Biodiversity reporting in Swiss companies

SPEED2ZERO is a joint initiative to develop toolboxes, action plans and technology to enable a sustainable transformation to net zero greenhouse gas emissions and a biodiversity-positive Switzerland.

In the context of SPEED2ZERO, sus.lab examined the attention large Swiss companies devote to biodiversity based on the analysis of company reports and case studies. This market study sought to enhance comprehension regarding the present landscape of biodiversity reporting within Swiss companies, their current perceptions of biodiversity's significance, and the obstacles encountered in reporting on this crucial aspect. To acquire further meaningful insights, we conducted expert interviews with company representatives.

Our analysis finds that while biodiversity is critical for societal and business sustainability, only 20 of the top 50 Swiss-listed companies report on their biodiversity impacts, highlighting a gap in awareness and action. Many companies struggle to define biodiversity, often limiting it to species diversity and overlooking broader ecosystem dependencies, especially in sectors not directly handling natural resources. Standardized frameworks can support biodiversity reporting, but their inconsistent adoption leads to variability in the quality and depth of reporting. Supply chain transparency is a significant challenge, as companies find it difficult to capture detailed, location-specific biodiversity data. Addressing biodiversity loss will become increasingly important for businesses to ensure compliance, competitiveness, and long-term resilience, requiring improved metrics and data collection practices.

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