Can you make your place of work more nature friendly?

Businesses have a key role to play in helping to protect and restore nature, and UK workers agree. A YouGov poll commissioned for the Save Our Wild Isles campaign, found that over three-quarters (77%) of UK employees are worried about the state of nature, and almost nine out of ten (89%) employees agree that employers should consider the impact their business has on nature when making decisions. The also found that 70% of employees are likely to encourage their employer to take action to help nature.   

That’s why, together with the National Trust and WWF, we’ve launched Nature's Workforce, a new online guide to help workers take steps to make nature part of everyday decision making, from the factory floor to the boardroom.

Nature's Workforce has been created as part of the Save Our Wild Isles partnership and has been developed alongside employees and managers across a range of industries. It aims to give all employees the confidence to take steps to make a meaningful difference for nature in the workplace. The suite of resources includes a detailed step-by-step guide on how to start conversations at work on ways businesses can help bring nature back from the brink.  

Many of the businesses that were involved in the development of the toolkit have already adopted greener business practices, from saving paper and starting volunteering schemes to supporting community tree planting, and improving biodiversity in the workplace through nature-friendly grounds maintenance.  There are many more ways that businesses could make a positive impact for nature. For example:  

• Supporting community groups and local green spaces, either financially or through volunteering. 

• Improving biodiversity on site through nature-friendly planting.   

• Embedding net zero into the company strategy. 

• Switching to a greener pension plan that funds habitat restoration.  

• Improving supply chains by reducing transportation emissions, packaging waste and energy consumption at every stage.

Nature underpins our economy, with more than half (55%) of the world’s gross domestic product either moderately or highly dependent on nature. Yet, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with one in six species is at risk of extinction from Great Britain.

As Hilary McGrady, Director-General National Trust, Beccy Speight, Chief Executive of the RSPB and Tanya Steele, CEO of WWF, explain: “If we can inspire the 30 million people at work in the UK to think about nature in their day-to-day decisions, just think how powerful that could be to bring real change to our natural environment. 

"By making changes to the way we all work and do business, we can transform our natural world. Our hope is that Nature’s Workforce will give employees the confidence to speak up and ensure our economy is working for nature and not against it.”  

Deborah Meaden, business leader and ambassador for both the RSPB and WWF, added: “The need to protect and restore nature is something businesses cannot afford to ignore. Without it, supply chains would collapse and most companies couldn’t function. This guide will hopefully spark conversations in firms across the UK and help put nature at the centre of boardroom decisions.

“Our business community is packed with innovative thinkers and pioneering companies, capable of speaking to millions of consumers and influencing government policy. I’ve no doubt we have the ability to tackle the nature and climate crisis – but we need to act fast, and we need to act now.” 

To find out more about how your company can take steps to help tackle nature’s decline, join Nature's Workforce today.