Natural capital

On 18^th July at 12:30, there is a webinar to provide an introduction to the Nature Recovery Network (NRN).  Please register here.

The NRN is a major commitment in the UK Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and enacted by the Environment Act 2021. The NRN aims to expand, improve and connect a national network of wildlife-rich places across England’s towns, cities, countryside and coast. The national network has a range of ambitious objectives around nature recovery, as well as providing a range of economic, social, and health and well-being benefits. 

Partnership working is essential to deliver the objectives of the NRN, working together across a broad range of organisations and sectors to share skills, knowledge and resources. Natural England and the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) are holding a webinar to introduce the NRN and the key role that business can play in supporting nature’s recovery.

Delegates will leave the webinar with a better understanding of:

• What the NRN is and what it’s aiming to achieve and deliver
• Why businesses should invest in and support the NRN
• NRN business engagement activities and what's coming up next

It has been confirmed that the Environment Bill will return to Parliament on 26 May to finish Commons Report stages, before proceeding to the Lords.

We Value Nature will be launching their business training on natural capital tailored to the food and drink sector during their We Value Nature 10-Day Challenge Event.

The first training session will take place on 16 March, 14:00 – 16:00 and will explore the relationships between food and drink businesses and nature. It will also introduce key approaches and tools to integrate natural capital into decision-making. Register

The second training session will take place on 23 March, 14:00 – 16:00 and will provide concrete guidance on how food and drink businesses can begin to approach a first natural capital assessment. Register

We Value Nature will be running a 10-day business challenge from 11-24 March 2021.

They will be offering a series of over 40 practical session and small challenges spread across the 10 days to help businesses take the next steps on their nature journey.

Download the final programme here and registration for individual sessions is open here.

Sign-up to the challenge to receive daily challenges throughout the event as well as news about upcoming sessions.

On 24 February, the FDF launched our Ambition 2025 Mid-term Review and Ambition 2025 Progress Report 2020 which was supported by a series of member case studies.

As highlighted in this year’s progress report, there has been exceptional progress in some areas, including:

• 55% reduction in CO2 emissions, five years before the target was due to be reached.
• 41.5% reduction in absolute water consumption in 2019 and support for the Courtauld 2025 Water Ambition.
• Contributed to the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap.
• Continued to build relationships with key stakeholders and with UK governments including through engagement on various the Plastics tax; undertook advocacy on PRN cost crisis; supported the UK Plastics Pact; and launched new guidelines on using recycled content in plastic packaging applications.
• Promoted the fewer and friendlier miles agenda through FDF’s 10 Point Checklist.
• Updated and promoted the Sustainability Resource Hub.
• Promoted the FDF Natural Capital Awareness Document.

The FDF also published a press release, with supporting quote from Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow MP. The launch has been extensively covered across the trade media.