The best examples of corporate biodiversity strategies: 3 case studies companies actually use

Why real examples of corporate biodiversity strategies matter right now

Biodiversity is no longer a side note in ESG reports. After the adoption of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15, companies are under much sharper scrutiny to show how they impact nature—and what they’re doing to fix it. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), launched in 2023, is pushing investors to ask tougher questions about nature-related risk and opportunity.

In other words, investors now want examples of corporate biodiversity strategies that go beyond tree-planting days and pollinator gardens. They want:

• Clear baselines and metrics on nature impacts
• Time-bound, science-informed targets
• Integration into core business and supply chains
• Collaboration with NGOs, Indigenous communities, and scientists

Let’s look at three of the best examples of corporate biodiversity strategies: 3 case studies that keep showing up in investor briefings, NGO reports, and sustainability rankings.

Case Study 1: Nestlé – Regenerative agriculture and nature-positive sourcing

When people ask for a big, global example of corporate biodiversity strategy in food and beverage, Nestlé is usually near the top of the list. Why? Because biodiversity is inseparable from its core business: coffee, cocoa, dairy, and grains all depend on healthy soils, water systems, and resilient ecosystems.

How Nestlé links biodiversity to its core business model

Nestlé has committed to sourcing 50% of its key ingredients through regenerative agriculture practices by 2030. That’s not just a climate play; it’s a biodiversity strategy in disguise. Regenerative practices—like cover cropping, crop rotation, agroforestry, and reduced tillage—directly affect soil biodiversity, pollinators, and water quality.

Some concrete examples include:

• Shade-grown coffee and agroforestry in Latin America: Nestlé works with smallholder farmers to integrate native trees into coffee systems, increasing habitat complexity and providing corridors for birds and insects.
• Cocoa programs in West Africa: Agroforestry models mix cocoa trees with native species, aiming to reduce pressure on primary forests and improve on-farm biodiversity.
• Soil health pilots in Europe and North America: Cover crops and reduced tillage are used to boost soil microbial diversity, which directly supports yield stability and water retention.

These are not side projects. They’re embedded in supplier contracts, technical assistance programs, and financing structures.

Targets, metrics, and verification

Nestlé has started aligning its nature work with the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) guidance on nature and the TNFD framework. That means moving from “we support biodiversity” to measurable actions such as:

• Hectares under regenerative agriculture
• Number of trees planted and survival rates
• Percentage of sourcing regions with no deforestation or conversion of natural ecosystems
• Water quality indicators in priority watersheds

The company works with NGOs and technical partners to monitor land-use change via satellite and field surveys.

For context on why this matters, the U.S. Geological Survey notes that biodiversity underpins ecosystem services like pollination, nutrient cycling, and water purification that agriculture depends on (usgs.gov). Nestlé’s strategy is essentially a risk management plan for those ecosystem services.

Why this case study matters

This is one of the best examples of corporate biodiversity strategies because it:

• Ties biodiversity directly to core ingredients and revenue
• Uses regenerative agriculture as a scalable biodiversity lever
• Links farm-level practices to global targets and investor reporting

If you’re in food, beverage, or consumer goods, Nestlé’s approach is a practical example of how to move biodiversity from CSR to supply-chain strategy.

Case Study 2: Microsoft – From carbon negative to nature positive

Tech companies usually talk about data centers and emissions, not wetlands and pollinators. Microsoft is a notable exception and a strong example of corporate biodiversity strategy in a sector that historically ignored nature.

From climate to biodiversity: expanding the scope

Microsoft made headlines with its 2020 pledge to be carbon negative by 2030 and to remove all historical emissions by 2050. Since then, it has broadened its environmental commitments to explicitly include nature and biodiversity.

