COP15 CEO Open Letter Signatories

 

11 October 2021

FirstRand Group 

South Africa is one of the world’s most bio-diverse countries. It is home to 9 different terrestrial biomes and more than 95 000 known species and living organisms. Unfortunately the ecosystem threat status is currently at 22%. The group’s operational footprint reaches across borders into countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where there are similar indicators of species decline and habitat loss. 

Financial institutions are exposed to multi-sectoral and multiple types of biodiversity-related risk primarily through its lending, financing and investment portfolios and can therefore play a major role in behavior changes and by influencing economic pathways and business models.  

FirstRand has a number of policies and tools that aid in the measurement and management of environmental risks and impacts, but is looking to formalize the approach to identifying, assessing, managing and reporting on the group’s impacts and dependencies on nature i.e. (how the group and our clients may impact nature and how nature may impact the group and our clients). This will aid in the assessment of nature-related risk and the redirection of financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes and towards nature-positive outcomes.  The group will incorporate biodiversity targets and assess exposure to priority sectors where dependencies and impacts are high. 

For more information, visit: https://www.firstrand.co.za/society/firstrand-contract-with-society/  

 

H&M Group 

At the H&M Group, one of the world’s leading fashion and lifestyle companies, we want to lead the change towards a circular and climate positive fashion industry that has a net positive impact on biodiversity. The fashion industry impacts biodiversity on all levels of the value chain - but it is in raw material production where H&M Group has its biggest impact. 

We are committed to apply science-based targets on biodiversity, invest in the transition towards more sustainable materials and processes and we are actively involved in developing the required frameworks, methods and tools together with a wide range of important stakeholders. Collaboration and following a science-based approach is the key for our work and we have partnered up with to mention a few, the Fashion Pact, Business for Nature, WWF and IPBES.  

As part of our ongoing strategy, we have already set a wide range of leading commitments, strategies and initiatives in place that will reduce the pressure on biodiversity, for instance; moving towards a circular economy, becoming climate positive by 2040, goals on sourcing 100% recycled or other sustainably-sourced materials by 2030, achieve zero deforestation in our supply chain by 2025. 

For more information on goals, policies and our performance, read our annual sustainability performance report. 

 

Holcim  

Holcim is committed to delivering a nature-positive future and setting ambitious targets for protecting and restoring natural resources. Holcim will reduce and replenish freshwater used in operations and make a measurable positive impact on biodiversity. The company will contribute to reducing pollution within and beyond its fence line, through water quality monitoring and plastic removal solutions. Additionally, Holcim commits to drive the nature-based approach in their products and solutions to tackle one of society's greatest challenges - reconciling nature with cities. 

By 2030, Holcim commits to reach a positive impact on biodiversity across the business through the implementation of transformative rehabilitation plans. This will be measured using the science-based Biodiversity Indicator Reporting System (BIRS) methodology developed in partnership with IUCN. The company also commits to reducing specific freshwater withdrawal in all product lines, and in sites located in water risk areas, it will implement water stewardship programs beyond the fence of operations to replenish all the freshwater used to the benefit of communities and nature.  Furthermore, the nature-based approach will be deployed across the products and solutions portfolio, enabling urban forests to flourish and contain the urban heat island effect (UHIE). 

For more information, visit: https://www.holcim.com/nature. 

  

Mahindra Holidays 

Sustainability is core to the business of Mahindra Holidays. The Company continues to adopt comprehensive sustainability measures across its resorts. Some of the key initiatives include carbon footprint measurement, the conservation of biodiversity, alternative sources of energy, water conservation and waste recycling.  

We recognize the importance of sustainability and are committed to conserving the ecological integrity of our locations through responsible business practices. The green initiatives undertaken by the Company are in alignment with its larger mission of ‘Good Living, Happy Families’.  

Mahindra Holidays is India’s first hospitality company that has signed on both RE100 (Renewable Energy) and EP100 (Energy Productivity), a global campaign led by The Climate Group. In doing so, Mahindra Holidays has reinforced its commitment to achieve renewable energy and energy productivity targets i.e. run on 100% renewable energy by 2050 and to double the energy productivity by 2030.  

The Company has also committed itself to the Science Based Target Initiative, which requires it to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with targets necessary to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.  

The Company has also committed becoming Carbon Neutral by 2040. To achieve this, we will work on EP100, RE100 and Offsetting by Tree plantation through tree plantation.  

