Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark tracks and measures how companies are reducing their negative impacts on nature and contributing to the protection and restoration of ecosystems
Aim
In 2021, the scope of WBA’s former ‘circular transformation’ was expanded to cover nature and biodiversity as a recognition of the need for greater understanding, transparency and accountability of business impact on our environment.
The nature transformation examines how the world’s most influential companies contribute to stable and resilient ecosystems, which enable humanity and nature to co-exist within planetary boundaries on biodiversity, climate, land, oceans and water.
The benchmark assessments measure and track corporate performance towards a nature-positive future by measuring how companies are reducing their impact and even regenerating ecosystems.
The level of action and progress these large businesses make will directly affect whether we achieve the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Nature Benchmark
See resultsMethodology
The Nature Benchmark measured 816 companies across more than 20 industries between three initial research cycles between 2022 and 2024.
During the first quarter of 2022, WBA published a draft methodology and conducted a public consultation to map existing behaviours and assess the practical action possible.
Following the public consultation, in April 2022 we published the first Nature Benchmark Methodology, incorporating the feedback received from our Expert Review Committee and nearly 100 organisations.
A new methodology for 2026
The latest methodology update took place in October 2024, which will be used to assess companies for the 2026 Nature Benchmark. More information and PDF version available here.
Read MethodologyOcean Spotlight
After the results of the Nature Benchmark, WBA noticed that some seafood and non-seafood companies (shipping, apparel agriculture) do not seem to pay enough attention to their impact on marine ecosystems. Therefore in 2026, WBA is planning to expand its Nature Benchmark work with an additional ‘Ocean Spotlight’ assessment, which will measure at least 100 companies in various key sectors, including seafood, on their contribution to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems.
Learn moreMilestones
First iteration (2022-2024)
Because of the large scale of this benchmark (816 companies), the first cycle of data collection, verification, and analysis of the companies in scope took place during summer 2022, with the launch of the first part of the Nature Benchmark in December 2022.
The second part took place in 2023, completing the full cycle of companies in the Nature Benchmark, and publishing the results in October 2023 and August 2024.
Second iteration (2026)
WBA plans to publish the second iteration of the Nature Benchmark in 2026. Our updated methodology is already available here, which contains all the information about future company assessments.
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Draft methodology report
January 2022
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Methodology report
April 2022
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Data collection and verification
April-September 2022
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First benchmark publication
December 2022
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Data collection and verification
April-September 2023
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Benchmark update (Part 1/2)
October 2023
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Data collection and verification
January-April 2024
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Benchmark update (Part 2/2)
August 2024
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Methodology update
October 2024
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Second benchmark publication
2026
The Expert Review Committee
The Nature Benchmark is developed in close collaboration with an Expert Review Committee (ERC), whose members support the core team with their expertise and experience.
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Erin Billman
Executive Director, Science Based Targets Network (SBTN)
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Elodie Chêne
Standards Manager, GRI
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Laura Clavey
Senior Technical Manager, TNFD
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Tom McKenna
Senior Manager, Capitals Coalition
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Nicolas Poolen
Green Finance Advisor, WWF-Netherlands
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Nora Mardirossian
Senior Legal Researcher at Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
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Angela Graham Brown
Director, Nature Action (WBCSD)
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Romie Goedicke
Co-Head of Nature at UNEP-FI
Get involved
As we build our work, we continue to engage with stakeholders across the globe through targeted communications with key organisations and representatives. We also encourage meaningful and constructive feedback.