BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY: YOUR WORLD YOUR CHOICE
Proposal created by Holdsworth Associates
Introduction
The Cambridge cluster of environmental, cleantech, high technology and academic organisations
is in a world-leading position to provide the ideas and solutions that would help to inform business
decision making and conserve biodiversity.
Our proposal is to create a report that shows how the decisions that small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) make can impact biodiversity. To give guidance about immediate actions that
are beneficial to business and the environment, and outline how the cleantech industry is starting
to provide solutions for the future.
Holdsworth Associates is a Cambridge-based public relations agency and we have significant
experience of communicating scientific and technical information to a range of audiences,
including the general public. Also, many of our team are trained biologists and environmentalists
so we have a personal interest in this subject.
Audiences
Primary

Business community, particularly SMEs, to show how being environmentally
responsible creates business opportunities
Secondary
 General public to show how they can influence business to take action through their
buying behaviours.
Synopsis of the report: “Your world your choice”
We risk losing habitats and wildlife because too many people believe they can do so little that
they will do nothing at all.
‘Big business’, in particular primary extraction, has been the focus of environmental campaigns
since the early 70s and as a result the FTSE 100 companies have environmental policies. The
job isn’t finished, but work is in progress.
However, all business operations have an impact on biodiversity and the choices that even microbusinesses take can make a difference if sufficient numbers are involved.
This report aims to explain to the business community how it impacts biodiversity and relies on
ecosystem services, with a specific focus on water resources. It will include discussion of how
negative impacts can be reduced.
The report will also explain that environmental challenges provide market opportunities. It will
review the strategies of a number of organisations that have made a business out of ‘going
green’.
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Why Cambridge?
Cambridge has a world-class cluster of environmental, cleantech and high tech organisations – it
is a prime position to lead groundbreaking initiatives and demonstrate by example what can be
achieved.
However, the environmental community tends to communicate in a language that SMEs do not
understand and has little relevance to them. Also, the groups identified above have little
awareness of each other and their complementary skills.
This report would be groundbreaking in that it looks at biodiversity impacts and resolutions from a
SME perspective and opens a channel of communication with them, their employees and the
wider community.
Desired outcomes





First report written from an SME perspective
Opportunity to position Cambridge as both an environmental and cleantech cluster
Material for use in conferences, seminars for engaging with business
Angles for media relations
Interaction and greater understanding between environmental and cleantech
communities
Requested inputs
The focus will be on practical solutions that an SME is able to implement. This will encourage
awareness that business also operates within an ‘ecosystem’ and it is dependent on natural
resources both organic and inorganic. We will consider both the small changes that a company
can make to reduce its own direct impacts and the larger-scale changes it can influence through
its stakeholders and supply-chain.
For the report we want to canvass different viewpoints and stimulate discussion. Below is an
indication of the types of questions we would like to explore:

Views of environmental organisations, and data for substantiating observations.
- is irreversible biodiversity destruction an inevitable by-product of industry?
- can informed purchasing make a difference?
- how can an SME alter its supply chain to reduce its impact on biodiversity?
- how can a business encourage its customers to make sustainable choices?
- do certification schemes work? (wood, paper, bulbs, others?)
- how can environmental organisations work with SMEs?
- are some energy suppliers more environmentally sound than others?
- is it worth an SME improving its own ‘patch’ i.e. grounds, rooftop?

Views of cleantech community on ways forward.
- can product design be used to reduce environmental impact?
- are there alternatives to petroleum-based plastics?
- what technologies are emerging that will conserve energy?
- what technologies are emerging that will reduce water consumption?
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- what input do cleantech companies want from environmental organisations?

Case studies from local businesses that have benefited from ‘going green’.
Proposed structure of report: working title YOUR WORLD, YOUR CHOICE
Introduction
Marks & Spencer (tbc) on ‘Plan A because there is no plan B’. To include: how being green offers
a major business opportunity. Also M&S perspective on the role of Cambridge as a centre of
expertise on the environment and cleantech.
Your Choices
Decisions SMEs make which impact biodiversity and water resources. Overview attributed to
Cambridge Conservation Initiative with input from environmental organisations.
Choice of computer and office equipment
Sourcing raw materials and manufacture
Packaging for products
Reduction of waste and its disposal
Source of energy
Transport of products
Location, choice of premises, use of land around them, staff transport
Your Responsibilities
Interaction between groups and the expertise that is available from the Cambridge Cluster.
Overview attributed to the Cambridge CleantechSIG
Role of environmental organisations
Role of SME
Role of large business
Role of Cleantech
Your Future
Some constructive suggestions that may provide short/long term solutions.
Recommendations to be developed with input from environmental organisations and cleantech
companies.
NEXT STEPS
We hope that you will be prepared to contribute in some way to this report and look forward to
hearing from you. Rachel Holdsworth and Rebecca Nesbit, PR Consultants, Holdsworth
Associates
01954 202789, rachel@holdsworth-associates.co.uk
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