OCE-B.15.C - Ecosystems and Species Impact Assessment
Does the company assess its impact on ecosystems and species?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
The private sector has historically been one of the main contributors to environmental
degradation. It is crucial for companies to reverse this trend to ensure a sustainable future. A vital first
step in this process is for companies to transparently disclose their impacts on nature. Frameworks
provided by organisations such as Business for Nature, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Nature Action
100 (NA100) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) offer comprehensive
guidelines to help companies report and mitigate their environmental footprints.
Research Guidance:
Companies must disclose changes in the state of nature** **(which encapsulates ecosystems, species or biodiversity)** **at location(s) impacted by their operations, or their value chain, using science-based metrics. For a list of metrics, please consult the [TNFD guidance](https://tnfd.global/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Guidance_on_the_identification_and_assessment_of_nature-related_Issues_The_TNFD_LEAP_approach_V1.1_October2023.pdf?v=1698403116), p. 208.
Examples of databases/tools that can be used to guide companies to measure environmental impacts include:
Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT)
WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA).
Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST)
Global Biodiversity Standard (GBS)
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA)
degradation. It is crucial for companies to reverse this trend to ensure a sustainable future. A vital first
step in this process is for companies to transparently disclose their impacts on nature. Frameworks
provided by organisations such as Business for Nature, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Nature Action
100 (NA100) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) offer comprehensive
guidelines to help companies report and mitigate their environmental footprints.
Research Guidance:
Companies must disclose changes in the state of nature** **(which encapsulates ecosystems, species or biodiversity)** **at location(s) impacted by their operations, or their value chain, using science-based metrics. For a list of metrics, please consult the [TNFD guidance](https://tnfd.global/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Guidance_on_the_identification_and_assessment_of_nature-related_Issues_The_TNFD_LEAP_approach_V1.1_October2023.pdf?v=1698403116), p. 208.
Examples of databases/tools that can be used to guide companies to measure environmental impacts include:
Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT)
WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA).
Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST)
Global Biodiversity Standard (GBS)
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA)
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report