third over the past 40 years. In tropical freshwater ecosystems, losses are as high as 70%. Despite such statistics, the report maintains a hopeful tone about our ability to turn the situation around.

The takeaway message for corporate sustainability programs is to make a concerted effort to address this vital topic. Don’t let this get left out of the equation!