A hard look at the footprint of Envu offices

Nature is a force. Humanity is a force. On their own, these forces can be unstable, unpredictable and even destructive to each other at times. And now, these forces are pushing and pulling each other in ways they never have before.

The World Wildlife Fund describes the sixth mass extinction as being “driven by human activity, primarily (though not limited to) the unsustainable use of land, water and energy, and climate change.” This is unlike previous extinctions that were caused by natural phenomena. The organization explains, “When one species goes extinct in an ecosystem or its population numbers decline so significantly that it cannot sustain its important function, other species are affected, impacting the way the ecosystem functions and the benefits it provides.”

With this in mind, Envu is taking proactive measures to mitigate our potential impact on species existing near our 21 operating sites across the world. Envu conducted a series of biodiversity assessments of our operating sites across the globe to proactively align with environmental best practices, manage risks and support global efforts to preserve biodiversity. A site biodiversity assessment is an evaluation process that includes identifying plant and animal species present in one particular area, understanding their roles in the ecosystem, and determining the ecological health and functionality of the site.

Though we do not run manufacturing plants or transport infrastructure, we do operate offices and research and development centers. We believe it is necessary to identify areas for improvement, assess our footprint at each site, and initiate voluntary efforts to conserve and restore natural habitats where relevant.

This work directly ladders up to our support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which include: “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.”

To date, we have completed assessments at 75% of our sites worldwide in 2023, including the native habitats voluntarily restored at the Paulinia site. There, our assessment found no endangered species present, leading us to expand our biodiversity initiatives beyond the site, including the successful restoration of over 4.8 hectares of native forests in the surrounding area as of 2023. At our Clayton, North Carolina, location, four species (one bird and three flowering plants) were identified as potentially inhabiting undisturbed pine forests. The potential habitat areas within the Envu property line are not part of daily operation at this facility and have been left unmanaged and undisturbed for the past decades with no foreseeable change in the near future. This measure is proactive in nature since none of the species that may be present have been observed.

We will complete site biodiversity assessments at all of our sites against the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) endangered species list by 2025. We pledge to complete biodiversity assessments on all new sites as a project requirement moving forward.

By conducting comprehensive site biodiversity assessments and taking proactive measures to mitigate our ecological impact, we are not only safeguarding the natural habitats surrounding our global operations but also aligning with broader global goals set by the Envu and the Envu logo are trademarks owned by Environmental Science U.S. LLC or one of its affiliates. United Nations. Additional details about four key assessment sites can be found in our inaugural environmental sustainability and governance report (pg. 42).