Biodiversity footprint calculation
Biodiversity footprint – Identify how your activities affect biodiversity
The biodiversity footprint describes how an organisation, service or project contributes to the decline of biodiversity. In practice, it measures the negative impact that the certain activities under review has on biodiversity.
In biodiversity footprint calculations, the following can be taken into account:
- various material or service procurements
- energy consumption
- water consumption
- land use
- commuting and business travel
The biodiversity footprint complements the carbon footprint and brings visibility to impacts that climate analysis alone cannot identify.
Biodiversity footprint assessment offered by Sweco
Sweco’s sustainability consulting experts help identify, measure and reduce negative impacts on nature and biodiversity. We are a pioneer in the field – Sweco has also calculated its own biodiversity footprint.
Benefits of biodiversity footprint calculation
Biodiversity footprint calculation produces information that helps an organisation to:
- target actions effectively where the nature impacts are greatest
- develop and enhance sustainability measures
- improve biodiversity and support the organisation’s sustainability and environmental objectives
The importance of biodiversity footprint in sustainability management
Assessing the biodiversity footprint supports a company’s comprehensive sustainability management. It provides a data‑driven view of environmental impacts and highlights factors that are not visible in carbon footprint calculations.
With this information, a company can, for example:
- plan its procurements
- reduce energy consumption
- develop its business travel and commuting practices
- allocate resources to the most relevant and impactful measures
Strategic benefits for companies
1. Risk management
Understanding the biodiversity footprint helps identify biodiversity and nature impacts in supply chains, and the geographical impacts. This allows a company to detect potential business risks early and reduce their effects on operations.
2. Innovation and competitiveness
Identifying and reducing biodiversity impacts encourages the development of new solutions, processes and products that support sustainable growth.
3. Market differentiation
Companies that invest in sustainability differentiate themselves from competitors and build a credible, future‑oriented brand.
Biodiversity footprint – comprehensive approach to environmental impacts
Biodiversity footprint assessment examines, among other things climate change, land use, water consumption, nutrient loads and pollution. This provides companies with a broad understanding of environmental pressures and helps direct actions to the most impactful areas.
Who is the service suitable for?
The biodiversity footprint is increasingly relevant across various industries. It is especially timely in:
- manufacturing industry
- food industry
- data centre operations
- construction and real estate development
Contact our experts
Piia Pessala
Strategic planning