Business needs to be in harmony with nature.

JBIB is a group of Japanese corporations committed to biodiversity conservation through their businesses.

The initiative was launched in 2008 with 14 companies. Now it has grown to a group of 48 leading companies covering a wide scope of business sectors.

The member companies of JBIB are working together to explore how business can be sustainable and in harmony with nature, and are also striving to transform themselves.

Why businesses work for biodiversity

The reason for a corporation to conserve biodiversity is not just because it is ethical or contributes to a better society. Biodiversity provides what we call ecosystem services, a variety of rich bounties and functions essential for human society and business operations as well.

Every corporation depends on such ecosystem services in some way. It is, for example, obvious that companies using food, wood, paper or fiber as raw materials would not be able to continue their businesses without such natural resources provided by ecosystem services.

Other companies need clear water and clean air, and those resources are purified as they circulate in the ecosystem. Factories and offices are protected from natural disasters like storms, landslides and tsunami by surrounding forests. Most tourism businesses cannot exist without some beautiful nature.

These are all different forms of ecosystem services. Biodiversity and ecosystem services, therefore, are the essential capital that supports all businesses.

But when companies make use of ecosystem services, there are, unfortunately, some negative impacts or influences on biodiversity and the ecosystem. As the business grows, impact also grows, and this can even become counterproductive.

When biodiversity is lost, it will no longer be possible to make use of the ecosystem services. Accordingly, business operations will come to an end, and so will human society. This is precisely the reason why it is necessary for corporations to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems. They are the “natural capital” we depend upon.

Just like our efforts to retain and increase financial capital, we shall strive to prevent further deterioration of our natural capital and to reverse the trend within this decade. Unless we do so, we will not be successful in achieving a sustainable society.

The Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Beyond

JBIB was launched in 2008 with 14 companies, and by 2010, when CBD COP10 was held in Japan, it had grown to become roughly the same size as it is now. Taking their mission to conserve biodiversity seriously, the companies have been making ongoing efforts and pride themselves on being the leaders of Japan’s industrial sector in this field.

Last year, 2020, was the goal year for the Aichi Biodiversity Targets adopted at COP10, but, regrettably, a large majority of those targets were not met both globally and nationally.

Although our companies and others around the world have been making serious efforts since 2010, we cannot say that sufficient results have been achieved.

What we have done for achieving the Aichi Targets→

JBIB will develop upon and deepen initiatives that have been taken up to now, and, at the same time, will support a more ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which is scheduled to be adopted at COP15. We will also devote our full efforts to achieving the new targets for 2030.

To that end, each of the member companies will, of course, continue to make efforts to minimize the impacts of their company’s business activities on biodiversity, and while also spreading such activities to more companies through their supply chains and other networks, will strive for ecological restoration and to reverse the loss of biodiversity.

Our Objectives

JBIB aims to make substantial contributions toward the conservation of biodiversity in our capacity as corporations. We have set the objectives of our activities as follows and will keep continuing to make such efforts.

1.: To explore links between business and biodiversity and to use that knowledge in our business practices
2.: To promote dialogues and collaborations with stakeholders
3.: To share good practices within Japan and abroad
4.: To advocate and undertake educational efforts for the promotion of biodiversity conservation
5.: To conduct projects to fulfill the aforementioned objectives

Our History

2008: Inspired by a symposium on the topic of business and biodiversity, 14 companies launched JBIB.
2009: JBIB started a network of associate members. The Business & Biodiversity Interrelationship Map was developed and made public.
2010: The Biodiversity Handbook was created and made public for CBD COP10.
2011: The JBIB Guidelines for Sustainable Business Sites was developed and made public.
2012: JBIB was incorporated as a general incorporated association.
2013: The Corporate Water Management Guide to Conserve Biodiversity was released by the Water and Ecosystems Working Group. The Association for Business Innovation in harmony with Nature and Community (ABINC) was spun out to promote the JBIB Guidelines for Sustainable Business Sites and to grant certifications based on them.
2014: JBIB joined the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity (GPBB). Guidelines and a guidebook were released from the Forestation for Harmony with Nature Working Group and the Responsible Procurement Working Group, respectively.
2015: JBIB joined the Japan Business and Biodiversity Partnership (JBBP).
2016: At COP13, JBIB signed the Cancun Business and Biodiversity Pledge.
2017: In recognition of JBIB’s contributions to mainstreaming biodiversity in corporate activities, JBIB was conferred the Excellence Award of the 5th Japan Awards for Biodiversity by the AEON Environmental Foundation.
2018: JBIB announced the Declaration of Support for Zero Deforestation with the aim of spreading commitment to zero deforestation among not only member companies, but many other companies as well.
2019: JBIB won the Biodiversity Action Award 2019, hosted by the Japan Committee for UNDB (UNDB-J), for its JBIB Biodiversity Days, events that have been held since 2017 to have the public become more aware about biodiversity.
2020: The goal year for JBIB Challenge 2020. Nearly all of the goals were achieved, with more than 90% of the member companies fulfilling 7 of the 12-item agenda, 100% fulfilling 1 of them, and over 80% fulfilling 11 items. （For details, see JBIB Challenge 2020)
Entered into a partnership initiative with Business for Nature for participation in movements to enhance business leadership for COP15. （See also a Message from the Executive Director of Business for Nature to JBIB）
2021: JBIB has grown to have 31 regular members and 18 associate members, for a total of 49 private companies.

Our People

JBIB is operated by the secretariat and voluntary supporters from all the member companies. See the following links for introductions of the individuals involved with its management.

Partnership

JBIB is working together with various organizations within and outside Japan to advance corporate activities contributing to the conservation of biodiversity.

Here are organizations that have partnership agreements with JBIB.

In addition to the above institutional partners, JBIB is collaborating with various stakeholders, both government organizations and NGOs.

Here are messages from our peers.