Mahindra Holidays also embarked on the ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ program. The Company’s Virajpet resort in Coorg, Karnataka became India’s first Zero Waste to Landfill resort and by 2025 all of their resorts will be certified Zero waste to landfill and we are working with UL for achieving this target. 

CII-IGBC- green building certification program is in implementation stage and the target is have all the resorts certified by 2025 

For more information, visit: https://www.clubmahindra.com/csr  

 

Natura &Co  

As a Brazilian company with origins in the Amazon rainforest, Natura &Co cares deeply for nature. The four brands – Avon, Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop - have committed to foster collective efforts towards zero deforestation in the Amazon and to support the creation of science-based targets for biodiversity by 2025.  

Natura &Co has additionally committed to expand its influence on forest preservation from 1.8m to 3m hectares and to share at least R$ 60 million in value with Amazonian communities. To advance these goals, Natura &Co launched the PlenaMata portal, through partnership with MapBiomas and InfoAmazonia, which collates data on deforestation and the initiatives in place for conservation and regeneration of the Amazon biome.  

Natura &Co has further commitments related to circularity and regeneration. By 2030 the company plans to embrace full circularity of packaging, to use 95%+ renewable or natural ingredients and 95%+ biodegradable formulas, and to invest U$ 100 million (or more) in developing regenerative solutions. For example, the Natura led Palm AFS project found, after 12 years of analysis, that palm is more productive when produced in agroforestry systems, as opposed to monoculture, with a 30% increase in bunches of fruit per plant.  

For more information, visit: https://www.naturaeco.com/commitment-to-life/sustainability-vision-2030/ 

 

Rabobank

As the leading financial institution in the Food & Agriculture sector, at Rabobank we feel an inherent responsibility to support nature-positive developments and to protect biodiversity. We have been active in this field for considerable time and have biodiversity, climate and environmental policies in place which we apply to our financing eligibility criteria for clients.  

Furthermore we have signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge. This requires us to set policy, engage with clients and stakeholders on the topic, start measuring biodiversity impact, set targets and report publicly on these in the near future – emphasizing our efforts and transparency. Rabobank is a Business for Nature supporter as well as an IWG TNFD member thereby contributing to making nature-related risks and dependencies clear and we aim to apply and comply with the framework once finalized.  

The true positive impact however will come by supporting clients in their nature-positive transition. As such we have already launched the Dutch Biodiversity Monitor together with WWF allowing dairy farmers to measure their biodiversity impact and financially rewarding the frontrunners in this field via a Planet Impact Loan.  

For more information, visit: https://www.rabobank.com/en/about-rabobank/in-society/sustainability/records/biodiversity/index.html  

 

Sintesa Group 

We are aware that more than two-thirds of global carbon emissions come from business choices, and therefore the impact we are able to create if we were to contribute to sustainable developments would also be a major one. Sintesa Group sees sustainability as something far beyond a mere attribute to the good image of the company, but rather as the key of business resilience. To create concrete and lasting impact to support the local – and further, global – sustainable development, we have established our very own SDGs roadmap called ‘Sintesa for the Earth’, focusing on building sustainability within our product, supply chain and operation. 

Currently, Sintesa Group is in progress of developing an eco-tourism business in Special Tourism Economic Zone in Likupang, North Sulawesi. Our goal is to contribute in developing tourism that could support the economy, harness local human resources and increase foreign exchange earnings, while also helps preserving the nature. With a mission to build back better, we integrate biodiversity, local wisdom and culture, and community development within the Likupang area; combining elements of wildlife conservation, green employment, and environmental sustainability to deliver a holistic strategy that balances business and environment. 

For more information, visit: https://sintesagroup.com/sustainability  

 

Suzano 

Suzano is a global reference in developing sustainable and innovative solutions from renewable sources, guided by its purpose of renewing life inspired by trees. It is the world’s leading eucalyptus pulp producer and one of Latin America’s largest paper producers, playing a part in the lives of billions of consumers in over 100 countries. The company strives in being an agent of change to create solutions for the greatest challenges of our society and embeds the climate change and biodiversity agendas in its strategic vision, aiming at a carbon neutral and nature positive economy and at building a resilient business model.  

Suzano has a significant forest base and a zero deforestation policy, with a total area of approximately 2.3 million hectares, which includes eucalyptus forests and one of the largest private conservation areas in Brazil (with approximately 960,000 hectares of native forests protected by Suzano). Combined, these forests contribute directly to the preservation of biodiversity, the regulation of hydrological cycles, and to removing and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂), among other benefits. In fact, due to its forest base, one of the biggest in the world, and energy efficient operations Suzano is already net zero. For more details, check out our annual report. 