Real examples include:

• Habitat restoration around data centers: In some locations, Microsoft works with local partners to restore wetlands and grasslands near facilities, improving habitat for birds, amphibians, and pollinators.
• Nature-based carbon removal projects: The company purchases carbon removal credits from reforestation, afforestation, and improved forest management projects that must meet biodiversity co-benefit criteria.
• AI and data tools for conservation: Through initiatives like AI for Earth, Microsoft supports projects using satellite imagery and machine learning to monitor deforestation, species distributions, and ecosystem changes.

These efforts show how a tech company can turn its core strengths—data, analytics, and capital—into biodiversity tools.

Aligning with TNFD and nature-related risk

Microsoft has been an early supporter of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), signaling that it sees nature loss as a financial risk. That means identifying:

• Physical risks (e.g., water scarcity affecting data center cooling)
• Transition risks (e.g., new regulations on land and water use)
• Reputational risks if operations degrade local ecosystems

The company is working on integrating nature metrics into its broader ESG reporting, in line with the direction set by TNFD and the Convention on Biological Diversity (cbd.int).

Why this case study stands out

For other service and tech firms, Microsoft is one of the clearest examples of corporate biodiversity strategies: 3 case studies often cited by investors. It shows that:

• You don’t need a land-intensive supply chain to have a biodiversity footprint
• Data and digital tools can be powerful levers for conservation
• Nature targets can be layered onto climate commitments

If your business is in finance, tech, or professional services, Microsoft provides a realistic example of how to integrate biodiversity without owning farms or forests.

Case Study 3: Holcim – Biodiversity on and around extraction sites

If you want a tough sector, look at cement and aggregates. Quarrying is land-hungry, disruptive, and often highly visible to communities. That’s exactly why Holcim (a major global building materials company) is a compelling example of corporate biodiversity strategy in a high-impact industry.

Turning quarries into biodiversity assets

Holcim operates thousands of quarries and pits worldwide. Historically, these sites were biodiversity black holes. Over the last decade, the company has shifted toward a more nature-positive model with actions like:

• Biodiversity management plans for high-risk sites: Priority quarries must have site-level biodiversity plans, often designed with NGOs and local ecologists.
• Rehabilitation and habitat creation: Post-extraction, quarries are restored as wetlands, grasslands, or woodlands, often supporting greater species richness than surrounding farmland.
• Species monitoring: Some sites track indicator species (e.g., amphibians, bats, pollinators) to measure ecological recovery.

These are not feel-good side projects; they’re linked to permitting, community relations, and long-term land value.

Targets and partnerships

Holcim has set group-wide biodiversity-related goals, such as:

• Implementing biodiversity management plans at all high-priority sites
• Measuring a net positive impact on biodiversity at selected locations

To get there, the company collaborates with conservation organizations and local universities to design and monitor restoration. This aligns with guidance from organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which provides frameworks for managing biodiversity in extractive industries (iucn.org).

Why this case study is important

Holcim is one of the best examples of corporate biodiversity strategies in a sector that doesn’t have an easy sustainability narrative. It demonstrates that:

• Even high-impact industries can set credible biodiversity goals
• Rehabilitation and restoration can become core to the business model
• Partnerships with scientists and NGOs are non-negotiable

For mining, construction, and other heavy industries, this is a realistic example of how to meet rising regulatory and community expectations on nature.

Beyond the 3 case studies: Other real examples companies are using

The three companies above are not the only examples of corporate biodiversity strategies worth watching. A few more real examples include:

• Unilever: Integrating biodiversity criteria into its Sustainable Agriculture Code and sourcing standards for tea, palm oil, and other crops.
• Danone: Supporting regenerative dairy projects that improve grassland biodiversity and soil health in Europe and North America.
• Kering (luxury group): Using an Environmental Profit & Loss (EP&L) account to quantify nature impacts across its fashion supply chain, from leather to cotton.
• Walmart: Committing to protect, manage, or restore millions of acres of land and ocean through supply-chain engagement and NGO partnerships.

These real examples include a mix of tools: nature-positive sourcing, landscape-level restoration, financial incentives for farmers, and nature-related risk assessments.

