SDG 15: Life on land
Human life depends on the earth as much as the ocean for our sustenance and livelihoods. Plant life provides 80 percent of the human diet, and we rely on agriculture as an important economic resources. Forests cover 30 percent of the Earth’s surface, provide vital habitats for millions of species, and important sources for clean air and water, as well as being crucial for combating climate change.
Every year, 13 million hectares of forests are lost, while the persistent degradation of drylands has led to the desertification of 3.6 billion hectares, disproportionately affecting poor communities.
While 15 percent of land is protected, biodiversity is still at risk. Nearly 7,000 species of animals and plants have been illegally traded. Wildlife trafficking not only erodes biodiversity, but creates insecurity, fuels conflict, and feeds corruption.
Urgent action must be taken to reduce the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity which are part of our common heritage and support global food and water security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and peace and security. (UNDP, 2015)
Companies that are achieving this are:
Unilever Pte Ltd (NYSE:UL)
Industry: Food & Staples Retailing, Beverages, Food Products, Household Products, Personal Products
Headquartered in: UK
By 2023, Unilever would have a deforestation-free supply chain in products which contain palm oil, paper and board, tea, soy and cocoa. Unilever is working closely with its suppliers to responsibly source its key crops and commodities. In 2021, Unilever launched the Regenerative Agrictultural Principles Program to guide its farmer partners towards sustainable farming practices, such as how to nourish soil, capture carbon and restrore and regenerate land. There's a particular focus by Unilever on empowering smallholder farmers to adopt these principles to promote regenerative farming and bio-diversity protection.
BAYER (FWB:BAYN, OTC:BAYRY)
There are some 550 million small farmers worldwide. In many rural geographies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), smallholder farmers are the backbone of food security in their communities. Bayer's products, technologies and services already support around 45 million smallholder farmers in LMICs. By 2030, they commit to help 100 million smallholder farmers to earn sustainable farm incomes and improve rural livelihoods. To this end, they will establish crop value chain partnerships to deliver high-quality inputs, agronomy knowledge, cost-effective financing and risk mitigation solutions and market linkages to help farmers sell their produce.
Industry: Agricultural Products, Personal Products, Pharmaceuticals
Headquartered in: Germany
L'Oreal (EURONEXT:OR, SIX:OR)
As of 2020, 96% of L'Oreal's new or renovated products have an improved environmental or social profile. 39% of new or renovated products have a formula with a lower environmental footprint, 69% have a new formula incorporating renewable raw materials that are either sustainably sourced or respect the principles of green chemistry, 49% have an improved social profile by incorporating raw materials from Solidarity Sourcing programs, and 85% have packaging with lower environmental footprints.