By 2030, we will implement our due diligence regarding the protection of marine ecology.
Carry out a due diligence check along the value chain: To what extent does your business model significantly impact marine ecosystems? This could be at your sites, in the upstream supply chain or in downstream products and services. Typical impacts include plastic pollution from single-use plastic products, overfishing for companies in the food industry and adverse effects on coastal development for companies that use coastal areas for construction or tourism projects. Valuable coastal habitats such as mangrove forests or coral reefs can be destroyed, which negatively impacts biodiversity and flood protection.
Take measures to address the greatest impact.
These include:
Plastic reduction and recycling: Measures to reduce plastic waste, such as avoiding single-use plastic products, using recyclable materials and implementing education and waste collection initiatives on beaches and coastlines to protect the oceans from plastic pollution.
Sustainable fisheries and stock management: Commitment to sustainable fishing practices, including respecting fishing quotas, establishing protected areas for endangered species and using technologies such as selective fishing methods to prevent overfishing and conserve marine biodiversity.
Coastal protection and habitat conservation: Commitment to protecting coastal habitats such as mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs, for example through partnerships with nature conservation organisations, investment in restoration projects and implementing strict environmental requirements in construction and development projects.
Set impact-orientated goals right at the start of the project. What do you want to achieve with your innovations? What turnover are you aiming for? What social and ecological added value do you create? Make your goals transparent, define key performance indicators (KPIs) and report on your progress.
Healthy oceans are vital to life on Earth as they regulate the global climate and water systems and sustain the natural resources that provide 17% of the world's animal protein intake. The world's oceans face increasing pressure from direct pollution and eutrophication, global warming, fishing and aquaculture. The amount of plastic and rubbish in the oceans is rising rapidly; it is estimated that at this rate there will be more plastic waste than fish in the world's oceans by 2050, posing an enormous threat to ocean and human life. Ocean acidification can lead to the weakening of shells and skeletons of many marine species. Overfishing negatively impacts food production, ecosystem functioning and biodiversity.
These issues have increasingly moved to the forefront of public attention, and companies can benefit from leading the way in tackling these challenges.
