Nordic companies advance biodiversity action in collaboration with Nefco

Companies play a decisive role in halting nature loss. With Nefco’s Biodiversity Pilot Programme, companies gain the tools to turn biodiversity management into business value and future-proof their operations.

Nefco has kicked off its second Biodiversity Pilot Programme to support Nordic companies in turning biodiversity management into business value. Building on the achievements of the first pilot programme (2022–2024), the initiative helps Nordic small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) identify nature-related risks and opportunities and take concrete action to protect and restore biodiversity.

This next phase of the programme comes at a crucial moment. The release of the latest IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment underlines why programmes like Nefco’s are urgently needed. The report states that every business depends on and impacts nature, which makes biodiversity loss a systemic financial and operational risk. It also makes clear that companies can be powerful agents of change by taking various actions to measure and manage their nature impacts and dependencies. These findings support Nefco’s approach: providing Nordic SMEs with the tools, expertise and collaboration model they need to turn biodiversity management into resilience, competitiveness and long-term value creation.

The new pilot programme brings together a diverse group of companies committed to advancing biodiversity action in their operations. The companies represent multiple sectors and geographies across the Nordic region: Bawat (Denmark / Sweden), Fremsyn (Denmark), Korkia (Finland), Lytefire (Finland), Merus Power (Finland), TM Systems (Finland) and VÄXA odling i Sverige (Iceland / Sweden).

“The first biodiversity pilot showed that SMEs can move quickly when supported with the right tools and expert guidance. Together with our client companies, we achieved concrete, inspiring results from biodiversity management plans to real action on the ground. With this new programme, we are excited to deepen the collaboration with our clients and help more companies turn nature into long-term value, innovation and resilience,” says Katariina Vartiainen, Senior Manager, Environment & Sustainability, Nefco.

Strong value added for companies

Nefco’s Biodiversity Pilot Programme continues a proven model of close collaboration with client companies, where learning, piloting and pioneering biodiversity actions are carried out together. The programme is supported by Ramboll, a global engineering, architecture and consultancy company that will provide expert guidance throughout the pilot programme.

“The Nordic region can lead the transition toward nature positive business. Working with Nefco and SMEs, we aim to accelerate practical solutions that protect ecosystems while enabling emergent businesses thrive,” says Head of Nature department Saara Vauramo from Ramboll.

Through structured workshops, peer learning and tailored support, companies will gain insights into their impacts and dependencies on nature while strengthening their strategic resilience. Expected business benefits for the participating companies include:

• Innovation and competitive advantage, as biodiversity becomes an emerging differentiator
• Enhanced brand and stakeholder trust through transparent biodiversity planning and communication
• Improved access to finance, as investors increasingly assess nature-related performance
• Better risk management and resilience to nature loss and tightening EU biodiversity legislation
• Peer insights and co‑creation, one of the most valued elements of the first programme

As a result of the first Biodiversity Pilot Programme, the participating companies took tangible actions ranging from supply chain improvements to local nature‑based measures and markedly advanced their biodiversity maturity. The second pilot builds on this experience to further strengthen impact and ambition.

For more information, please contact:

Katariina Vartiainen, Senior Environment & Sustainability Manager, Nefco
+358 10 6180 377, katariina.vartiainen@nefco.int

Anni Rein, Senior Communications Manager, Nefco
+358 10 6180 852, anni.rein@nefco.int

About Nefco’s Biodiversity Pilot Programme

Nefco’s Biodiversity Pilot Programme supports Nordic SMEs in integrating biodiversity into their core business strategies. Through workshops, expert guidance and peer learning, the programme helps companies identify nature-related risks and opportunities, develop biodiversity management plans and implement concrete actions that protect and restore nature. The pilot programme is part of Nefco’s wider work to accelerate the green transition and strengthen the resilience, competitiveness and long-term value creation of Nordic companies. The programme is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Read more: www.nefco.int/biodiversity

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