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- Groundbreaking Nature Targets: Kering, GSK, and Holcim publicly adopt the world’s first science-based targets for nature, focusing on freshwater and land.
- COP16 Milestone: The announcement aligns with COP16 discussions, spotlighting corporate responsibility in tackling biodiversity loss.
- Pilot Program Success: SBTN’s corporate pilot led to a credible model for setting nature-positive targets, with 60% of participants receiving target validation.
The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) has announced that Kering, GSK, and Holcim are the first companies to publicly adopt science-based targets for nature, addressing freshwater and land. These actions follow SBTN’s year-long corporate pilot, which demonstrated a practical way for companies to drive measurable, nature-positive action.
Erin Billman, Executive Director of SBTN, emphasized the importance of this milestone:
“Our corporate pilot program has shown that science-based targets for nature are both feasible and valuable. We’re pleased to see companies like Holcim leading the way by publicly adopting the world’s first science-based targets beyond climate; demonstrating that a clear and credible pathway for ambitious action for nature is possible. The time for companies to act is now — responsibly, urgently, and with the ambition that matches the scale of the challenge.”
Companies Lead on Nature Targets
Kering, GSK, and Holcim have set comprehensive, science-backed goals:
Kering: Focuses on the Arno basin in Tuscany, addressing freshwater in its operations and supply chain and implementing no-conversion policies for natural ecosystems. “Science-based targets for nature will help enable companies to do their part in reversing nature loss and I hope other companies in our industry and beyond will commit to these targets to advance ambitious and measurable corporate action on nature,” said Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability Officer at Kering.
GSK: Targets water neutrality by 2030 in water-stressed areas, focusing on the Upper Godavari basin in India. CEO Emma Walmsley underscored GSK’s environmental commitment: “As a global biopharma leader, we want to play our full part in protecting and restoring the planet’s health, in order to protect and improve people’s health. Improving the environmental sustainability of our business makes us more resilient, so we can deliver the products that patients rely on.”
Holcim: Aims to reduce freshwater withdrawals in Mexico’s Moctezuma basin and increase supplier traceability. “At Holcim, nature matters. That’s why we want our nature targets to be backed by science. As a first-mover company working with SBTN, Holcim is now equipped with a gold standard approach to operationalize broad-based action to protect and restore nature across our business,” said Nollaig Forrest, Chief Sustainability Officer at Holcim.
Jan Jenisch, Chairman and CEO at Holcim, says: “With climate at the core of our strategy, Holcim is leading the shift to low-carbon, circular and energy efficient building solutions.”
A Milestone for Nature-Positive Goals
This announcement comes as global leaders gather at COP16, where the urgency of biodiversity preservation is a central theme. With 60% of pilot companies achieving target validation, SBTN provides a credible model for companies to align with nature conservation.
Building on pilot insights, SBTN is set to expand guidance to 150 more companies and introduce a validation service in 2025. Future targets will address biodiversity metrics, including the first science-based ocean targets.
By leading this movement, companies acknowledge the link between climate and nature, fulfilling SBTN’s call for ambitious action.
Billman stated, “For companies, this means understanding their material impacts and dependencies on nature, and taking ambitious science-based action to address and mitigate those impacts.”
This momentum signals a pivotal shift toward comprehensive corporate responsibility, aligning nature-positive targets with the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework.