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Biodiversity in focus in EOS’s Q3 Public Engagement Report

Insight
28 October 2020 |
Stewardship
The Q3 Public Engagement Report from EOS at Federated Hermes focuses on three of its expanding engagement themes for 2020 – biodiversity and sustainable land use, fast fashion, and business purpose – all issues brought to the fore by the pandemic.

Fast reading

  • Deforestation raises risk of emerging infectious diseases jumping species barrier
  • Business purpose debate revitalised by Covid-19 pandemic
  • Innovative business models needed to cut fast fashion’s environmental cost

Companies have tended to take the immense value of nature for granted, but global ecosystems are now threatened at unprecedented levels. While a key 2020 summit on protecting biodiversity was derailed by the pandemic, the virus also brought our troubling relationship with other species to the fore.

The cover story in EOS’s Q3 Public Engagement Report highlights how deforestation and habitat loss bring animals into closer contact with people, increasing the risk of emerging infectious diseases jumping the species barrier. In her article, EOS engager Sonya Likhtman outlines the value of biodiversity, the business case for its protection, and how we expect companies to respond.

“Companies need to urgently acknowledge their impact and dependence on nature,” Likhtman says. “This means understanding the ways in which biodiversity and ecosystem services are relevant to the business model, be this through sourcing practices and supply chains, in the construction of new sites, or through the ways the company’s operations interact with surrounding ecosystems.”

Another topic pulled into sharper focus by the pandemic is that of business purpose. Some companies have attracted brickbats for issuing vague or meaningless statements of purpose, but the dilemmas faced by businesses trying to make it through the toughest of times have added a practical dimension to the debate.

In her article, EOS engager Amy Wilson highlights our work with the Enacting Purpose Initiative, which aims to provide practical guidance for boards on embedding purpose in organisations.

“Now is the time for companies to review their corporate purpose and its relevance for the business,” she says. “This should clearly articulate a positive contribution to society, identify the stakeholders most critical to sustainable returns, and how the company’s strategy and risk management processes can deliver value to all stakeholders.”

Finally, EOS engager Lisa Lange takes a look at the problems with the fast fashion business model, with more consumers turning to online retailers during lockdown. Lange explores the environmental cost of the take-make-dispose model, profiling our engagements on this topic with retailers and fashion brands.

“Innovative business models are needed that move away from a focus on the number of purchases as a growth model, to consider fashion as a service that fosters the reuse or recycling of garments,” Lange says. “Changing consumer preferences for sustainable clothing could be an opportunity for companies to build a strong relationship with their customers.”

To find out more, read the EOS Q3 Public Engagement Report. 

Public Engagement Report: last chance to see?

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