But Suzano wants to keep doing more. The company has made a series of long-term voluntary commitments, including connecting half a million hectares of priority biodiversity conservation areas in the Cerrado, Amazon and Atlantic Forest, increasing water availability by 100% in critical drainage basins and reducing water withdrawal in our operations by 15%. The full list of commitments can be viewed here. 

For more information, visit www.suzano.com.br/en/  

Unilever 

Unilever is committed to contributing towards a nature-positive future that protects forests from deforestation, regenerates agricultural systems, restores the landscapes surrounding them, and preserves water. Businesses have a critical role to play in reversing nature loss, protecting biodiversity and preserving species, and business action is about more than responsibility – there are real and material risks associated with nature’s decline.   

That’s why Unilever has committed to:   

  • Net zero emissions for all our products by 2039. 

  • A deforestation-free supply chain by 2023. 

  • Empowering a new generation of farmers and smallholders to protect and regenerate their environment. 

  • Embedding the Regenerative Agriculture Principles we developed and launched in 2021. 

  • Helping protect and regenerate 1.5 million hectares of land, forests and oceans by 2030.   

  • Develop water stewardship programmes for 100 locations in water-stressed areas by 2030. 

  • Ensure 100% of our ingredients will be biodegradable by 2030. 

  • Underpinned by a $1bn climate and nature fund that will be used over the next ten years to take meaningful action on landscape restoration, reforestation, carbon sequestration, wildlife protection and water preservation. 

For more information, visit:  https://www.unilever.com/planet-and-society/protect-and-regenerate-nature/  

Yara International 

Yara International, as the world’s leading crop nutrition company and a provider of science-based farming solutions, commits to growing a nature-positive food future. Today, food and agriculture represent major drivers for loss of natural habitats, water consumption and about a third of global GHG emissions. However in the food future we commit to, food and agriculture are a part of the solution: reducing water impacts, turning the tide on land use change and improving soil health to store more carbon. Yara develops solutions including premium, circular and organic products, digital precision tools, localised agronomic expertise, food value chain collaboration, climate-neutral solutions, and carbon farming, to grow a nature and climate positive food future. 

For more information visit: www.yara.com. 

 

Wipro  

At Wipro, we believe that as businesses we have significant responsibility in working with our key stakeholders including communities on the critical issues facing our society. Over the past two decades we have invested in green buildings, renewable energy and industry leading energy efficiency , water recycling and waste management programs. In addition, we have integrated urban biodiversity designs at our large campuses which bring in multiple co-benefits - people engagement as well as microclimate and ecosystem benefits.  

We have recently committed to contribute to planetary net zero emissions by reducing our own emissions to net zero by 2040 with a 55% reduction by 2030 using science-based approaches. This will also require us to work and engage deeply across our downstream and upstream suppliers . We believe that it is key to communicate the impacts of our actions on the environment – we publish an annual environmental profit and loss account and are integrating climate risks and opportunities as part of operational planning.  

Sustainability challenges, though seemingly complex and intractable, need sustained working on multiple fronts. Through our IT consulting and solutions, we are working with customers and partners across sectors to enable business transition to a low carbon and just economy. We also believe in the spirit of partnership to achieve the SDG’s –  through our industry networks, community-based organisations and the government on key social  issues like education, public health and ecology.  

For more information, visit: https://www.wipro.com/sustainability/ and  https://www.wipro.com/sustainability-archive/ 

 

IMAGINE 

IMAGINE is a social enterprise focused on mobilizing and transforming business to help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. We help build net-positive companies, which succeed by giving more than they take and we help build industry-wide collectives to deliver change at speed and scale. 

In 2019, we launched The Fashion Pact with President Macron. A previously unthinkable alliance commits 60+ signatories from the fashion industry to real action on climate, biodiversity and ocean plastics – including working on science-based targets for biodiversity and nature.  

We also have convened 27 leading CEOs in food and agriculture working to help fix our broken food system.  Given the crucial role that agriculture and land use plays in biodiversity, the IMAGINE Food Collective aims to address these challenges and imbalances through enhancing “Nature Positive” production and consumption, benefitting the millions of people touched by the industry, from farmers to consumers, and putting it in service of our planet. 

For more information, visit: https://imagine.one/