Nature in product and service design
The goal of the program is to equip sustainability managers and functional leads (R&D, design, procurement) with general knowledge and tools to embed nature considerations into supply chain and product and service design decisions.
Who is this program for?
Those responsible for product and service design decisions, as well as colleagues working in sustainability, nature and certification, procurement, operations, R&D.
Those interested to learn how nature shows up in product and service design decisions — from supply chain to design — why this is relevant to your role, what the typical dilemmas are, and which approaches can help guide decision-making.
As well as those who need to undertake some form of nature footprinting or who are facing reporting requirements where the application of LCA can provide useful support, or who wants to understand
Relevant for companies that:
- Are seeking to understand value chain impacts on nature in order to inform a nature/biodiversity strategy and respond to customer and investor expectations
- Want to identify nature and biodiversity-related hotspots along the value chain
- Aim to consider improved product design options
- Are subject to the requirements of CSRD and ESRS
- Learn how the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Footprint framework can be applied at different stages of the product and service life cycle
Why is this topic relevant to you?
Nature-related risks and opportunities arise from company’s direct or indirect reliance and impact on nature and the ecosystem services it provides. Whether sourcing materials, operating facilities, designing products, or managing distribution, companies rely on nature’s goods and services, which are increasingly under pressure. Understanding how nature-related risks can disrupt operations, supply chains and long-term value are key to business performance. However, supply chains often have hidden or under-evaluated nature risks. Therefore, companies may not fully understand and may often overlook nature risks in your strategic planning.
Assessing biodiversity impacts across the supply chain can enable companies to understand how activities depend on and affect nature, identify risks and opportunities, and implement strategies that support long-term resilience and sustainability, including the development of more sustainable products.
How can we help: What the program will offer:
- A business primer guiding participants through typical dilemmas and how to prioritize nature when making decisions on products and services; as well as the steps of undertaking a biodiversity and ecosystem footprint of their value chain, tailored to their expertise, level of knowledge, and available resources. It also highlights where and how different functions contribute to decision-making.
- Business case studies providing real-life examples
- An introductory session to learn how nature shows up in product and service design decisions — from supply chain to design — why this is relevant to your role, what the typical dilemmas are, and which approaches can help guide decision-making.
- Training sessions that will go deeper into the topic and offer practical learning and application.
- A troubleshooting session to address remaining questions
