[ESRS E4 ESRS 2 SBM-3; GRI 3-3ab]1
See “Actual and potential negative and positive impacts, risks and opportunities” in the management approach at the beginning of the chapter.
According to the IPBES, pressures on nature leading to loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functions are categorized into five groups (IPBES 20192 as cited by Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN)3):
- Land/water/sea use change
- Resource exploitation
- Climate change
- Pollution
- Invasive species
In the context of global biodiversity loss, the textile and apparel industry has recently become more aware of its contribution to this problem4, 5. The focus is currently on the agricultural production of natural fibers (mainly cotton, and animal fibers like wool)6, as agricultural land use is seen a main driver of biodiversity loss, although wood sourcing from forests is also seen as a potential cause. Pollution issues related to fiber production and textile processing, potentially occurring from all materials including synthetics, are currently considered up to a lesser extent in a biodiversity context6. Textile and nonwovens products have potential negative impacts at the end of their life due to littering in land and water ecosystems, especially via non-biodegradable materials that are leaked into the environment. Lenzing as a leading cellulose fiber manufacturer is focusing on three areas: its wood and pulp sourcing, its fiber production processes and products’ end of use, in order to address biodiversity loss by minimizing the impact of biodiversity drivers.
To pursue the development of its biodiversity strategy, Lenzing has joined the European Business Nature Commitment (EBNC), and the Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) Corporate Engagement Program in 2023. Both organizations are focusing on business action to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. They provide guidance for high level action, in steps like “assess – commit-transform- disclose” of EBNC, collaboration in developing and selecting suitable frameworks and tools for assessing impacts and dependencies, and guidance for setting targets.
1 In addition to the GRI disclosure, the corresponding ESRS section is noted. There is no claim to fulfilment of the ESRS in this and the following chapters.
2 IPBES 2019: Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. E. S. Brondizio, J. Settele, S. Díaz, and H. T. Ngo (editors). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. https://ipbes.net/global-assessment
3 Science-based targets for nature. Initial guidance for businesses. 2020.