What these examples of corporate biodiversity strategies have in common

When you zoom out from these examples of corporate biodiversity strategies: 3 case studies, a few patterns show up again and again:

1. Clear link to core business

None of these strategies are random philanthropy. They all tie back to core value drivers:

• Nestlé: secure long-term supply of key crops
• Microsoft: protect license to operate and manage nature-related risk
• Holcim: maintain access to land and community support

2. Measurable targets, not vague promises

Companies are moving toward specific, time-bound targets, often guided by:

• Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) for nature
• TNFD recommendations on nature-related disclosure
• National biodiversity strategies and regulations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlights how habitat loss, invasive species, and pollution drive biodiversity decline, and why measurable action is needed to reverse these trends (epa.gov). Corporate strategies are starting to reflect that reality.

3. Partnerships and shared data

Every strong example of corporate biodiversity strategy relies on outside expertise:

• NGOs and conservation groups for field knowledge
• Universities for monitoring and modeling
• Local communities and Indigenous groups for stewardship and land-use rights

4. Integration with climate and water strategies

Biodiversity is increasingly managed alongside climate and water. Regenerative agriculture improves soil carbon and biodiversity. Wetland restoration boosts carbon storage, flood protection, and habitat. Nature-based solutions sit at the intersection of these agendas.

How to use these case studies to shape your own strategy

If you’re trying to build or upgrade your own biodiversity plan, here’s how to use these examples of corporate biodiversity strategies as a playbook:

• Start with your value chain: Where does your business physically touch land, water, or species? That’s where biodiversity risk and opportunity live.
• Build a baseline: Use tools like satellite data, local surveys, and existing biodiversity maps to understand current conditions.
• Set priorities: Not every site or supplier is equal. Focus on high-risk, high-opportunity locations.
• Choose interventions that match your footprint: Regenerative agriculture, restoration, habitat corridors, invasive species control, or nature-based solutions—pick what fits your operations.
• Align with emerging frameworks: TNFD, SBTN, and the Global Biodiversity Framework will shape investor expectations.

The best examples of corporate biodiversity strategies: 3 case studies aren’t perfect. But they are moving from slogans to measurable, place-based action. That’s the direction regulators, investors, and communities are pushing the entire private sector.

FAQ: Real examples of corporate biodiversity strategies

Q1. What are some real examples of corporate biodiversity strategies companies are using today?
Real examples include regenerative agriculture programs (Nestlé, Danone), quarry and mine rehabilitation with biodiversity targets (Holcim, Rio Tinto), nature-based carbon removal projects with biodiversity co-benefits (Microsoft), and supply-chain sourcing standards that protect forests and high conservation value areas (Unilever, Walmart, Kering).

Q2. How do these 3 case studies help other businesses?
These examples of corporate biodiversity strategies: 3 case studies show how different sectors—food, tech, and construction—translate high-level biodiversity commitments into site-level plans, supplier contracts, and measurable indicators. They provide templates for target-setting, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement.

Q3. What is an example of a simple first step a company can take on biodiversity?
A practical first step is to identify your top 5–10 sites or supply chains with the greatest interaction with nature (land use, water use, habitat disturbance) and conduct a basic biodiversity and ecosystem services assessment there. From that baseline, you can pilot one or two interventions—such as habitat restoration, regenerative practices, or invasive species control—and track results.

Q4. How do investors use these examples of corporate biodiversity strategies?
Investors look at real examples like Nestlé, Microsoft, and Holcim to benchmark other companies in the same sector. They examine whether a company has mapped its nature-related risks, set time-bound targets, integrated biodiversity into governance and capital allocation, and reported progress using frameworks such as TNFD.

Q5. Are biodiversity strategies only relevant for companies with large land footprints?
No. Service and tech companies also depend on nature—through water use, supply chains, and physical climate risks that are worsened by ecosystem degradation. Microsoft’s case shows that even digital businesses can support conservation, fund nature-based solutions, and manage nature-related risk.