corsus supports DIHK/IHK alliance meeting and coaching at the Martin Braun Group in Hanover
On Tuesday, corsus supported another alliance meeting and coaching session in Hanover on the topic “Managing Biodiversity Effectively”. The workshop was organised as part of the DIHK/IHK Biodiversity Alliance and the “Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt (UBi)” project. At its core, the event focused on practical approaches to biodiversity management, particularly in supply chain management, biodiversity footprint calculations, and the implementation of targeted measures. The hosting Martin Braun Group began by introducing the company and presenting its existing biodiversity initiatives, as well as outlining future plans following the energy-efficient renovation of its factory buildings.
Dr. Ulrike Eberle conducted the workshop and provided all participants with tangible instruments and methods to systematically integrate biodiversity into corporate processes and strategies. Dr. Eberle presented a five-phase cycle model, ranging from the analysis, the goal-setting, and measures to impact assessment and follow-up adjustments. It was specifically emphasised that an effective change process starts with a status quo analysis – including a site assessment and evaluation of the value chain. An effective prioritisation of biodiversity risks depends on the following factors: the region’s ecological value, the procurement volume, trusted cooperation with suppliers, the substitutability of raw materials and known biodiversity risks. The workshop also highlighted that prioritising biodiversity conservation and setting long-term goals must be closely linked to the company’s current and future positioning.
Dipl.-Ing. Urban Buschmann provided participants valuable insights into how climate and biodiversity footprints can be incorporated into management decisions while simultaneously influencing these in a targeted manner. By using Frosta AG as an example, he showed and explained what needs to change in order to quantify sustainability. The central theme of “we cannot fix what we cannot measure” underlined the importance of measurability and transparency. As an example, the carbon footprint of broccoli from Germany is basically identical to broccoli from Spain. Consequently, not only growing and transport conditions but also climatic and social factors across the entire value chain play a decisive role. These findings, grounded in ecological footprint assessments, are central to corporate decision-making.
Another example: the introduction of the first unbleached, brown paper bags in the frozen food sector proved successful not only from an environmental perspective, but also from an economic one. Urban Buschmann stressed that management decisions should be informed by numerical environmental analyses in order to identify risks and seize opportunities, particularly for new processes or product and packaging innovations. Furthermore, climate and biodiversity assessments can easily be generated in digital form.
Finally, Dr. Ulrike Eberle of corsus delved into the impacts of biodiversity at the product level and how these can be measured. She introduced the BVI-Method (Biodiversity Value Increment) as a scientifically robust tool. This method enables companies to quantify the biodiversity impacts of their products and supports targeted, effective improvements. By providing a basis for fact-based decision-making, the BVI-Method can be seamlessly integrated into product development, supply chain management, supplier evaluations, and used for communication and reporting purposes.
The message is clear: Biodiversity should be an integral part of business strategy—just like all other sustainability topics.
The workshop demonstrated how companies can actively integrate biodiversity into their corporate strategies through scientifically sound methods and practical approaches. Equipped with these insights, participants are now well-prepared to make sustainability measurable and establish it long-term within their organizations.
A sincere thank you to all participants, organisers, and speakers for this inspiring exchange.
corsus supports you in the identification of opportunities and risks associated with biodiversity loss for your business activities, products and supply chains, and jointly develop strategies to address them.
Do you need support? Don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re happy to help!
The regional biodiversity alliances are initiated by the nationwide project ‘UBi – Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt’ (Companies for Biological Diversity), which is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. DIHK Service GmbH is the lead project partner and supports the implementation together with the regional chambers of industry and commerce.
