Supermar­kets measure their impact on biodiver­sity

Biodiversity is becoming less of an abstract concept. It is being translated into numbers. And those numbers are confronting. A recent study by the University of Jyväskylä in Finland makes clear how significant the impact of supermarkets really is. Not just on paper, but deep within international supply chains.

Biodiversity in hard numbers

Using a new calculation model, the researchers assessed the extent to which supermarket activities contribute to an increased extinction risk for plant and animal species. The model is based on actual purchasing and sales data from the Finnish supermarket chain S Group. The company generates approximately €14 billion in retail revenue, of which more than €10 billion comes from supermarkets. That gives it nearly half of the Finnish food retail market.

A central role is played by the open BIOVALENT database. Product groups are linked to factors that affect biodiversity. Sales data for meat, dairy, coffee, chocolate, and palm oil is thus translated into ecosystem impacts. Hotspots within the supply chain are also identified. According to the researchers, this is the first time worldwide that the biodiversity pressure of a large supermarket organization has been calculated.

Impact far away, consequences close to home

What stands out is where the greatest pressure occurs. As much as 97 percent proves to be indirect and largely takes place outside Finland. Think of food production, the use of animal feed and fertilizers, often in biodiversity-rich regions such as tropical areas.

Of the total measured pressure, approximately 76 percent stems from food and beverages. Fuel use accounts for eight percent. The findings were extrapolated to comparable supermarkets worldwide. According to the researchers, this corresponds to an increased extinction risk for around 150 species. The method is comparable to how carbon dioxide emissions are translated into an estimated global temperature increase.

Relevant for Dutch supply chains

For Dutch supermarkets, this is far from a distant issue. The CSRD requires large companies to report transparently on their impact on the environment and biodiversity. The CSDDD calls for active supply chain analysis and risk management. In addition, the European deforestation regulation directly affects raw materials such as soy, cocoa, coffee, and beef.

The protein transition toward 2030 also plays a role. The sector aims for 60 percent of sold proteins to be plant-based. This is no minor detail: meat and dairy place a relatively heavy burden on biodiversity. Assortment, pricing, and in-store presentation therefore become strategic levers. Initiatives such as Beter voor Natuur & Boer show that cooperation with the primary sector is essential. After all, the greatest impact occurs at the production stage. But supermarkets set the direction.

Abnamro.nl