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

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Methodology

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 Methodology

Ocean 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 more

Milestones

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.

  1. Draft methodology report

    January 2022

  2. Methodology report

    April 2022

  3. Data collection and verification

    April-September 2022

  4. First benchmark publication

    December 2022

  5. Data collection and verification

    April-September 2023

  6. Benchmark update (Part 1/2)

    October 2023

  7. Data collection and verification

    January-April 2024

  8. Benchmark update (Part 2/2)

    August 2024

  9. Methodology update

    October 2024

  10. Second benchmark publication

    2026

Updates

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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.

Jenni Black

Nature Transformation Lead

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