Introductory session: "Nature in your job role: why location matters"
You're aware of nature's value, recognising both the risks (water scarcity, flooding, deforestation) and the benefits (healthy soils, water purification, pollination). But how can you effectively integrate this understanding into your daily business decisions?
First of all, identifying and understanding your local nature risks and dependencies can then support you to make smarter, more resilient choices. Location-focused insights can and should be applied across different aspects of your business, from procurement and operations to finance, risk, and sustainability.
Explore insights from our introductory sessions and additional materials to learn how to make smarter, location-aware decisions in your role and collaborate effectively across teams on location-focused nature strategies.
Location focused decision-making in your job role introduction
Amanda Griniece & Karina Mereuta (WBCSD) introduced the A-Track project and the Embed Nature introductory session for functional teams on location focused decision-making. Learn more about how to engage and speak with other business functions on nature in our short guide.
tips for engaging internal teams on nature
Why location matters in decisions and the role of different functions
Bianca Nijhof from Anthesis Group emphasised that nature-related impacts and dependencies are inherently local, making location a critical factor in decision-making and sharing many examples. She highlighted that by engaging functions across operations, supply chain, finance, and sustainability, companies can translate local insights into stronger risk management, resilience, and strategic action.
Explore business primer to learn more
How Henkel applies location data feedstock
Franziska Enzmann from Henkel shared insights on using location-specific data to evaluate raw material feedstocks. By tracing level-zero feedstocks back to likely sourcing regions and assessing their environmental pressures and risks, Henkel created a dashboard that can support purchasing, product development, and risk teams in making more sustainable sourcing choices.
Explore Henkel's full case study
How Vale embeds nature into site-level decision making
Leticia Guimaraes from Vale shared how the company has been integrating biodiversity and location-specific insights into decision-making. Starting with biodiversity reporting in 2007 and evolving into GIS-based risk assessments, Vale now uses location data to guide projects in sensitive areas like the Amazon.
Explore Vale's full case study
Insights from break out group discussions
1. Engaging with other functions across the business - moderated by Ben Hayman, Anthesis Group
The discussion highlighted the importance of combining “hardwiring” change (structural, technical, and operational measures) with “softwiring” change (culture, communications, and engagement) to embed nature into organizations. And that building relationships and understanding colleagues’ roles is essential for making nature relevant and enabling more effective, higher-quality conversations across functions.
2. Implementing location data in practice - moderated by Jacob Bedford, UNEP-WCMC and company representatives
The discussion stressed that context is critical—off-the-shelf frameworks can’t always be applied uniformly across locations. Participants pointed to the value of combining company and public data, starting with high-level screening and then doing deep dives where risks are greatest, and using pilots to build traction before scaling.
