Transforming Business
Overview

As market demand for food and fiber increases in the coming decades, so will the impact on our planet’s natural resources. Unsustainable agriculture and illegal logging have nearly depleted the forests of Borneo and Sumatra. Asia's Coral Triangle is under threat from over-fishing and rising sea temperatures.
A continent away, deforestation in the Amazon is closely linked to expanding livestock and soy. Population growth and increased income and consumption, particularly in the developing world, make it imperative that businesses source, process and manage these resources more sustainably to meet this growing demand while preserving the planet.
As great as these challenges are, there is enormous potential to improve the production of the commodities with the most significant impact on the places and species WWF seeks to protect, while creating opportunities for business. WWF takes a variety of steps to ensure our finite planet is able to house, feed, and clothe an increasing population while preserving our natural environment.
Priority Commodities
WWF to help Starbucks build better stores for the planet

Why It Matters
What WWF Is Doing
Bold action is required to solve these challenges at the scale and pace they require. Practices of the companies that have a disproportionate level of influence over some of the world’s most important habitats and natural resources need to be transformed.
Rather than trying to educate 7 billion consumers or improve the practices of 1.5 billion producers, the most efficient way to effect change is to work with this handful of companies – about 100 in total.
Together they buy and sell 25 percent of the commodities with the greatest impact on WWF’s priority places. And this demand can shift 40-50% of global production. By engaging these companies, WWF helps them achieve positive and measurable benefits for their businesses, while creating conservation impacts where they matter most.
Reducing Impacts
WWF engages with major companies and their supply chains to change the way global commodities are produced, processed, consumed, and financed worldwide. Working with these companies, WWF seeks to reduce the negative impact that these commodities and sectors have on the most ecologically important places and species on Earth. Transforming how goods are sourced and processed provides benefits to our planet and can result in tangible gains for businesses by securing their means of production and access to raw materials over the long term.

Championing Sustainable Solutions

Increasing pressure on resources is linked to rising global demand for food, fiber and fuel, and equally to where and how global industries obtain vital commodities. On a finite planet, WWF recognizes that we cannot solve this challenge alone. We create solutions that bring together large international companies, industry sectors, manufacturers, buyers, retailers, other non-governmental organizations, scientists and governments to create a more sustainable future for us all.
Harnessing Forces for Conservation

Companies can have a major impact on the critical places we work to protect through their products, practices, supply chains, and business models. However, business and industry can also be part of the solution in driving positive change. WWF works to harness the power of the global marketplace into a force for conservation. By engaging with companies to advance sustainable production and consumption, WWF helps reduce their impact, which protects endangered species and preserves the planet’s rich biodiversity and ecosystem services for future generations. This work protects the Earth and is the basis for a better business model. More sustainable supply chains, more efficient means of production and better risk management are in everyone’s best interest.
Projects
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The AgWater Challenge
Ceres and WWF created the AgWater Challenge. Together, we’re engaging leading food and beverage companies to provide examples of leadership and encourage stronger, more transparent commitments to better steward fresh water resources in agricultural supply chains.
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The 3% Solution
A report from WWF and CDP—The 3% Solution: Driving Profits Through Carbon Reductions—helps U.S. businesses chart a new path forward. This path is tremendously profitable, practical and helps curb climate change.
Publications
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A Transformative Partnership to Conserve Water: The Coca-Cola Company and WWF Annual 2017 Report
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A Transformative Partnership to Conserve Water: The Coca-Cola Company and WWF 2016 Annual Report
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Power Forward 3.0: How the largest US companies are capturing business value while addressing climate change
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Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles